My thanks to PamZ. Her transcripts contribute significantly to the creation of this story.

Every word you recognize from te series isn't mine.

Chapter 29

Doctor Hernandez had warned her that this could happen. Due to a brain damage from his fall, Diego could start behaving oddly. The worst thing had happened. Diego actually had gone loco!

Victoria tried to calm herself down. It was of the utmost importance she stayed calm. Externally composed, internally filled with anxiety, Victoria walked towards the nearest door, making sure to face Diego while keeping her back turned towards the door. She hoped it wouldn't be too serious. Oh dear, should she immediately alert the doctor? No, maybe it would be better to assess the severity first. She shouldn't have told Diego how bad things were in the pueblo. He had seemed so normal yesterday. Doctor Hernandez had warned her, for someone with brain damage, even reading a book could be enough to trigger that person to go crazy. The doctor also mentioned the importance of asking simple questions.

Simple questions.

What is a simple question?

Why couldn't she come up with ONE simple question!?

Victoria uttered, relieved to have come up with something. "Diego, what is my name?"

Diego was dumbfounded by Victoria's reaction. "What is my name? He chuckled. "Victoria, what's that for a ridiculous question?"

Victoria took three steps back. This wasn't going well. She tried to get a hold of the doorknob.

"What is my name?" Victoria hesitantly repeated the question. She would explain to him and remain vigilant, ready to run away and scream at the top of her lungs at any moment. "Doctor Hernandez warned me that you may have suffered brain damage from the fall. It could cause you to behave strangely. And since you now claim to be Zorro, which is not true, I want to know, what is my name?" Victoria hoped she was wrong. She didn't want Diego to end up in one of those dreadful madhouses.

He had revealed his biggest secret to her, and Victoria thought he had lost his mind. Diego saw actual fear lingering in her eyes. She had shuffled over to the door leading to the hallway and had a hand behind her back. He suspected she was holding the door knob. Victoria was genuinely scared of him. He had to convince her first that he hadn't lost his sanity. Although deep down inside, he was currently doubting it himself.

Diego began speaking in a calm and determined voice. "Your name is Victoria Sophia de la Vega née Escalante. My name is Diego Sebastián de la Vega. We got married last year on August 26th. It was my mother's birthday. Your father's name was Alfonso, and your mother's was Sophia. You have two elder brothers named Ramon and Francisco." Diego listed all the information he could think of. "Does this provide enough evidence that I haven't gone loco, or shall I tell my mother's maiden name was Izquierdo?"

Everything Diego said was correct down to the last detail. She had seen that name whem she signed the wedding papers. Victoria gazed at him. He seemed normal. "What's the day?" She asked on her guard.

"Victoria, please…,"

Victoria pushed the doorknob down.

Diego hurried to answer her question. "It is Wednesday, and tomorrow it will be Thursday. Do you have any other questions you want to ask me? The name of my first horse? Babieca. Although he was not really mine but belonged to my grandfather. My father mentioned him a while ago when we were at the tavern. The name of my current horse is Esperanza."
Then Diego dared to take a cautious step forward. His legs felt heavy as lead. "Victoria, I really am Zorro. That is the secret I have kept hidden from you."

Victoria's mouth dropped open in astonishment as Diego's words sank in. If he hadn't gone loco, did it mean he was speaking the truth?

"If you insist on getting more evidence we can go to my hideout. It is a cave behind the hacienda. You can enter by a hidden door in the fire place. Or you can ask Felipe. He knows I am Zorro."

Her heart pounded wildly as she tried to understand what Diego had just said. A whirlwind of emotions overwhelmed her, and she felt a lump in her throat. She couldn't simply accept this. It was too much to take in.

Diego could see the inner struggle in Victoria's eyes. Her large eyes expressed disbelief. He could almost feel the chaos in her mind. And it cut through his soul.
Diego held his breath and waited for her reaction, fully aware of the enormous risks he had taken. He had never imagined revealing his secret to her like this. Especially not before the time was right. But he could no longer live in the lie. Not when so much was at stake. He felt the weighty silence hanging between them. It felt as if time stood still.

Victoria's disbelief slowly gave way to something else. She saw the sincerity in Diego's eyes, and it struck her right in the heart. It explained why he was often untraceable, at least. A mixture of emotions flooded over her. Confusion, joy, and a touch of sadness.

Diego felt the heaviness of the silence, and his fear grew with each passing second. He was afraid he has lost her forever. But then, Victoria gently placed her hand on his arm, her touch full of love and understanding.

"How...?" She swallowed. "How is that even possible?"

Diego felt a burden lifted off his shoulders with her words. He had braced himself for her anger, her rejection. But instead, receiving something resembling resignation. He swallowed and looked at her with intense relief, at heart glad the secret had finally been revealed.
"I had no choice. Someone has to keep Ramon in check."

"But why didn't you say anything before?"

"Two reasons," Diego began, his voice trembling but determined. "The first is to protect you. Zorro is a wanted outlaw, and it comes with dangers. I wanted to take as little risk as possible to keep you out of harm's way."

Victoria nodded slowly, her eyes filled with understanding. She had always known that Zorro led a dangerous life. It was one of her main arguments to express her disapproval. The thought of the risks Diego had taken to keep her safe struck her deeply.
And then she asked hesitantly, "And what is the second reason?"

Diego took a deep breath, his gaze intensely focused on Victoria. "I know how you feel about Zorro. You have never hidden your disapproval of many of Zorro's actions." His voice almost trembled. "I was, no, I am afraid of losing you, because you can not love the part of me that is him."

This hurt her more than anything else. She had driven a wedge between them believing her own lies. Victoria gently placed her hand on Diego's cheek, her eyes filled with love. "I don't dislike Zorro. I never have," she said softly. A smile crossed her face.

Diego stared at her with wide eyes, astonished by her words. "But... you have always reacted critically to his deeds, his methods...,"

Victoria smiled again, this time, with a mischievous twinkle in her watery eyes. "Because I felt drawn to him," she confessed, whispering her words. "I was in love with you, but Zorro... let's just say that Zorro awakened something in me, something I had to suppress for my peace of mind because it frightened me. I failed misreble. Now I understand this attraction I couldn't explain was because you are Zorro. A part of me just knew without me realizing it. I wasn't drawn to a flamboyant masked hero but to the man. I love you, Diego."

"Am I understanding this correctly? Are you saying that you are also in love with Zorro?" Diego asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Victoria blushed and looked down at the ground. "Not really in love. But I felt such a strong physical attraction to him that it frightened me. I've fantasized about what it would be like to be kissed by..." She stopped midway through her sentence, her cheeks red with embarrassment.

Diego felt overwhelmed by her words. A mixture of relief, joy, and love filled his heart. He knew that he had ultimately made the right decision, not only for himself but also for their relationship. Almost a year to late, but nevertheless.
He gently cupped her chin in his fingers and leaned in closer. "Then allow me," His voice shaking as he whispered.

Diego's arms enveloped her waist and lifted her slightly. It was as if the world around them faded away. Their lips met in a gentle, tender, long-awaited kiss. Victoria's arms instinctively wrapped around his neck. Time seemed to stand still as their passion ignited. Diego kissed her with all the love he felt for her. The kiss became a fusion of their deepest desires and long-suppressed emotions.

When their kiss finally broke, their gazes remained locked, filled with love and understanding. Diego could barely comprehend the intensity of his feelings. He had never expected that revealing his secret would take such a positive turn.

Victoria broke the silence and whispered, her voice quivering softly, "I'm glad you trusted me with your secret. Diego, I want to support you, not only as your wife but also as Zorro's ally."

"No, never as my ally. I can't accept that. I wouldn't have a moment's peace," Diego hurriedly said.

"And what if something happens to you? I almost lost you once. There was a reason why Ramon claimed Zorro was dead," Victoria admonished him.

"No one can predict the future. Should you ask it of me, Zorro will never ride again. I will find other ways to show Ramon what justice is. And until then..." Diego's voice trailed off.

"And until then, Zorro remains the hope of the people and the fighter for justice," Victoria added.

"Are you sure about that?"

Victoria nodded. "Regardless of what your father thinks, you're not the type to stand idly by while people suffer. I know what you, as Diego do in the Indian camp. How you help the padre teach people to read, write, and do math. Do you have any idea how important it is to know what a contract says? How much more respect people have for you when you can read? I fell in love with Diego and had inexplicable feelings for Zorro. I want to get to know you as the man you truly are."

He took her hand and pressed a kiss to it. Her fingers felt frozen.
"You're ice-cold, come." Diego lifted Victoria in his arms and carried her to the comfort of the bed. He gently tucked her under the covers and lay down beside her. The doctor's concerns resurfaced, and memories of the argument arose about her neglect during her pregnancy.

The thought of her pregnancy brought a mix of joy and doubt to him.
Diego gently caressed her cheek and asked cautiously, "Will you, please, tell me why you didn't tell me you were pregnant?"

Victoria hesitated, but now that they had revealed so many secrets and their bond got stronger than ever in mere seconds, she had to be honest with him about this too. She gathered all her courage and spoke hesitantly. "I was afraid... afraid that once you knew, you wouldn't come to me anymore in the evenings."

Diego looked at her astonished.

Victoria continued, "You visit me only twice a week, and now that you know I'm pregnant, there's no reason for you to come anymore." She avoided his gaze and increased the distance between them.

"You didn't tell me because you wanted me to keep visiting you?" Diego asked, his voice filled with hope and love.

Victoria felt a lump in her throat and tears in her eyes. "Of course. I love you," she whispered. "I wish we didn't have separate rooms. I know it's your preference. But I hate it." She had said it. Diego would probably want to go to his own room now.

Diego felt an overwhelming wave of relief and gratitude wash over him. He embraced Victoria tightly, as if he never wanted to let her go. "I wish we could always be together, Victoria," In her ear, he whispered. "I hate the separate rooms as much as you do. The only reason I pretended was that I didn't want you to notice that I had to go out as Zorro regularly. It didn't seem to bother you, and I couldn't risk you finding out. And..."

He didn't want to get tangled up in secrets again. "Because of your disapproval towards Zorro, I feared that you wouldn't accept the part of me that is Zorro as your husband. Diego is always composed and controlled. Zorro, on the other hand, is much more expressive in his behaviour."

Victoria looked at him with uncertainty. "I don't think I fully understand what you mean."

"You're married to don Diego, not to Zorro. So when we made love, I had to restrain myself from loving you the way the part of me that is Zorro wanted. Had I stayed with you..., I was bound to loose my self control."

"Are you saying that you're not actually as prudent as you appear?" Victoria stuttered cautious.

"Me? Prudent?" Diego burst into laughter until he realized Victoria was serious. Immediately serious again, he told her, "No, I'm far from prudent. You were too seductive. I left you alone at night out of fear that I couldn't restrain myself had I stayed. I let you keep your nightgown on because I knew Zorro would win that battle as soon as you took it off."

"And you kept your own nightshirt on..."

"To remind myself that I had to remain to don Diego at all costs."

Victoria listened in astonishment to his confession.
"So, it was true that I felt like something was missing?"

"I'm afraid so, yes. Victoria, I'm sorry. I felt like I had no other option." Diego realized that Victoria would have to demand him to beg for her forgiveness on his knees.

Victoria burst into laughter. "And I was trying to seduce you to be more open to more intimacy."

"What do you mean?" Something began to dawn on Diego.

"Do you remember that time when my nightgown slipped open...?"

"That was intentional?" Diego reacted surprised. Yes, he thought. He would have to beg, having his bare knees, on a bed of nails.

Victoria nodded, hiding her face in his armpit, her voice barely audible. "I wanted you to touch me everywhere and be permitted to touch you as well."

With his finger, Diego forced Victoria to look at him.
"You nearly succeeded. From now on, Victoria, I will love you with all the passion and love you could ever wish for. If you allow me, of course."

Less afraid of disapproval, Victoria knelt beside his side and pressed his wrists into the pillow. "You better. And..."

Diego gladly surrendered to whatever demands she would make. "Tell me."

"And from now on, you are not permitted to wear anything when we make love."

Diego looked forward to that prospect. "Only if you do the same," he demanded as a counteroffer.

"Deal. On one condition."
Victoria leaned toward him. Her lips hovered inches above his.
"I want your word that you'll sleep in my room every night."

Diego whispered, his voice filled with determination. "Victoria de la Vega, I solemnly swear from this day on, you will never be alone at night."

Victoria protested, "Only when Zorro is needed. Diego, Los Angeles needs him. I know you can't stand by when injustice is done. And I don't want you to try."

Diego looked deep into her eyes, his heart filled with love and admiration for the woman beside him.
Before pressing his lips against hers, he said, "Victoria, mi querida, I love you. A thousand times more than you will ever suspect."

.

.

And was it worth the wait? I love Victoria's first reaction to this reveal.
Don't forget to let me know when someone has written a similar first reaction. Just curious.

Okay, another question. Which of the following three options will it be?
Two versions of the next chapter are ready to get posted.
One of them is not T-rated, so to speak.

*Should I convert the whole story to M-rated? It would involve one chapter in a story consisting of more than 30 chapters.
*Should I post the uncensored version separately? So that anyone who wants to can read it.
*Or should I leave the M rated version in the dark recesses of my laptop?

I guess it is up to you.

The few of you taking the effort to leave a review. Thank you.