In a way, it was so strange now knowing that Diego and Zorro was one and the same, it was like entering another world.
Like Victoria was walking in a bobble, separate from other people whom didn't see what she did, the veil had been removed and it couldn't be put back on.

Now Victoria understood Diego so much better, she understood Zorro so much better… It all made so much sense now. And it didn't make her love him any less, if anything as she saw him riding around out there in his black costume only to come back later as Diego, trying to keep up pretense, hiding his tired face expression behind a smile and words about being fatigued from a cold and people snickered behind his back. Yet Diego took it with such ease, only wincing ones in a while.

But he was still being worn down, bit by bit. It was all the same, only now Victoria knew exactly why… She wished she could talk to Diego about it, but she didn't even know how to breach the subject.

So she did the only thing she could do, as Diego entered the tavern with dark shadows under his eyes, leaning over the table and fell a sleep Victoria moved towards him and gently draped a blanket across his shoulders before placing a cup of coffee in front of him, and she didn't care at all that all the costumers were looking at her doing it.

The rumours that had started a while ago had even grown, that Victoria and Diego was perhaps more than just friends.
Victoria didn't mind, it was something she was rather pleased about and when she heard the odd whisper she couldn't help but smile.
How she wished she could just be open about it, tell the world that yes, she loved this man! And he loved her, and one day they would marry and start a family.

But when would that be? Victoria exhaled deeply… What are you doing to yourself Diego? She loved him so much, more than she had ever known before, and he was wearing himself down, destroying himself bit by bit.

That night, as Victoria walked to her room, she was pleasantly surprised by finding a red rose resting on her pillow. Only one man could have left it there.
Diego honestly. Victoria couldn't help but shake her head as she picked it up and inhaled the sweet scent, then she walked to the window and stuck out her head. "Zorro?" she asked. "Zorro are you still there?" she asked.

"Si Quirreda." A voice sounded from above and Victoria had to turn around and look upwards to see just a glimpse of Zorro up on the roof. "Move away, I will come down."

"Oh don't bother, i'll come up!" Victoria stated.

"Victoria?!" Zorro asked but Victoria couldn't be stopped as she stepped up on the window frame and turned around grabbing the roof to look up.

"You think you're the only one who can climb roof tops?" Victoria asked in a grin.

Zorro blinked but then amused shook his head before he leaned over and grabbed Victorias hand safely pulling her up beside him, only for Victoria to trip and fall into Zorro. "Easy there mi precious Rosa." he whispered so close to his ear. "I really don't want to see you fall."

Victoria blushed as she glanced up at him, but then finally sat down next to him, deeply inhaling the night air and then looked up to see a brilliant sky filled with stars.

"What a beautiful night." Zorro commented echoing Victorias thoughts.

"Si." Victoria nodded then glanced down. "It.. Has been a long time hasn't it?" she asked. She was of course referring to the last time she had seen Zorro, she had seen Diego only this afternoon. The last time she had been alone with Zorro though? It seemed like an eternity ago.

"I apologies." Zorro swallowed. "You deserve better than that."

Victoria bit her lip… It felt so tempting, to call him out. Call him by name! Diego! I saw you just a few hours ago Diego, but you wouldn't speak to me. Sadly she glanced away.

"Victoria?" Zorro asked. "Are you… Okay?" he asked.

"I don't know." Victoria exhaled. "There's someone I want to help, I want to help him so badly, I want to be there for him. But he wont let me."

Zorro blinked in surprise. "A person whom doesn't accept your help must truly be a foolish man." he commented and Victoria smirked amused.

Then Zorro lifted his arm, he hesitated slightly but finally wrapped it around Victorias shoulder, allowing her to lean upon him as they looked up at the star sky.

It was weird… in this position, Victoria felt so much at peace. If she could sit like this forever, on this exact spot and in this exact position, that would be perfect.

"I missed you Victoria." Zorro then breathed. "I'm sorry I didn't come sooner."

"I missed you to." Victoria replied, closing her eyes as she realized how ironic it was… She couldn't have an honest conversation with Diego when he wasn't wearing a mask, it was only when he had the damn piece of cloth on he could be honest with her.

Then she glanced up. "Zorro." she then spoke.

"Yes Victoria." Zorro replied.

"When do you think it'll be enough?" Victoria asked.

Zorro blinked. "Victoria, i'm not sure what you mean."

"You." Victoria said. "I understand, the Alcade is corrupt and yet he represents the law. So you have to act outside of the law to stand against him but… Such things as bandits and corrupt tax collectors, they were here long before you were, and they will continue you be here, for many years, possible for-ever, for far longer than you and I are alive. There will always be someone, always some injustice… When will it be enough? When wont you have to put a mask on anymore?" she asked.

Zorro halted then swallowed. "Victoria I… I would rather not have to fight with a mask on. I wish I could fight without a mask and be on the side of the law."

"So why not do that?" Victoria asked. "There are people, my friend Diego, he knows how to use the law and use it to achieve justice. He even knows how to change the law, not a lot, but little by little which grants much longer lasting results. Capturing a bandito will only work until the next one shows up, or until he is released again. But changing the world… so people wont have to become bandits… That's how you do real change. Diego taught me that. Wouldn't that be the smarter thing to do?"

Zorro was oddly silence as he sat there. "There's truth to that." he admitted. "Is that what you want me to do?" she asked.

"I just don't want you to die." Victoria then admitted. "Zorro I… I'm scared." she admitted. "I can't bear the thought of loosing you, especially not now. I know you have to fight, to help people. That's also why I love you. But I don't see this going anywhere any longer." she admitted. "It's just more of the same over and over, and you're just one man."

Zorro squinted his eyes. "I know." he then admitted. "But I don't know what else to do."

"Diego." Victoria breathed then her eyes widened and she slapped her hands against her mouth, the word had just slipped out.

Zorro blinked confused. "What?" he asked.

"Erh nothing!" Victoria exclaimed. "Just a slip of the tounge haha!" she grinned.

Confused Zorro looked at her. "Right… erhm… Sure." he said turning away and then they sat there… in awkward silence.

Victoria bit her lip looking away from Zorro, Zorro didn't say anything either as he was looking away from Victoria.

Then Victoria groaned, okay this was getting ridicules. "Yes Diego, I am telling you to follow your own advice and keep yourself safe." she then stated and Zorro spewed out.

"Wha WHAT?!" he shouted and Victoria glared at him as Zorro wide-eyed looked at her.

"Should I make it simple Diego De La Vega?" Victoria asked. "I love you, and I hate seeing you hurting yourself like this. Especially when nothing is being archieved because of it."

Gaping Zorro looked at her, then he blinked. "You… Victoria you."

Victoria lifted an eyebrow.

Abashed Zorro looked down. "How long have you known?" he then asked.

"Only for less than a month." Victoria then admitted. "I figured it out by the end of my little sick stay at your Hacienda."

"That long?" Zorro gaped. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I don't know, why didn't you ever say anything?" Victoria replied sternly. "Also could you take that mask off now? I doubt anyone else than me would be able to see your face down from the ground."

Zorro blinked but then obediently took off his hat and mask, even though that didn't make his face a whole lot more clear as it was rather dark outside. Still, Victoria could now see the clear outlines of his face, and it felt like a barrier had broken. "Heh." Diego tried a little awkwardly. "I suppose that must have been kind of a shock."

"Yeah kind of." Victoria admitted. "But it also made a lot of sense after I thought about it for a while. All though, I should be angry at you! For toying with a womans emotions like that. Shesh, I felt guilty confusing you for Zorro or projection my feelings for Zorro unto you!"

"Oh so… erhm." Diego swallowed. "You're… Not disappointed or?" he asked.

"Why on earth would I be disappointed?" Victoria asked . "Just because you pretend to be a fob in your spare time, that doesn't mean all your other actions never happened does it? You still jumped into action when it mattered. And you were there for me, for the people, when we needed you. Just because your real name is Diego doesn't change those events does it?" she asked.

"Ah… Yes. I guess not." Diego had to admit.

"You're foolhardy you know that?" Victoria asked glancing at him. "And a idiot."

"Yes, you're right." Diego admitted in a slight blush. "So you… Want me to stop being Zorro?" he asked.

"I don't think that's my decision to make." Victoria admitted then glanced at him. "How-ever, Diego. I want you to know, what-ever you choose. What-ever you do now, i'm here for you. I want to help more."

And Diegos eyes widened. "Victoria." he breathed.

Victoria leaned forward, her face coming so close to Diegos. "I love you." she breathed and then finally their lips met and they were dragged into each others embrace as tears fell down both Dieogs and Victorias cheeks and finally they let go.

Diego carresing Victorias cheek with a gentle hand, his eyes looking at her with such warmth and love. "I love you to." he said. "With all my heart, I love you."

And Victoria smiled reaching up and holding his hand that touched her cheek. "I know." she replied in a slight smirk.

AN; here's just a small commercial from me regarding other Zorro stories i've written!

I written two others! One called "The day the world went insane." which I think a lot of you have read al ready.

But then there's also another one I wrote, which doesn't have a lot of views and I would LOVE feedback on it, it's kind of a genderbend Zorro story, or my own original Zorro story called. "Adventures of the Scarlet Fox." which kind of take inspiration from ALL Zorro properties everywhere. We are talking "New World of Zorro." "Disneys Zorro." Tyrone Powers "The Mark of Zorro." Douglas Fairbanks "The Mark of Zorro."
Even Susan Keys Zorro books, Kaiketzu Zorro and some comics... I spend ten years collecting all the Zorro knowledge and turned it into that semi original work and I would LOVE some feedback on it! Any feedback!
It's called. "Adventures of the Scarlet Fox." it's posted here on the Zorro section, but also the fairy tale Section, any feedback will be appreciated!