Chapter 6

He was being unreasonble. The little voice in his head telling Diego this was unable to overpower the monster called anger raging inside.
"Victoria, I just find it hard to believe that you can easily develop feelings for Diego while, for years, you always clearly preferred Zorro."

Victoria recoiled from an inner pain. Every word from Diego cut through her soul. "It's not like that," Victoria faltered desperately.

"Don't lie to me, Victoria. You had fantasies about a masked man. Worshipped him, adored him. But did you ever consider that even Zorro is not perfect? That beneath that mask, there's a man. Someone who can be hurt?"
Diego's anger burned fiercely. He could scarcely believe what he was saying, and his frustration bubbled to the surface. With bitterness in his voice, he continued, "And now, now that you've discovered who Zorro is, suddenly you're interested in me? The mask is the only thing that matters to you. I find it hard to believe."

Victoria stared at him, tears filling her eyes as she tried to understand why Diego was so angry. "Diego, that's not true," she said. "I've always cared about you."

"You've shown that in a particular way," roared Diego. "You dream of Zorro, not of who he really is. You've always fantasized about that masked hero, and now that you think you have him, you're suddenly willing to marry Diego?"

"How do you know what I dream of?" Tears flowed freely down Victoria's cheeks now. "Yes, I love Zorro, I love you." She sniffled. "The reason I ignored you as Diego was because..." Tears welled up in her eyes.
"Did you ever give me a chance to see who you really are?"

"Oh, Victoria! I did, countless times."

"When? Tell me about one time! Diego, you're accusing me unfairly. Yes, I admire Zorro, but that doesn't mean I can't love you. I love both sides of you, and I just wanted you to trust me enough to tell me this."

Diego clenched his fists and angrily stared at the ground. "Trust? Have you any idea how difficult it's been to keep this secret? Constantly pretending to be someone else. Don't you think I wanted to tell you? Had you just shown interest in me once, it would have been a lot easier. And now you come here and expect me to be welcomed with open arms just because you happened to discover my secret?"

Victoria desperately tried to think of something she could say to make Diego believe her.

Suddenly, another voice spoke, "Diego?" It was the voice of don Alejandro penetrating the night sky. "Are you here?"

It was exactly like the last time they had stood at the same spot together, and Zorro had declared his love. They had kissed, and she had vowed to wait until Zorro was free.
Victoria stood in the shadow of the pergola, and don Alejandro couldn't see her from the doorway.

"Diego, what are you doing here? It's well past midnight."

She was surprised by the ease with which Diego transformed. Moments prior, he had seemed so angry; right now, he looked as if he were just enjoying himself.
Victoria wondered how many times she had been fooled by the same charade Diego had played on his father. She heard Diego utter.

"I wanted to check on the stables."

"I thought I heard voices."

"Uh, no. You must have imagined it."

Victoria saw Alejandro linger in the doorway. "Hm." He didn't sound convinced. "Was everything quiet?"

Diego's reaction indicated that, for the better listener, he was recovering from his outburst. "Where?"

"At the stables."

"Oh, yes."

"Aren't you coming?"

"Just catching some fresh air before going to bed."

"Oh, Diego, I wanted to thank you again for your present. It is good to have something to remember Gilberto by."

"I hoped you liked it."

Alejandro felt emotional. He slapped Diego on his shoulder. "I never knew him. Had I known I had two sons..," Alejandro swallowed away some tears and continued. "Gilberto will be a part of me for the rest of my life."

"Our lives. I would have liked to have known him better."

"You know, your mother and I tried to have more children. It never happened. Nevertheless, I am grateful for the son I do have and know. I love you, son."

Emotions were running wild. The shimmer of anger Diego felt confronting Victoria was still there, and the things his father had said went straight to his heart. "I am sorry I can't always be the son you want me to be."

"Diego, you are in every way the son I love."

Diego swallowed away a lump. "Thank you, father."

"I think I'll be heading for my room."

"Goodnight, father."

"Goodnight, son."
Alejandro hesitated after saying what he had wanted, and Diego didn't show any sign he wanted to come back in.

"Aren't you coming inside?"

"I'll be right there."
His outburst had surprised Diego. It had been a long time since he lost control like that. He never realized he had these feelings, and now he had to face Victoria again and simultaneously accept what was in his heart. It didn't matter how unfair his reaction towards Victoria might be, after all she had much more right to be angry than him, his anger was very real.

His father turned around, and the extra light in the courtyard disappeared as Alejandro closed the door. Only moonlight remained. It reminded him of the time Zorro had come to visit Victoria and left his mask in the bushes for her. Back then, he had been grateful she was alive and openly expressed his feelings for her. This thought also allowed the monster called anger, or perhaps it was jealousy, to resurface.
He turned to Victoria and melted; she was his heart.

Standing in the shadows had given Victoria time to think of what Diego had said. "I never understood. Back in the cave, when Zorro proposed to me, he told me his greatest fear was that I would reject him once he removed his mask."

True. His fear had always been that the moment Victoria discovered his identity, she would declare she could never feel anything for him. And now the opposite happened; he was overwhelmed by a wave of irrationality and, strangely, disappointment that she so easily declared her love for Diego.

"I never realized you didn't mean Zorro's mask." Victoria cautiously took a step closer; her heart pounded in her throat. "Zorro hides his face behind cloth. I now realize that you, as Diego, are the one wearing the real mask. Invisible. You're not the way Diego portrays himself. I told you in the cave. I don't know the man of flesh and blood. What his name is. I also said that what I do know is that the courage and passion with which Zorro stands up for the people live in his heart. That is your heart. Not Zorro's. Not Diego's. But yours. It is that man who I love. And yes, I love him dearly."

Diego listened with amazement to Victoria's explanation. It was partly true; he often put on a play as Diego.

Victoria continued, "Diego, Zorro wouldn't even exist if your hearts weren't the same. It's Zorro who fights. Zorro is the hero. But it's you who make it all possible."

"I've never looked at it that way," Diego admitted. He had always considered Zorro and Diego as two separate individuals, and tried to keep Diego as close to himself as possible. But Victoria was right; in his heart, he had Zorro's fighting spirit. How else could he have kept it up for so long?

In the moonlight, he saw only her contours, yet he could vividly picture how she would look at that moment. For years, he had feared this moment, afraid of rejection and having to beg for forgiveness for the deception. The opposite turned out to be true now. Could he forgive her? He had always assumed he could. Darn it. He had done every time she had chosen Zorro over Diego.

Victoria pleaded, "Diego, please." Her voice sounded desperate. "Give me a chance to prove that I care about you. Don't give up on the love we feel for each other. Not now that I've finally found you."

No, that was a mistake he didn't want to make. They both deserved a chance. Victoria because she had patiently waited for him for years. He owed her at least to give her a chance. And himself, because he couldn't imagine a life without her. Could it be possible she truly loves Diego? At least she loves the man he is. Zorro is as much a part of him as Diego.

With his fingers, he stroked her cheek. Her skin felt moist. He had made her cry. Diego leaned toward her and gently pressed his lips against her silky skin. He laughed and stammered, "You're right, as always. I love you too much to give up now that you've finally found me."

Diego felt her arms wrap around his neck, and she stood on her tiptoes.
"You won't regret it. I swear."

Their future was uncertain like everyone else's. But certainly Diego was convinced he and Victoria would work it out. He mused as his lips found hers, Christmas was truly a special time. A time, miracles could happen.

The End.

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I wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.