Diego had found himself enjoying the last several weeks of having Victoria staying with them at the hacienda since the earthquake damaged her tavern. Unfortunately or fortunately, however he chose to look at their situation, the tavern was repaired and ready to be back in business officially. Over fourty people in the area had lost their lives and more than twenty buildings had been damaged. Some buildings were beyond repair while others were being repaired by men who had teamed up to make the repairs happen faster. Her tavern was one of the first buildings to be repaired by the men who had come together to help rebuild the pueblo. It would provide shelter for several displaced families. That was a great thing for the families who would be temporarily living there, but would be a bit of a hindrance for him with being able to visit Victoria at night. It was definitely bittersweet, but the care of the people in the pueblo came before his own needs.

"Diego!" he heard his father calling.

He quickly stepped away from his latest science experiment with which he was attempting to impress Victoria with and headed for the cave's secret opening at the fireplace.

"I'm here," he called out as he stepped into the library.

His father soon joined him with a slight pep in his step. He hadn't seen his father with a mood beyond somber for several weeks since the earthquake. He could only wonder what news had managed to lighten his father's mood.

"I have come from a meeting with a great many of the wealthiest men in the San Fernando valley," his father began to share with him.

Judging by the smile on his father's face this had to be good news for a change.

"A benefit festival is to be held in the coming weeks to support rebuilding the mission," his father continued.

The large roof had collapsed, the towers had crumbled, and there was quite a bit of structural damage. It would be something positive and uplifting to see people in the San Fernando valley coming together to help with raising funds.

"That sounds absolutely marvelous," Diego responded.

A festival would definitely help with lifting everyone's spirits.

"In addition to booths that would be selling items or have activities to raise money, a dancing competition will be held," his father recited as if he were a spokesman for the event.

"A dancing competition?" Diego quizzed his father.

His father scratched his chin just before responding, "An entry fee will be charged for couples entering the contest and the winner will receive two thousand pesos which will be collectively donated by several wealthy families including yours truly."

He took in a deep breath as he processed his father's explanation.

"How will this competition work?" he asked as he considered participating with Victoria.

It would be something that he could look forward to. Of course he would have to participate as Zorro, especially if he were to allow his feelings for Victoria to show. If he won the grand prize he would donate the prize money to the various families in the area who had suffered substantial losses during the earthquake.

With a slight pause his father began to answer, "As couples are dancing someone will tap on the shoulder of a man who will not be selected to continue in the competition with his dance partner."

Diego absent mindedly rubbed his finger across his mustache.

"The last five couples who are still dancing will be asked to dance alone in front of everyone, and then a winner will be chosen," his father added with a smile.

Diego had definitely decided that Zorro would be competing in the competition.

"I will enter the competition," he informed his father. His father simply grinned as if Diego had just said the magic words.

"I thought that you just might," his father said with a laugh.

Diego excused himself so that he could inform Victoria.

With a bit more of an excited gait, he quickly vanished through the fireplace and back into his cave. He spotted Victoria who was pacing back and forth in front of Toronado's stall. She had not noticed that he had returned from speaking with his father. That in itself was probably a good thing, because it would help him with his surprise for her. Diego carefully walked to where he had been hiding the music box that he had been restoring for her without making a sound. He gently lifted the soft cloth up off of it which had kept Victoria from seeing it and ruining his surprise. He carefully slid a small lever over on the personalized music box, and it began to fill his cave with music.

Victoria suddenly stopped pacing as she heard Stephen Foster's Beautiful Dreamer coming from the music box. She turned to Diego and quickly placed her hand over her mouth. She was smiling behind her hand. As if she were in a daze she began to walk forward as if she were following the music straight to Diego. As Victoria began to observe the music box which now held her attention, she traced her fingers over the letters of her name which he had lovingly carved into the wood.

"Oh Diego," she softly sighed.

She began to sway and dance along with the music.

"I'm assuming that you liked my surprise?" Diego asked as he watched her swaying in time with the rhythm of the music.

He wouldn't dare attempt to serenade her by singing the words. Diego believed that his singing voice could be used as a weapon rather than a way to please and woo a lady.

"It's absolutely beautiful!" she replied as she stopped dancing along with the music and immediately clasped her arms around his waist.

As the music continued to play, Diego began telling her about his conversation with his father, and revealed his plans for their participation in the dancing competition. Victoria seemed to like the idea of the festival, and he could see that her interest was piqued when he had mentioned the dance competition.

"Would you be my dance partner," he teasingly asked her.

"I am not sure whether to accept your offer, or if I should wait for Zorro to ask me to be his dance partner," she teased in return.

He laughed at her response and began to quickly remove his shirt.

"Diego what are you doing?!" Victoria exclaimed.

With a slightly naughty chuckle he answered, "I thought that perhaps Zorro could make an appearance so that you could ask him."

She was staring at him as if her eyes were attempting to continue undressing him even further.

"I think perhaps it would be best if Zorro would be your dance partner," Diego admitted.

"Perhaps so," Victoria agreed with him.

The cave was now mostly silent except for the sounds coming from Toronado's stall. The music had stopped playing while they were discussing the festival.

"Victoria, I would like to share a special dance with you that I learned in Spain called the waltz," he offered as he turned back towards the music box.

"I'm willing to try to learn this dance," she eagerly responded.

Diego flicked a second lever to the right on the handcrafted music box to change the cone into a position that would allow the second song to be played. He flicked the first lever on the music box and Fur Elise by Beethoven began playing on command.

Diego placed his arm around Victoria and pressed her to his bare chest.

"I'm going to need you to place your left hand on my right shoulder," he instructed.

As Victoria complied he promptly took her right hand in his left hand and brought her arm up where her elbow was above her shoulder.

"To do this dance you are going to step forward with your left foot, step to the side with your right foot, and then bring your left foot over to meet your right foot," Diego explained.

Victoria giggled nervously.

"I think I can do that," she tried to assure him.

"The next steps would be to step back with your right foot, step to the left with your left foot, and then bring your right foot over to your left foot," he added to his instructions.

As he began to guide her through the steps he chanted, "Up, down, down, up, down, down."

As Victoria mastered the steps he had been teaching her he began to move with her in large circles around the room as they continued the initial steps that he had taught her.

"I feel slightly dizzy," Victoria called out.

Diego pressed her even closer to him.

"Should we stop dancing?" he asked.

"No, I'm having too much fun to stop now," she answered.

He began to twirl her in front of him and they continued to dance around the cave as she laughed. Victoria began to stumble as the dizziness began to worsen. She tripped and collided against him with her back resting on his chest. Diego was still holding out her arm. He released her hand and allowed his fingers to gently graze down her arm and placed his left hand on her ribs as his fingertips on his right hand collided with the side of her chest.

They swayed back and forth as the song from the music box was preparing to end. Diego found himself feeling heat spreading throughout his body as dancing was quickly becoming the last thing on his mind. Victoria turned around to face him and eagerly kissed his lips, beginning with small tender kisses that quickly developed into hungry kisses which gave him goosebumps. He guided her to a more secluded area of the cave and began a more sensual dance that included forbidden caresses that would probably result in an act that he didn't want Felipe or his father witnessing.

As the music box became completely silent he lifted Victoria up against his chest and then steadied her against the wall of the cave. She wrapped her legs around his waist and gazed into his eyes. Her arms were circled around his neck. Victoria's skin felt burning hot against his naked chest. He gently bent his head down to kiss her lips. He could feel his pulse racing. He needed her to touch him as his body felt like he was burning up with fire. Diego allowed his hands to slowly drift down, grazing the sides of her body as he placed them under her thighs as she remained suspended between himself and the wall.

He continued to leave a tingling trail of searing and deliberate kisses that started on her lips and worked his way down her neck and finally just below her collar bone as his hands slowly massaged her thighs.

"Don't let go," he whispered against her ear.

Diego backed away from the wall as Victoria held herself against him.

"Dancing with you has turned me on, so let's turn these flames between us higher," he proposed.

He carefully lowered himself down to the floor of the cave while Victoria giggled nervously.

"I promise notto drop you," Diego assured her.

"You better not!" she replied with a throaty laugh.