Rosarita had turned quiet. She seemed relaxed, in Zorro's arms, fluidly following Tornado's movements as they galloped through the Californian hills. Diego hoped she was alright. He was himself still quite riled up after having been through so many emotions in the past few hours: worried sick for Rosarita, angry at the bandidos for taking her, angry at himself for failing to protect her, then there had been the anxious ride through the hills in search for the bandits' lair, the fight, the relief of finding her… It was a lot for his poor heart. And that was all before considering the fact that she was now in his arms, her back against his chest, her hair brushing his face, her hand resting on his. Nothing in the current situation was helping his heart to settle. He wasn't sure if he wished Tornado to go faster so that they'd reach home and this torment would cease, or if he wished this ride to last forever so that he could keep her in his arms the whole night.

The outlines of the pueblo were coming into view when, out of nowhere, and for a reason Diego couldn't figure, Rosarita burst into laughter. She laughed and laughed, unable to refrain herself, barely stopping a second to catch her breath.

"shh, Señorita, a little more discretion!" he said in a low voice, barely audible through her laughter.

"It's you, isn't it?" she asked, before laughing some more. "Of course, it's you. It makes so much sense! I've been such an idiot not to see it."

"Señorita?"

And then, all the while still laughing, on a horse launched at full gallop and in a flurry of skirt and petticoats, she swung her leg over the animal's head.

"Ro – Señorita, what are you doing?!"

Diego tightened his hold or her waist to make sure she wouldn't fall and break her neck, and he pulled the reins to bring Tornado to a halt. Unfazed, Rosarita just sat sideways in the saddle so that she could turn and look at him. Her face was so close to his that he barely dared to breathe. And perched together on a horse, he had no easy way to put any distance between them. She looked at him for a moment...

And she burst into laughter again.

"I don't understand," he said finally, afraid to understand.

She poked him in the chest. "Don't even try. I know it's you, Diego."

She squeezed him in her arms. It was a spontaneous and innocent hug, like she used to do when they were children. But Diego wasn't a child anymore and he wondered how it was possible she didn't feel his heart explode. He certainly felt it burst through his whole ribcage.

"I'm so happy for you," she went on. "You haven't changed after all. You haven't changed at all. Of course it had to be you. Who else? There was only one man brave enough – or perhaps foolish enough – to come up with such an idea."

The flow of words finally stopped and she released him. Her fingers outlined his jawline and her eyes danced over his face, no doubt taking in all the little details that gave him away, despite the mask. She looked up, diving her eyes into his. "It's amazing. It's obvious it's you, once you know to look."

Diego couldn't help a smile. "But people don't look, not really."

She finally turned a little more serious. "No, they don't, do they? No one sees the real you. Not even me." Her voice had turned into a murmur. "Your real mask isn't the one everyone think it is, is it?"

As if struck by a sudden thought, she raised her hand toward his mask. "But Diego was – you were hurt!"

He stopped her from trying to reach his mask and kept her hand in his instead.

Indeed, he was hurt. But he hadn't had time to take care of the wound, so he had just wiped the blood with a handkerchief and put on his mask over the wound. Blood had since been slowly soaking through the fabric, and only the darkness of the night had concealed it from her sight.

"It's nothing," he said lightly, emphasizing his words with a shrug. "I've got a thick skull."

His head still hurt like hell, but his words reassured her.

"I'm sorry, Diego, for ever doubting you."

"It's alright."

"No, it's not! How could you let me berate you like that, when you knew how unfair I was?"

"It's the price to pay. The more people are convinced Diego de la Vega is a harmless weakling, the more convinced they are he can't be Zorro."

"That can't be easy."

"Most of the time, I don't really care."

But it sure hadn't been easy with her. He had hated seeing her so obviously disappointed in him and part of him felt relieved that she now knew who he really was – and that she seemed actually happy about it. It was wrong of course. Knowing his secret could potentially put her in danger. He'd never considered the possibility of anyone outside of his closest inner circle – namely, his father and Bernardo – sharing his secret. Not that he feared Rosarita would ever betray him purposely, but if his enemies were to discover their connection, he'd rather not think about what they could do to her, simply to get to him. And yet, she'd figured him out, and he couldn't do anything about it, now.

"It's the fight against the bandidos that gave me away, isn't it?"

"That thing you do with your sword before engaging a fight." She chuckled. "And I was just thinking earlier that it was all my fault if you – as Diego – tried so valiantly to defend me."

He rolled his eyes at himself for being such a desperate idiot. "That was a mistake."

"A mistake, defending me?"

"A moment of weakness."

She shook her head in disbelief. "A moment of weakness," she repeated. "Diego, that's the most heroic you've been all week!"

"But Diego is not heroic, that's the point."

"So, why did you break out of character?"

Somewhere in his mind materialized the image of Bernardo pointing at his heart and miming shooting an arrow...

"You looked at me," he admitted in a whisper. "And I could see in your eyes, despite my best efforts, you still trusted me to keep you safe, like you've always had. And I… I guess I could have found a way to save the situation pretending to be clumsy, as I usually do. But I suppose I felt that if I were to disappoint you once more, in such a crucial moment, I might lose you forever."

"Oh."

She raised her face toward him, her fingers came back dancing along his cheek. With her other hand, she grabbed his shirt, trying to pull him closer. He knew what she wanted. He wanted it too. He shouldn't, though. It wasn't reasonable. And yet… He bent over, reaching for her lips and she kissed him back, passionately. He couldn't tell how long it lasted. His entire being was focused on this moment. Rosarita in his arms, her lips against his, her hands on his chest. His heart was opening the door to a new possibility…

But he knew he shouldn't.

He pulled back, heart heavy with regret. "I shouldn't have. I'm sorry."

"Why not?"

"You know why. I can't give up Zorro. Especially not now."

"I'm not asking you to."

"It's too dangerous, Rosarita."

"I'm willing to risk it."

"Rosarita, please…" She really wasn't making it easy. "If I ever get caught, I…" I will lose everything. Bring shame to the de la Vega name for generations. Be hung high with no trial. And what if they hurt her? He would never forgive himself. "I wouldn't want to risk anything happening to you because of me."

She discarded the idea with a shrug. "Don't get caught, then."

Out of arguments, he remained silent.

"You don't think about yourself much, do you, Diego? It must be quite lonely."

Diego couldn't tell which was the worst, when Rosarita misread him completely, or now that she was understanding him like no one ever had. Why did she have to be so smart, and kind, and irresistible, and beautiful?

She reached out and kissed him gently on the cheek before she shifted back into a more appropriate riding position. The heart full of contradictory feelings, Diego urged Tornado onwards.

To be continued...