Deceptive Hearts

An insistent knocking at the door drew Alejandro the front rooms earlier than he would have intended.

For a change, Alejandro had decided to be a little lazy and sleep in. He smiled over his annoyance at being awoken from a sound sleep. He had spent the better part of the night talking with the perfectly enchanting widow, Annaliza Turrón. He had been encouraged by a great many things, least of all the small peck on the cheek she had bestowed upon him when she left. They had become closer over the last few months and Alejandro was almost ready to ask the important question.

The memory of her kiss lulled him into a restful sleep. A sleep that had been plagued with many nights of tossing and turning ever since Diego and Victoria……….

Rubbing sleepy eyes, he tugged open the door.

"Dr. Hernandez?" Alejandro wasn’t quite sure what would have prompted a visit from the doctor so early in the morning.

"I apologize for the early hour, Alejandro. But I must speak with you and Diego."

Alejandro nodded, closing the door behind the older man and leading him toward the sala. Well the good doctor could speak with him, but Diego may be another matter. Victoria had just left for the tavern and he was certain his son would not be up to visitors.

Alejandro chuckled inwardly. No matter how quiet they tried to be, Alejandro could always hear when she left in the early mornings.

"Please sit. What does bring you out here so early?" Alejandro asked, taking a seat across from the doctor.

"A matter of great importance, Alejandro." The doctor sighed. "You have been like a father to Victoria for years and it is because of that reason that I come to you now."

Alejandro's eyes narrowed. This had something to do with Victoria. Perhaps he should go wake Diego. He was, after all, her legal husband. If not public as well.

"Let me get Diego." Alejandro stood and strode quickly down the hall as the doctor nodded his agreement.

"Indeed. He has been like a brother to her." The doctor smiled with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Alejandro chuckled softly. 'Little do you even know, my friend'. Alejandro rasped at the hard wood panel outside his son’s door.

Unwelcome sounds demanded entrance into his slumber and Diego rolled over in hopes that the sounds would stop.

"Diego!" He heard his father call. "Get up. Dr Hernandez is here and would like to speak with you." He refrained from saying 'us' so that his son would consider it to be important enough to drag his incredibly sated body out of bed.

Diego eyes fluttered open and he flung back the covers, slowly pulling his clothing over well relaxed muscles. Checking his appearance in the mirror, he frowned. There were circles under his eyes, his hair was not as neatly groomed as usual, and his posture was slightly bent.

"It will have to do." Diego muttered and threw open the door, shooting his father an exasperated look.

"I don't know what he wants," Alejandro correctly interpreted the look in his eyes and the question on his lips. "But he wants to see the both of us. It's about Victoria."

Diego sighed and followed his father to the library, where the doctor waited patiently.

Soon, Diego and Alejandro, brought cool glasses of orange juice by Maria, sat across from the physician, waiting for the doctor to begin.

"So what necessitated your visit so early in the morning, doctor?" Diego asked cautiously. If it had something to do with Victoria, he needed to know. But he couldn’t let on that he cared too much about the doctors answer.

"I trust that this will be kept in the strictest confidence. I feel bad about going to you behind Victoria’s back as it is." The doctor eyed the two gentlemen carefully. " But her inquiries have worried me. And now, I believe, she has involved two others in her plans."

"What plans are these?" Diego took a deep breath and released it slowly so that the doctor would not notice his body tense.

Alejandro noticed the pained look on his son's face despite his best efforts to hide the fact.

Hernandez took a deep breath and continued. " She came to me several months ago looking for a solution to a problem she was suddenly faced with. You both realize that she lost her mother early in her young life and as such did not have that council to turn to when this need arose."

"What need is that?" Diego whispered. He had a sinking feeling he knew what the doctor was going to say and he was suddenly nervous.

Alejandro stared at the doctor, avoiding casting a questioning look at his son. That might look suspicious to the doctors already curious mind.

"She wanted to know an infallible way to prevent pregnancy."

Diego inhaled sharply and Alejandro’s eyebrows raised in question.

The doctor continued, afraid that the two men would begin to question before he was finished.

"I asked her what such a devout Catholic woman would need with such information." He took a deep breath. "She told me that she couldn't go into details. She was evasive but I persisted until she told me what was going on."

"And this was over three months ago?" Diego asked, calming his voice so it did not tremble.

The doctor nodded, suddenly curious as to why Diego would know almost an exact date of this conversation. He filed it in the back of his mind for further examination later. He needed to say what was on his mind before the men before him began to ask their own questions. If his suspicions were correct, there could be some very large difficulties ahead for the De La Vega family.

"She would only tell me that she was going to be married soon and the rest I could probably figure out on my own." He chuckled. " She figured the more I knew the more danger I would be placing myself in."

"She was correct." Diego sighed, casting a troubled look over the doctor’s shoulders and out at the rising sun.

The doctor’s eyes narrowed. For the first time he noticed how uncomfortable Diego was with the information being presented to the two men. Alejandro was holing up much better but the doctor could see the worried look in the older De La Vega’s eyes as well. They were hiding something.

"I can see by your expressions that you know something about this." It was not a question.

"Did you provide her with the information?" Diego asked, his voice a mere whisper.

The doctor nodded. " I did, reluctantly. She was quite persistent. Although she did seem to know much of what I revealed to her. She assured me that the information I provided to her would be used only within the confines of a marriage. But if she is married, what would she need with this information? I can only come to one of two conclusions."

The doctor stared at the young don. "I have two questions. One, did Victoria marry Zorro when she took a vacation to Santa Barbara three months ago?"

Diego glanced from his father, to the doctor and back again. His father nodded and Diego turned back to the doctor. "Yes. She did." He elaborated no further. The less the doctor knew the better.

"She accompanied you and you left her there in his care? Did you know what was going to be happening? " The doctor asked, incredulous that the noble Don’s would condone such deception.

"She is married in every legal sense of the word, doctor." Alejandro stepped in when his son could not find the words to refute the doctors statements.

"What kind of a marriage is it, Alejandro?" Hernandez questioned. " One where she has to involve close friends in a deception just to see this man whom she has now given herself to in marriage? She knows his identity now, I would assume. That will make her a target for the alcalde should he ever discover this deception."

"That will not happen." Alejandro stated matter-of-factly.

"And you allow her to meet him in secret at this hacienda? What about her upbringing? The prevention of natural pregnancy goes against all that we were brought up to believe. I know how strict she is in her beliefs."

Diego looked up sharply, from where he cradled his head in his hands, and cast a questioning look toward his father.

"We were all brought up that way. She has taken the only avenue available to her." Diego muttered silently.

"Their love is forbidden only by the alcalde." Alejandro answered quickly, covering his growing agitation with these circumstances.

He had not fully approved of his son’s and Victoria’s decision to marry in secret but seeing them together he had relented. Their love was great, and they had been kept apart far too long. He had hoped they would come up with an alternative, but none seemed better than what they had chosen.

The doctor shook his head. " You didn’t answer my question."

"They are married doctor, leave it at that. It is done. Neither you, I, nor my father can change that fact." Diego stated quickly. To cover his nervousness, he asked a question.

"What was the second question you wanted to ask?"

The doctor chuckled. "Never mind. If you had said she had not married Zorro, then the question would have been relevant. It is no longer." But he was still curious as to how the young Don would react when the question was posed to him.

"What was it anyway?" Diego persisted.

The doctor grinned. "Well, Diego, I thought perhaps that she was making frequent trips out here to see you."

Diego lowered his head and smiled. If this was what the doctor thought, he wondered how many others had come to the same conclusion. Had Victoria really been spending all that much time at the hacienda? It seemed as if he didn’t see enough of her.

Alejandro was appalled. "You think that Victoria would be carrying on with my son without the sanction of the church?"

The doctor's eyes widened and he raised his hands in defense. "I told you I was probably completely out of place asking the question. But since Diego has confirmed that she has indeed married Zorro..."

"Has Victoria really been spending that much time out here?" Diego asked. He had to know what the general populace believed. "I hadn’t noticed."

Alejandro shot an exasperated look at his son . The boy probably thought his time apart from his wife was hell on earth. It would be natural for him to think he couldn’t spend enough time with her.

A stray thought formed in the doctor's mind and he decided to satisfy his curiosity by asking the men before him. " Since Victoria would obviously know the identity of the masked man. Does this mean that you do as well?"

Diego grinned. " Wouldn't you like to know."

"Diego." Alejandro cast a warning look in his son's direction but that caused the doctor to become even more intrigued by the deception the De La Vega's were pulling over the eyes of the entire pueblo.

"Yes I would. As a matter of fact." The doctor smiled and stared at the younger De La Vega. He knew more than he was revealing. The doctor had never seen Diego look so agitated.

"The less you know, the better." Diego said flatly.

"If that young woman gets pregnant then she will have a larger problem on her hands than you two could protect her from."

"You said that you have given her the solution to prevent pregnancy…." And Diego had discussed this with Victoria before they had taken their vows. She assured him that, after their first plan failed, she had taken care of it. He had thought the topic would not need to be discussed again.

"Diego." The doctor let out a long sigh. " Any instruction I give her is not a complete safeguard. It is widely believed that the solutions that I have given her will prevent conception, but there are the chances that she will conceive when using them. The church does not exactly support such decisions and I have had to come by my information by less than direct means."

Diego held his breath. This was the one thing that he didn’t need to hear this morning. Not after he and his wife had spent the better part of the night doing the one thing that could result in a very unprepared for pregnancy.

Alejandro stared at his son’s reaction. Clearly Diego had not thought of this and was worried about the possibilities that his wife would become pregnant despite her best efforts to prevent that from happening.

What a mess this had turned into. Alejandro had wanted grandchildren for so long. Now that his son was legally able to provide him with some, he was sitting here discussing preventing such a thing from happening.

"Since you two obviously know more than you are willing to reveal. Please talk to her. I realize that if she is a married woman, there is nothing I can do. It is her conscience that she must face now. But if she were to get pregnant…."

Diego nodded but the doctor continued. "And you two are deeply involved in this deception as well. If you were every caught aiding Zorro and Victoria, the alcalde would hang you right beside them."

The doctor intoned his voice in such a way that made Diego think that the doctor knew more than he was revealing.

"We understand more than you know what the risks are, doctor." Diego said, forcing a small smile to his lips.

The doctor nodded. He was sure he knew what Diego meant. But it was something that he didn't wish to discuss with the young man. Several things had fallen into place for him in the last few months and the more Diego tried to change the doctor's perception of him, the more that perception changed into one that Hernandez could hardly believe. But there were just too many coincidences.

This was something he didn't have the desire to examine too closely and he took his leave, imploring the De La Vega men to do something about this situation before some serious harm came to one or more of the parties involved.

She watched him from the tavern porch, every movement, every feature, every facial expression.

She knew he could take care of himself but that didn’t lessen her worry when she heard that whip crackle over the heads of fully armed lancers, no matter how incompetent most of them were. One of these days one of them was going to get lucky and hit the masked man.

She was torn between wanting to watch her heroic husband and his exploits, and going upstairs and burying her head in her pillow and screaming his name so loud that he would cease such dangerous activity.

But they had discussed this very thing before she had said those two words that had bound them for life. Bound them in good times and bad. She had said those words, ‘I do’, and rarely did she even think twice about how quickly they had come from her lips.

The only regrets she had were the ones that prohibited her from acknowledging the steaming love for her husband when he was standing in the same room with her.

More than once she had felt a blush crawl up her cheeks when she watched him. She was careful not to let anyone see her staring at the young don with whom the pueblo thought she was like a sister.

Some days the desire to simply have him hold her was almost unbearable. She would find herself riding out to the De La Vega hacienda in the middle of the night, just so that she could spend some time alone with the man she loved.

Multiple gunshots shook her from her trance and her eyes searched the darkening plaza for signs of the man in black. He had vanished like a ghost in the night and she sighed. How she had wanted to feel his arms around her tonight, if just for a few minutes, to feel his lips stroke the soft skin along her neck.

She shuddered with restrained longing and ambled back into the tavern, closing and locking the door behind her.

She went about completing her nightly closing duties, absently wiping the kitchen tables, the pots and pans, and replacing them on their appropriate shelves.

She had performed these same tasks nightly for years and they now required no thought to complete. Instead her thoughts were with a certain masked man.

At times she wondered how they would continue with this charade they had concocted. It seemed to be more difficult as the months went on. And it had only been three months. Three months since she had discovered the identity of the true man behind the mask.

Sometimes she wondered if it had been her place to demand that he fulfill his promise to her. Sometimes she felt as if she had forced the issue. After all, he hadn't wanted to make her his wife until he was free from governmental retribution.

Zorro was still not yet a free man. She wasn't sure her husband's crusade against the evil would ever be finished.

A wife owed a certain duty to her husband and Victoria was not being permitted to perform those duties. Instead of being happy like a newly married woman should be, she found herself more lonely than ever. She couldn’t express her feelings toward her very own husband in public, and there were so few places they could be in private to express those same feelings.

Sometimes she wished Diego would give up this crusade of his. Sometimes she wished that he had never become Zorro at all. They certainly would have been together long ago if that was the case. But how different would the pueblo have been if Zorro never existed? If she had fallen in love with and married Diego soon after his return from Spain?

She would never know and lost was the chance to go back in time and find out.

She slumped over the kitchen table, lost in thought. Lost in the memories of the past three months and wondering if there was something she could have done to prevent the predicament in which she now found herself.

Victoria finished wiping at the table and sank into the bench, remembering the long carriage ride to San Francisco and the subsequent two weeks of pure happiness.

No one knew them in San Francisco. No one who would be able to put two and two together.

Diego and Victoria were able to walk hand in hand along the beaches. She had been free to stare at his handsome features, kiss him in public, laugh with him. She had been free to roam her hands through his soft, silky hair . . . .

She chuckled at their first attempt at protecting themselves from creating something that would end their secret life seemingly before it had even started. How incredibly it had failed! And it was something that they would have to, at least in her inexperienced mind, learn how to do. Diego didn’t complete the task with any more finesse than she had anticipated he would. So they ended up having to come up with a different route. Fortunately she had done some research of her own, besides what a certain courtesan had given her, that she had not let Diego in on.

They had researched together how to prevent Victoria from getting pregnant, and Diego, in his talent for discovering useful information hidden in the written word, had decided that he would take responsibility for the situation.

She rested her head in her hands, thinking back to the night when he had not only made her his wife in front of god, but made her his wife in body as well.

She was shaking from nervousness as they bade goodnight to his father and Felipe and stepped into the peaceful quiet that would be their room for the next two weeks.

"It's beautiful."

She leaned against the table, resting her face in her hands, remembering the wonderful day she had unexpectedly discovered the true identity of the man she had fallen so deeply in love with.

"Are you all right?" Zorro finished cleaning and bandaging the cut on her arm just as he noticed Victoria’s eyes open.

The attack had turned out to be minor and the hacienda suffered no real damage. The indians had been the survivors of the tribe who were thought to have been wiped out a year prior. No one in the hacienda had been hurt or killed.

Once the memories of the not so distant past began flowing, she couldn’t stop them. They were almost as vivid as the real thing…. Almost.

A smile spread across her lips as she shivered, remembering one of their late night walks along the beach outside of the city.

They had ridden out in the late afternoon for a picnic lunch, leaving Felipe and Alejandro alone to do whatever they wanted for the day.

"I think that was your fault. Not mine, Señor De La Vega!" Victoria laughed, gripping her sides to stop the painful spasms.

She shivered in remembrance. She always had that reaction to his touch, with or without the mask. So gentle, so strong, yet seemingly always slightly restrained.

It had been days since she had felt his lips on hers, his arms encircle her waist. This isn’t what a marriage was supposed to be. She wanted to be able to freely give herself to him nightly, daily if she so choose.

She frowned, rubbing her eyes.

"Now that is something I never want to see cross your beautiful face, Querida." His soft whisper caused the hairs on her neck to stand on end. He was here! Had he been feeling the pull as well? She turned and all but launched herself into his embrace.

The sombrero slid down his back, only to be stopped from falling to the ground by its cord, as her arms wrapped themselves tightly around his neck.

Her lips pressed to his in a desperate attempt to make-up for his absence in her life for the last few days.

He gripped her tightly, savoring the feel of her soft body pressed into his own hard one.

"I can’t stay long but I – I had to see you." He whispered, his lips dancing along her jaw line to her neck.

She tilted her head and arched her neck, revealing it’s creamy softness to him in the dim light of the room.

He took her invitation and pressed a kiss to a sensitive spot of her neck, sending shivers up her spine.

"Stay with me tonight." She begged as his lips traveled down her neck to the where the thin blouse covered her most beautiful breasts.

"I wish I could." He murmured against her chest.

She pulled out of his soft grasp and lowered the blouse down her shoulders to her waist, tempting him even further.

He blinked at her boldness, his eyes darting from the kitchen curtain to the soft, creamy mounds revealed to him, the hard nipples crying for his touch.

"You are making it harder to resist the alluring temptation before me." He breathed, averting his eyes.

"Then don’t resist." She whispered, taking small, hesitant steps toward him once more.

He shook his head, trying to find an excuse not to stay and loose himself within the depths of her passion.

"This is dangerous…."

"And me riding to the hacienda is not?" She countered.

He had no answer and was spared the need for one when he heard an insistent knocking on the locked door of the tavern.

He reached forward, drew her blouse over her shoulders and stepped into the shadows.

"What is it Sergeant!" Zorro grinned as he heard Victoria snap.

"Is there any extra tamales from this evenings meal?" The bumbling man asked. " Some of the men are not feeling too well and I thought maybe a little more food might settle their stomachs."

Victoria sighed. "Wait here and I will go check."

"Gracias señorita Victoria." The man smiled and took a seat at one of the tables to await Victoria’s arrival.

Zorro smiled when he heard the term of respect.

He risked a step out of the shadows when she appeared from the taproom and lifted the cover of an enclosed put. He wrapped his arms around her waist and murmured into her neck. "You haven’t been a señorita in, oh, three months."

She shrugged him away, lest the bumbling Sergeant stumble through the curtain, as he had done on many occasion, and find her in the masked man’s arms.

"Get back there!" She whispered and he disappeared into the shadows once more.

She grasped the covered container and disappeared with it from behind the curtain.

When she returned, he was gone.

She grumbled and stalked up to her room where she slammed the door loudly and resolved that she would give Diego a piece of her mind when she saw him next.

The next evening she would get her opportunity.

Informing Maria that she had some errands to run, the young woman mounted her mare and took off toward the De La Vega hacienda.

This time, she didn’t notice the eyes that watched her. Didn’t see the man mount his stallion and take off after her, following at a safe distance.

"Diego!" Alejandro called to his son, who was reading in the library. "You have a visitor."

Alejandro grinned when his son stood and quickly walked toward the door. He closed the door behind Victoria and stood back when Diego enveloped her in a tight embrace.

But when he tried to kiss her, she pulled away.

Alejandro raised his eyebrows in concern and amusement when Victoria stepped away from his son.

"I have a bone to pick with you." The gleam in her eyes advised Alejandro that his son had done something wrong in the young woman’s eyes that she was not going to let slide too easily.

Alejandro chuckled and stepped away when Diego cast him an irritated look.

"I’ll leave you to your wife and her bone." Alejandro laughed and scooted out of the room before Diego could execute the playful slap he had prepared.

"Not even a hello kiss?" Diego asked with a small smile, trying to lighten the mood.

"Did you give me a goodbye one last night?" She was magnificently radiant when she was in a huff over something and he reluctantly held back a chuckle. Wisely too, because she was obviously mad about what had transpired last night and the circumstances surrounding his hasty departure.

She strode immediately to the back hall, something she was used to doing so that no one could see what transpired between the couple. Servants rarely occupied the sleeping areas and this gave the couple a safe haven to talk.

He followed and before she could turn around, pressed her into the wall beside his door and captured her lips and a deep, penetrating kiss.

"That won’t make up for it, but if you would allow me, I will make up for now, what was denied you last night." He whispered into her neck as his lips traveled from her mouth to her ear, covering every inch in between with soft kisses.

She arched her neck and melted into his arms. She would not let the topic go so easily, however. "Why didn’t you stay last night. Mendoza was only in the tavern for a few minutes as then I had the rest of the evening to myself. I missed you." She whispered, her hands sliding through his soft hair as his lips caressed her soft neck.

"You don’t know how hard it was to leave." Diego admitted, pulling his lips from where they tasted her smooth skin.

"And do you know how much it hurt?" She whispered and averted his eyes when they tried to search for an explanation.

"I’m sorry." He embraced her tightly. They spent far to little time together to spend one moment of it fighting. "I…"

She pressed a slim finger to his lips. " I don’t need to hear any more. I’ve heard what I wanted to hear."

He grinned slightly. " I’m sorry?"

"Yes." She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck once more. Standing on tiptoes to reach his mouth, she surprised him with the demanding intensity of the kiss.

He fumbled for the door handle, while his other hand gripped her waist pulling her tightly against him. With his attention so cruelly divided, it took more time to find and push open the door to his room.

Her feet were lifted off the floor as he carried her over the threshold, his lips teasing hers, coaxing and demanding a response.

He laid her atop the soft cushions and joined her, his weight pressing her body into the mattress.

Her fingers nimbly unfastened the buttons on his shirt and she slid it off his shoulders.

The intense desire which drove their minds transferred to their bodies and they became caught in the tide which threatened to wash them over its shores before they were ready.

He pulled away sharply, determined to slow the intense need driving his loins. He wanted her then and there, wanted to take her in his arms and make sweet, passionate love to her. His body screamed for release but he restrained himself. He needed to make sure she was ready.

Their clothes were already in a disarray as her fingers reached for the fastenings of his pants. Their hearts plummeted into their stomachs when they heard a frantic knocking at the door.

"Diego!" Alejandro’s voice called from the other side of the polished wood.

Diego grunted and pushed himself from his wife, doing his best to straighten the mess his clothing had become.

"The alcalde is on his way! Get out here!"

A startled gasp escaped Victoria’s lips as she leapt from the bed and began to frantically straighten the mess her clothing had become.

As Diego tucked his shirt tails into his now fully fastened pants, he reached for his wife and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.

"Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. Wait until you hear him and then come from the hallway. The water closet is back here and that will be our excuse." He rushed out the door, leaving her half dressed.

"It’s about time," Alejandro muttered as Diego made his appearance in the library.

His father handed him a steaming cup of coffee and resumed his seat. Diego noticed that there was another cup set out for Victoria.

"She’ll be right out. She went to the…."

The rest of his sentence was drown out as DeSoto stormed into the hacienda, demanding to know where the young señorita was hiding.

"Hiding?" Diego asked, quickly masking his nervousness.

"What is the meaning of this intrusion, alcalde?" Alejandro demanded.

"You are aiding señorita Escalante and her romance with the masked bandit Zorro. I want to know where she is at this instant."

"Alcalde?" The men turned when the lovely young woman appeared in the hallway. "What are you doing here at this hour?"

The man blinked. "Where did you come from? And I could ask you the same question."

Victoria smiled and walked calmly over to where she noticed a steaming cup of coffee waiting for her on the small table. "I am having a cup of coffee with some friends, alcalde."

DeSoto narrowed his eyes and muttered. "And I am the King of Spain. You have been using the De La Vega hacienda for meetings with that criminal lover of yours and I am going to put a stop to it here and now."

Alejandro stood, his eyes fuming. "How dare you make such an accusation in my home! Get out this instant!"

Diego stood and rested a hand on Victoria’s shoulder. It was only then that he realized she was trembling violently. She had hidden it well but if DeSoto were to touch her, he would realize that something was amiss.

"We enjoy Victoria’s company and we have requested that she spend more time out at the ranch for - "

"For personal reasons." Diego finished for his father. " None of which concern Zorro." He made a show of resting a hand on her shoulder to reinforce his point.

"Oh?" This insinuated piece of information piqued the uniformed officer’s curiosity. Was something going on between the De La Vega son and the fiery señorita? He found that hard to believe. "And what personal reasons might those be?"

"I don’t see as it is any of your business, alcalde." Diego answered quickly before his father could frame a retort.

"Well, forgive the intrusion then." DeSoto grinned widely at Diego.

He leaned toward the young don and whispered in his ear. "Good luck with this one."

Victoria opened her mouth to refute his statement but was silenced by a Diego’s stern look.

"Why in heaven did you imply such a thing was going on between you two?" Alejandro breathed after the alcalde had left the hacienda.

"We might as well be semi-truthful." Diego smiled.

"Besides," Diego rubbed the tension out of Victoria’s shoulders. "Maybe he will spread some rumors about us."

Diego looked around the room. "Lets get you back to the tavern. We won’t have any peace here tonight. The alcalde wasn’t quite sure he believed what I insinuated so I’m certain he will wait outside and take any opportunity presented to him to snoop around the hacienda."

Victoria sighed. The throbbing between her legs had dissipated when she had thought they were all in danger but now that they were relatively safe, all that she wanted to do was go back into Diego’s bedroom and allow him to make sweet, passionate love to her.

It appeared that thought had disappeared from his mind and she resigned herself to another night alone. She wasn’t sure how many more of these nights she could take.

Diego noticed her frown and reached for her. "Is something the matter? We…."

"I don’t know how much longer I can do this, Diego." She muttered, her eyes dropping to the floor. She couldn’t bear to look at him.

She sank into a nearby chair and he was instantly beside her, wrapping long, strong arms around her sobbing frame. "I – can’t – live – like this. I can’t look over – my shoulder every – time I want to be – with you."

Diego released a long breath and cast a desperate look at his father. "We’ll work it out, Querida. We will find a way….."

"How long? How long will it take before your actions as Zorro cause you harm or, god forbid, kill you?" She melted in his arms, the tears slipping between tightly closed eyelids. "I just found you. I don’t want to loose you again."

"You won’t loose me." He pressed a kiss to her hair. " And we will be able to live together in peace. I just need time."

She nodded. She didn’t have the drive or the conviction to argue with him. She didn’t have the strength to tell him that his drive and determination to help the people of Los Angeles resist the tyranny could ruin their lives. Could create such a chasm between them that they would never again be able to cross it.

"Just take me home." Victoria mumbled and Diego nodded, discouraged by her reaction to the evening’s events. He had thought she would be happy that he had managed, at least in part, to plant a seed of gossip about the possibility of the young Don courting Victoria.

He retrieved a warm serape and wrapped it tightly around her shoulders.

The ride back to the pueblo was virtually silent, as each was lost in their own thoughts. Diego kept watch to make sure no one was following and he didn’t think the alcalde would be. He knew the man would wait at the hacienda for any sign of Zorro.

Victoria dismounted without Diego’s help and led her mare to the stables. There a young stable boy took the horse, removed its tack and began to brush her down.

Victoria entered the side door of the tavern, Diego following closely on her heals.

"Don’t you think you should go." She said softly. " I wouldn’t want anyone to see you here alone with me so late."

Diego closed his eyes and sighed. He wouldn’t leave her now. Something was wrong and he was going to make it right if it took all night . He stepped toward her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her against him perhaps a little more roughly than he had intended.

One hand slid to her hair and brushed it away from her face. His fingers caressed her cheek and advanced over her lips. He turned her cheek toward his face with one finger as his lips bent to take hers in a gentle kiss.

She stood motionless at first but as his lips caressed hers, a heat began to stir in the tips of her toes and slowly spread throughout her entire body.

It didn’t take long before she spun around in his arms and fastened her lips even tighter to his own, her fingers tangling in his hair.

Desire began to well inside him and he fought the urge to take her right there on the tavern floor. He was a gentleman, not a boor and he pushed the thought out of his mind. The desire that he had felt in the hacienda was returning more rapidly than his mind could process.

Victoria, however, had other plans as she backed toward the table in the center of the room, rested her backside against it, and leaned backward atop the smooth wood.

She laid across the table, beckoning him with a saucy look.

Hours later, nestled into Victoria's soft embrace, Diego whispered, "I love you," before falling into a deep sated sleep.

Victoria smiled at his comment but all words were lost on her lips as exhaustion claimed her body and mind.

The couple fell asleep, wrapped in each others arms, as the clock struck midnight.

Diego awoke a little before sunrise, as his body was used to after so many years of masquerading as Zorro. He tightened his arms around his young wife and breathed in the fresh scent of her hair.

When she stirred and cast a sleepy look at him, he pressed a gentle kiss to her eyelids, urging her to close them once more.

When she rubbed her cheek against his chest and stretched, he realized that she was not going to go back to sleep. In that case, there were some important things they needed to discuss. And they didn’t have much time to do it in. He needed to be out of the tavern before daybreak so that no one would be able to put together the fact that Diego had spent the night in the tavern rather than in his own hacienda.

"We need to talk." He said, his voice slightly deeper than usual this early in the morning.

"Mmm." He could feel her lips curve into a smile against his chest. "About?"

"Dr. Hernandez paid my father and me a visit a few days ago."

He could feel her stiffen in his arms and he rubbed her bare back in an effort to smooth away the tension.

"What did he have to say?" She asked innocently. She did not look up at him. If she had , he would have seen the guilty look in her eyes.

"He said you had come to him and asked certain questions that a young ‘unmarried’ woman should not have been asking. Especially one with such a strong Catholic background."

She sighed and he could feel her weighing the decision to tell him of her conversation.

"I know it is wrong. You don’t know how often I have had to confess to Padre Benitez the fact that I have resorted to these extremes." Her voice was barely a whisper into his chest. She still didn’t look at him.

"Padre Benitez knows?"

"He knows that I am married to Zorro and that I have had to take ‘certain steps’ to assure that no one discovers this marriage."

"What did he have to say about it?" Diego couldn’t believe that she would not come to him. He hadn’t even thought that it would be necessary to go to such extremes. But he should have. His rush to make her his wife had clouded his judgement and her reputation was again going to suffer for it. It had already suffered with the revelation she had fallen in love with a notorious outlaw.

"His response was as to be expected. He counseled patience and that Zorro’s time would eventually come to an end. He said I should have waited before entering into a marriage where I could not fully reveal my feelings for the man beneath Zorro’s mask."

She took a deep breath before continuing. She realized she should have shared some of these things with her husband. But in her inexperience, she assumed that it was a woman’s duty and that a man would not want any part of it. She often tended to forget that Diego was not like normal men.

"He felt that my decision to prevent God’s natural wonders from working within my body was wrong but that I was subject to certain special circumstances and he would not render judgement based on that which was written long ago."

Silence hung in the air, causing her to become nervous. " You are silent all of a sudden. You are the one who wanted to talk. Has this information upset you?

"A little." He sighed. " I wish you would have come to me so that we could have discussed this. It does concern me as well."

"I had to confess to him. I am already lying by not revealing my husbands true name. I feel so guilty."

"Has he asked?"

"No."

Diego embraced her, trying to lull away her fears. "I want to be a part of every decision you make that concerns us – and any future children we may have." He said quickly, almost stepping on her explanation.

"Are you upset?" She repeated. " That we can’t have a family right now? That we can’t do something as simple as making love without some form of preparation on my part?"

"I want to have children, Victoria. I do." He lifted her head so that she would look into his eyes, eyes that were filled with hurt and confusion. "But that possibility right now is impossible. What would happen if you were to get pregnant? The alcalde would have a field day with that information. He would correctly assume that the baby was Zorro’s and use the child to get to me. Your reputation would be ruined and I can’t dishonor you any more than I already have."

"I don’t care about my reputation, Diego!" She cried. " I care about you!"

"I know, Querida." He pressed a kiss to her temple and moved to get out of bed. " The sun will be up soon and I need to go before someone discovers that I was here all night."

She nodded and allowed him to slip from the covers. She watched him dress, burning his beautiful, hard physique into her memory. He kissed her before climbing out her bedroom window. She wrapped the thin blanket around her bare frame and closed her eyes, falling into a restless dream filled sleep……

She stepped in between the curtains she had been confessing in for all of her adult life. This time, she was more nervous than she could ever remember being.

It was more than a week later before she was again able to spend a moment alone with him. He suggested that they take a nice picnic lunch and go to a secluded spot he had noticed a few miles from the De La Vega hacienda. He had been to the plateau as a child and it was beautiful and cool. It was near the ocean and the cool summer breeze would keep the heat from their bodies.

Diego had sent out a few feelers to see if DeSoto had spread around the implied relationship, but so far he could not tell that DeSoto had breathed a word. He was slightly disappointed. He was looking for an avenue to escape the image of Zorro and Victoria and a rumor about Diego and Victoria could be just what the he needed.

Diego had no doubt that they would be followed on their little picnic and made sure that Victoria knew as well. He didn’t want to show prying eyes just how closely their lives had become intertwined.

"This is beautiful." Victoria admonished, her eyes bright with delight as she took in the fresh scenery surrounding her. She took a deep breath, smelling the green grass, the trees, the salty ocean over which they were now seated.

She had needed to get away. Spend some time with her husband. She missed him. Missed the strength of his arms as he held her in the night, or simply held her in a kiss. She didn’t want to think about the problems that they had. She was grateful that he had suggested the little picnic. Even though they could appear to be nothing more than close friends.

He grinned and spread the blanket beneath a large tree that was shading most of the area. He was careful to position the horses behind where they would be sitting so that anyone who was watching would have a difficult time making out what was indeed happening beneath the large tree. In front of them the large expanse of the Pacific Ocean called, its chorus lulling them into a sound sleep after they had eaten the scrumptious meal that Victoria had prepared.

DeSoto grunted as he tried to get a better look at the couple now obviously laying beneath the tree.

"De La Vega must have anticipated that I would follow them and put those damn horses in the way so that I couldn’t see what was happening." He snorted and moved closer.

There was very little to shade him from anyone who looked back toward the path, and he frowned. Diego had picked a perfect place to be able to watch for someone who might want to follow. Perhaps the young don was a bit smarter than DeSoto had given him credit for.

He crept closer to watch what happened. As he waited, he fell asleep under the sun’s warm rays.

"Where are you going?" Victoria asked as she noticed Diego search the path behind them for any sign of the alcalde.

"Going to see if we have a visitor." He smiled mischievously and pressed a quick kiss to her forehead before stepping around the horses and moving stealthly down the path.

"When you get back here I want more than a simple peck on the forehead." She whispered and he turned his head, a wide smile spreading across his lips.

"I'd give you much more than that if we didn’t have a visitor watching our every move." He grinned wickedly.

She became content to lean back against the tree trunk and listen to the churning of the summer waves along the coast. The smooth, steady sound was comforting and took away the worries of her daily life.

When Diego returned he was smiling widely and Victoria narrowed her eyes shooting him a questioning look.

"He is sound asleep. I took the liberty of allowing his horse to start back to town on his own." Diego grinned evilly and Victoria chuckled.

"He won’t be able to follow us at too close of a pace once we start back."

She moved toward him to collect on his previous promise but was reminded by his cautious look that the man who could hang her husband was mere yards away. Sleeping though he may be.

He noticed her exasperated sigh and cast a look back at the alcalde’s resting place. Deciding that danger was the spice of life, he reached for his wife and enveloped her lips and body in an embrace so tight that she instantly melted beneath his touch.

"Well, our picnic seems to be at an end. It will be getting dark soon and we should get back before it gets too cold." Diego sighed regretfully as he watched the sun sink lower over the horizon.

"Do you think DeSoto has discovered that his horse was missing?" There was an amused tone to her voice and he couldn’t help but suppress a small chuckle.

"Maybe." He grinned and packed up their belongings quickly.

They were careful to be as quiet as possible so as not to disturb the still slumbering alcalde. They didn’t glance back as they passed the small outcropping he was hidden behind.

When they were a safe distance away, they urged their horses to a full gallop to put as great a distance as they could between themselves and the alcalde.

Diego couldn’t deny her when they arrived at the hacienda as she begged to spend part of the night in his arms. It had been over a week since they had shared so much as a kiss and the separation had taken a visible toll on them both.

They had hidden their desires for one another for years and now that they were legally able to express those feelings, they didn’t waste a moment.

The days when they had to look at each other from a distance was the worst. Both would sneak a tempting, taunting look in the other’s direction but something would inevitably interfere with the unspoken plans for the night.

The housekeeper fixed them a scrumptious meal, which the ravenous couple devoured hungrily, before disappearing from the hacienda altogether.

The De La Vega cook assumed, wrongly, that the young don had escorted the señorita back to the tavern.

"You should go." Diego whispered, tightening his arms around his young bride once more. "It is no longer dark. You should have left hours ago."

"I know." She nuzzled her cheek against his bare chest, reluctant to leave the warm comfort of his arms.

He heard her unvoiced question and sought to allay her fears. " We will get through this. I’m not sure how. But I will find a way."

"I know. The tyranny in this pueblo will not go away as long as DeSoto is alcalde." She whispered, pressing a kiss to his chest. "Zorro is still needed, despite the fact that he is now needed by his wife as well."

"I can’t reveal myself, you know that. The alcalde would hang me and arrest my family. I won’t put you in that kind of danger."

She took a deep breath. "I know. Something has to change, and soon because I don’t know if I can live like this forever."

Diego lowered his eyes and lifted her head. " What are you saying? Do you regret marrying the way we did?"

"No!" She cried. " Of course not. Marrying you is the best thing I’ve ever done. I don’t regret it. I don’t regret us. I don’t regret our actions. I just want more from our lives. I don’t want to have to sneak around in the darkness to see you. Don’t want to look over my shoulder when I want to give you something as simple as a kiss."

"You don’t have to do those things right now." He cast her a most wicked grin before tightening his arms around her and taking her lips in a most passionate kiss.

While she returned his kiss, her heart sunk in disappointment as well. He seemed to be ignoring a very real part of their lives. When they were together, alone, nothing came between them. But soon, something would, and that could bring about her beloved husband’s death quicker than a noose.

He broke the kiss all too soon and pushed her toward the edge of the bed. "You need to go. Maria is probably wondering where you are and she is one person you don’t want to have to explain yourself to."

Victoria grinned as she slid reluctantly from beneath the warm covers and her husbands embrace. "Maria and I have an agreement. Don’t ask, don’t tell."

Diego laughed and watched his wife hurry into her clothing. Before she opened the door she cast a quick look in the slumbering man’s direction. " Will I see you today?"

"Of course."

While it wasn’t much, it was something, to see him in the tavern watching her. She blew him a kiss and shut the door behind her.

He sighed and settled his tired, sated body into the mattress. He would get a few more hours sleep before riding into town.

"Zorro, look out!" Alejandro called from the corner as he noticed a lancer charge at the masked man with sword drawn.

Zorro whirled on the man and impacted his face with a hard left hook before the saber even came close to striking him.

He wasn’t quick enough, however, to stop the alcalde from grasping Victoria and pressing his knife into her chest . The alcalde grinned and slid the knife along her slender neck, causing her to catch her breath.

Zorro paused in mid-motion, not willing to risk the slightest injury to the woman he loved.

"Give it up this time, Zorro." DeSoto seethed. The young woman struggled in his arms but he pressed the knife to her chest, causing a small tear.

Alejandro ushered the remaining customers toward the walls or even out the door. The less people in the way, the less likely they were to get hurt.

"How dare you threaten an innocent woman." Zorro snarled, clenching and unclenching his fists in his search of a way out of this predicament. He couldn’t find one that would end victorious for him.

Victoria suddenly became incensed and bent her head to bite the wrist that held her pinned against the alcalde.

He wailed in pain and she rushed out of his arms and straight into Zorro’s. The alcalde lifted his bleeding arm and prepared to throw the well weighted dagger at the masked man.

Zorro gripped Victoria tightly and turned to avoid the dagger he was sure would be flying toward them at any moment. He did not check behind him, however, and he whirled around with Victoria in his arms – straight into a shocked lancer’s outstretched blade.

Time stood still as Victoria’s sharp cry of pain stilled even the alcalde’s twisted heart.

The blade plunged deeply into her back and she slumped into Zorro’s arms, tears slipping between tightly closed eyelids.

The frightened lancer pulled away just as Zorro cried , "No!"

The knife that the alcalde threw, struck Zorro in the shoulder, but he ignored the stinging pain as he cradled Victoria’s semi-conscious form in his arms.

He barely noticed his sword hit the floor and didn’t care when he scooped the young woman up into his arms and raced out the door.

Silence hung around the tavern until Zorro’s shrill whistle to Tornado shook them from their disbelief.

The alcalde rushed through the doors in time to see the masked man race out of the plaza with the injured woman.

"Lancers! After him!" DeSoto ordered and dashed across the plaza to find Mariposa.

Alejandro gathered Zorro’s blade and hid it as he followed the people out of the tavern. He quickly mounted Dulcinea and galloped home to find Diego.

His hands shook as he held Zorro’s blade. Victoria was badly wounded and he didn’t know what Zorro could do to help her.

More surprised was Alejandro when he arrived at the hacienda to see Tornado munching on is bridle. If the alcalde noticed the stallion, then all would be lost.

Alejandro jumped off the stallion and rushed into the house. Throwing the door open, he could see a trail of blood leading into the back rooms toward the bedrooms.

Zorro didn’t know what to do. For the first time in his life he was paralized in fear. Victoria was dying, of that he was certain. He ripped off his sash and wrapped her wound tightly, causing a sharp cry to slip from her lips.

"Why couldn’t I protect you!" He cried, laying his head against hers and pressing a kiss to her temple. "The person most important in my life and I am the one to cause your death!"

Despair crushed him under its weight and he buckled from the pressure. What would he do without her? Without the promise of a future filled with her vibrant life, her kisses, her love.

Tears wet the mask and glued it to his face.

"I can’t go on without you!" He cried, cradling her head in his arms. "I need you. You are more important than, this lie I have created around my loved ones."

When Alejandro reached his son’s room, he noticed the door was wide open. When he peered around the frame he noticed Zorro leaning over the limp form of the young woman to whom his heart belonged

"Madre de Dios!" Alejandro set the blade beside the bed and leaned over the other side of the bed, gazing compassionately at the young woman. "Have you called for help?"

"There is nothing we can do." He muttered, pressing bare fingers into her chest to slow the bleeding.

The blood seeped bright red through the white cotton blouse that she wore, covering his bare fingers and the white mattress sheets.

"See how red it is." He lifted his fingers, gazing at them as if they were attached to someone else’s body. "It is coming from her heart."

Victoria stirred, coughing violently. Zorro brought a cool glass of water to her lips and urged her to drink. More spilled from her lips than inside her and she coughed again, this time blood replaced the water spilling from the corners of her mouth.

Her eyes fluttered open and a weak hand reached for him. She struggled for breath and he pulled the mask from his face just as Dr. Hernandez and DeSoto hurried into the room.

He paid no attention to the intruders as he whispered, " I love you," before she trembled one last time and closed her eyes. "Without you, my life is nothing."

"You are under arrest." DeSoto raised his pistol toward Diego’s chest and cocked the trigger. "I dare you to resist."

Diego bolted upright in bed, wiping sweat-drenched hair out of his eyes. He looked around the room. Stared at his hands. There was no blood. No indication that what he had just witnessed had even happened.

He took a deep breath and shuddered. Then he remembered what had happened in the last week and his heart tumbled into despair once again.

Diego cradled his head in his hands. He wasn’t sure what to make of the mess his life had become over the last six months. The woman he had fought so long for, had loved so hard, had told him that she could not live this masquerade of a life any longer.

If he couldn’t make a choice than she would make it for him. And she had done just that. She had left without so much as a word to him, leaving the tavern in the capable hands of her long time friend, Maria. He didn’t know if she would ever return.

They’d had a remarkable flight. And he didn’t blame her for the things that she had said. But hadn’t they known the risks before entering into marriage? Why now was she running when things became difficult? What happened to ‘love, honor and cherish in good times and bad’?

"And you let her go?" Alejandro demanded, pulling himself to his full height and looking his son in the eyes.

Diego bowed his head. "She is a very independent woman. She gave me an ultimatum. I – couldn’t stop my fight for this pueblo. We couldn’t be together without suspicion."

Alejandro shook his head. This situation was just getting worse as the months went on. Now his son was miserable and it showed wherever he went. Someone was going to start asking questions if his son’s mood didn’t lighten and soon.

"Go after her!" Alejandro could think of nothing else. "Find a way Diego! Or you are going to loose her, for good!"

"I may already have." Diego muttered and walked toward his room, his head lowered in despair.

He settled into the mattress with a heavy sigh. Everything around the room reminded him of her. He brushed his hand across the crisp sheets. He could feel her body next to his, the sweet scent of her hair filling his nostrils. The soft lips as they parted for his caress.

He closed his eyes, slowly falling into a tortured slumber.

He could see her smile, her dancing eyes as she repeated the words that would bind them in life or in death.

Death? He would die if she left him. He would have nothing more to live for.

Diego tossed fitfully. His eyelids fluttered in dreams that he could not prevent. The scene the previous night replayed in his mind with more intensity than before.

His argument with Victoria slammed into his mind and left him gasping for breath. He couldn’t understand her reasons for leaving. She didn’t even tell him she was going away. He had thought that the situation was done and over with after their argument.

He wracked his brain over their conversation, over something he might have said to push her away.

Suddenly his memories shifted to a time when Victoria lay dying in one of the De La Vega guest rooms. He had been helpless to do anything then just as he was helpless now.

"Victoria, if you die, Zorro will die with you." He had said to her unconscious form.

It was true, if he lost Victoria than he would loose the one light at the end of the long, hard road, that he had traveled as Zorro.

He had burned the black silk mask at that moment, convinced that Victoria would never again see the sun rise. He had been wrong.

He hoped he was wrong about the dread that now filled his heart whenever he thought of his life with the woman he loved.

A darkness settled over his mind and he was suddenly scared for the first time in his life. Scared that the one thing he had fought and dreamed of for so long had slipped through his fingers – forever.

Again he awoke with a start, covered in sweat.

Was this new dream some kind of premonition? Were the powers that be trying to warn him of an upcoming tragedy? He bolted out of bed and began to dress.

He didn’t know where Victoria had gone. Only that she had taken most of her belongings and had left the tavern in Maria’s capable hands.

Diego felt despair wash over him like a tidal wave. He needed to find out where she had gone. He just wasn’t sure where to start. He couldn’t be too obvious in his questioning. The alcalde, of all people, was already suspicious enough with Diego and Victoria spending a lot of time together.

First off, he needed to see the padre. Confession was good for the soul and he needed something good and pure in his life right now.

As Diego rode through the plaza, he noticed Maria vigorously sweeping the outside steps. A task he was so used to seeing Victoria perform, he did a double take just to make sure his eyes were not deceiving him.

He felt his temper begin to simmer at the situation they now found themselves thrust into. He was angry at having to see another perform the tasks he was so accustomed to seeing Victoria perform.

A few caballeros nodded respectfully to the young don as he dismounted his horse. He gave them a polite nod but in no other way acknowledged them.

The older men found this odd that the young caballero was so distracted but did nothing to interrupt the obviously important task he was striding towards the church to complete.

DeSoto, who had just stepped out of his office, witnessed the exchange, or rather the lack of one, between the caballeros, and he narrowed his eyes.

He had wondered what had happened to cause the fiery señorita to leave the pueblo on a journey to who knew where for who knew how long.

His eyes followed the young don as he stepped into the church.

Perhaps he would need to do a little more investigating on his own to find out what was going on. Victoria and the De La Vega’s were hiding something and he was going to find out what that was if that was the last thing he did.

"What can I do for you, my son?" The padre’s calm voice was soothing to Diego’s troubled heart.

He opened his mouth to speak but shut it abruptly. No. He would need to phrase his words carefully so that the padre would not suspect anything about Zorro. But he could discuss his feelings for Victoria. Those would be well known soon enough if he didn’t stop his strange behavior. He knew that he had been behaving badly and he could see some of the pueblo residents had begun to think his behavior was caused by Victoria’s sudden departure from the pueblo.

"I need your counsel, padre." Diego began. He knew that padre could tell the identity of his confessor simply by the sound and tone of his voice. ‘I wonder if he knows Zorro’s identity as well?’ Diego wondered. ‘I can’t mask my voice as well as my face.’

The padre was concerned. He had never heard Diego sound so tormented. His voice was not the happy one that he was used to hearing.

"I am here to listen."

"I’m afraid I may have done something that may have hurt someone I love very deeply."

The padre remained silent allowing the troubled don to continue.

"I – I fell in love and couldn’t acknowledge that love in public."

The padre’s eyes widened. Could this have something to do with Victoria? He knew the two were close friends. But he thought, as did the rest of the pueblo, that they behaved more like a brother and sister. Besides, she had Zorro. Although he himself had counseled the young woman that men like Zorro never made good husbands. Hadn’t she confessed to him scant months ago that she had entered into a marriage with the masked man? He calmed his racing thoughts, listening closely to what Diego had to say.

"Now she – has."

When Diego left the sentence unfinished, the padre spoke as if to reassure the young man that this conversation would go no farther than the curtains in between which they were sandwiched.

"She has left the pueblo and I am here with no alternative but to let her live her own life separate from mine – and that which we had envisioned living together."

The padre’s eyes narrowed. Could he be talking about Victoria? No. He couldn’t be. She was married to Zorro. If he was even remotely interested in a married woman…….

"I love her with all my heart and she knows. She agreed…." He stopped. He couldn’t reveal the fact that they were married. That would make it too easy for the padre to put two and two together.

"My son, I don’t understand the situation in which you are presenting this information to me. There must things which you are leaving out. To be completely free of all sins and pain, you must confess all."

"For your safety, I must not speak any more. I was hoping that by confessing some of my feelings, that the pain would lessen. I was wrong." Diego moved to exit the curtain but the padre’s stern voice pulled him back like a lifeline.

When Diego turned back, he noticed the padre’s face pressed against the thin veil which separated them.

"God will protect me, my son. He will protect you as well."

"He has done a good job of it these last years." Diego slumped into the seat once more. He, too, was tiring of the masquerade that his life had become since he had returned from Spain. He had now tasted the pure pleasure of emotions he could have only dreamed about, up until a few months ago, and he didn’t want to give that up.

"What have you needed protection from?"

Diego remained silent.

"You must confess, my son, or this weight will remain on your shoulders until you bend or break from its weight."

"I can’t say any more, padre. I’m sorry." The troubled man took his leave and the padre exited the chamber in time to see the young don stride through the church door.

The padre shook his head. "You need more help than you know, my son. I pray that you will ask for it before it is too late."

Benitez leaned back in his seat, realizing that he had just heard the partial confession of the legendary masked bandit of California. There could be no other explanation. Benitez sighed. He should have been able to see through the young Don’s masquerade. But perhaps God had protected the young man from the task that had been set before him.

The padre bent in prayer, asking that the young man be kept safe and that he would soon find the happiness that he deserved.

Diego was more confused now than he had been when he entered the church. He needed something cool to drink. He skirted around the people and the children playing in the plaza, ignoring them in favor of examining his own tortured thoughts.

Several caballeros again acknowledged the young don, but he walked by as if he had not seen them. He asked for a glass of cool orange juice and then thought better of it and changed his order to a small glass of wine. He needed to do something to ease the pain.

He didn’t even notice his father slip behind him until he placed a hand on the young man’s shoulder.

"Wine will jumble your thoughts, Diego. Not clear them." His father warned.

"I know."

He took a sip, wrinkled his nose at the taste, this was not something he needed right now, and set the glass back down. He quickly paid for the barely touched glass and turned to leave. He couldn’t stand in this place that radiated with Victoria’s presence.

"Diego." Alejandro called to his son. "I’ve just received a letter."

Diego stopped in his tracks and turned around slowly, casting a questioning look at his father.

"It’s from Ramon Escalante. He is going to be married in a few months and would like you to attend the wedding."

"Ramon?" Diego took the letter from his father’s outstretched hand. "That’s it! I’ll leave immediately." His eyes lit with a determination that had been vacant in the last few weeks and he strode out the door at a rigorous pace.

Alejandro smiled. His unvoiced thought was realized as his son took off towards home to begin packing for the long journey.

DeSoto had been enjoying a cool glass of orange juice, at the other end of the bar, when he overheard the exchange between the De La Vega men.

'So, the little woman had gone to Mexico City?' He pulled at the strands of gray hair multiplying daily on his chin. ‘She probably ran off with her masked lover. Well, I will just have to pay her a surprise visit. Catch them in an unholy act and stain his reputation in the eyes of the people.'

Unfortunately if De La Vega got in the way, he would just go through the young don to get to Zorro.

"Victoria!" Ramon cried, enveloping his sister in an animated embrace. "When I received your letter, I was so excited!" He became somber. "And a little worried. Is there something wrong?"

Victoria looked cautiously around the crowd gathered to meet their visiting loved ones.

"We can talk about it later. I want to meet this young woman you never fail to mention in your letters!"

A smile played across the younger man's deeply tanned features and he bent to take her baggage.

Groaning, he asked playfully. " What, did you bring everything you own?"

"Just about." She muttered and then changed the subject by again asking about the young woman in her brother’s life.

"She's amazing, Sis!" Victoria noticed the joyous look on his face as he described his young lady. "I've asked her to marry me. And she’s accepted!"

"Oh Ramon!" Victoria hugged him tightly before hopping into the carriage. "I’m so happy for you."

"It like nothing I ever imagined. I love her so much. And when I get my promotion we will be able to afford a small house."

"It sounds as if you’ve really made a life for yourself here." The smile was there but her earlier enthusiasm had abated slightly. She should be this happy. She was a woman married to a man that she loved more than life itself. And it was because of that love that she had to leave him.

"Her father has loaned us the money for the house and it will be done on our wedding day. "He could hardly contain his excitement and Victoria smiled for him. "I was hoping you would come. I sent a letter to a few friends in Los Angeles as well, inviting them to the wedding."

"Oh?" Victoria was curious who her brother had invited. Many of his childhood friends remained in the pueblo as had those who knew their parents.

"Since we are getting married here where her family is, I wanted to invite some of my friends from Los Angeles. Don’t want the church to look too empty on my side." He chuckled and slapped the reins, urging the mare along the road toward home.

"You are going to be staying with Rosita’s family. Where I live isn’t suitable for a young woman."

"Oh Ramon!" Victoria exhorted. " I have run the tavern since mama and papa…"

"I will hear no more of it, Victoria." Ramon interrupted her. "Besides, it will give you the chance to get to know Rosita and her family."

Victoria nodded. She didn’t want to impose on another family, even if they were going to be members of her own soon. She needed to make sure she got a few moments alone with her brother. She needed to tell him what was happening in her life and why she was suddenly appearing on his doorstep with most of the belonging she owned.

When they arrived at the small hacienda, Ramon introduced his bride-to-be. She was very beautiful and obviously from a well off – if not very wealthy – family.

Victoria was settled into a guest room and she began to unpack, placing precious momentos that she had brought, in the back of the drawers.

Each article of clothing reminded her of him. Of his smile, of his kiss, of his touch. How his arms felt when he held her. She had felt safe in his arms, even if she didn’t feel that he was safe.

She took several of the gifts that he had given her and set them carefully in a drawer. She was drawn from her careful examination of the items by a knock at the door.

"Victoria?" Ramon questioned and she rushed to the door and pulled it open.

"Ramon, I need to talk to you." She breathed. "It’s – well, it’s personal and I don’t feel comfortable talking to Rosita or her mother about such things."

Ramon was suddenly concerned. He and his sister hadn’t had the time to really chat about why she had come to visit him. He had expected to hear from her before she showed up.

"Is something wrong? Are you all right?" He grasped her arm gently and led her to one of the chairs that set next to the bed. He knelt there beside her, his eyes full of questions.

"Yes and no." She admitted and stood, walked to the small case that she had lovingly placed between her nightclothes and pulled the ring from its case.

She extended her hand toward him and he took the ring, examining it.

"It’s beautiful. Where did you get something so fine? It must be worth….."

"It belonged to my husband’s mother." She sunk back into the seat as her brother’s eyes widened.

"What?" Ramon pulled the other chair over and sat across from her, leaning his arms on his legs. "Your husband? Victoria what is going on?"

She lowered her head, forcing the tears to remain at bay. "I married six months ago."

Ramon blinked. " And you’ve left him?" He shook his head. No matter how bad things got, that was something Victoria would never do. His eyes widened when he remembered the last time he was in Los Angeles. Zorro had helped him to get out of the pueblo before the mad alcalde placed him under arrest. He recognized the looks that passed between his sister and the masked man as looks that now passed between him and Rosita. Realization flashed before his eyes.

"Zorro?" he asked and when Victoria nodded, he leaned forward and embraced the sobbing woman.

"What happened? Is he still wanted? What could he have done that would make you leave him?"

"Nothing. That is the problem." A stray tear slipped from the corner of her eye and she wiped it away quickly. "We can’t be together in public, the alcalde can’t know that I have married him, and there is more evil in the pueblo than ever. His crusade will never end."

She continued, trying to make her brother understand. "I didn’t expect to be staying with another family. I can’t go into details about the circumstances of my marriage."

"Well just tell them that your husband is in Los Angeles and because of the danger in the pueblo, he has sent you here to me so that you will be safe." Ramon advised. "There will be no other need for them to question. And they will think it honorable that he has sent you here to protect you. No one needs to know that you have left him."

She nodded and her brother embraced her tightly. She could envision Diego’s arms around her, comforting her, but she shook the thought out of her mind. She needed to tell her brother the other problem that she was faced with, but they were interrupted by a soft rasping on the door.

The following weeks had been a tremendous strain on Diego. He pushed the De La Vega stallion harder than he would have pushed Tornado and the spirited horse was finally showing signs of exertion.

He had entered Mexico days ago and he was finally nearing the outskirts of the city.

It had been a long time, not since his uncle’s death and when he found Felipe, had he set foot in or around Mexico City.

He gazed around the bustling city. It had grown by leaps and bounds since he was last here. The people, many just as poor as those who lived in Los Angeles, lived on the streets, begging for any scrap of food they could.

Diego took pity on those he found and deposited a few centavos in every dirty palm he came across.

It was early morning and Diego had been riding hard all night long. He made use of a local tavern, making note how impersonal it seemed next to the cleanliness and friendliness of Victoria’s establishment, to change into fresh clothes and comb his hair back out of his eyes. If Victoria was staying with her brother, Diego would be relieved that she was safe. He would, of course, attempt to persuade her to come home. He missed her. A part of his soul had been torn away when she had left and he was desperately trying to search for a way to heal it.

Diego strode out the door and the glint of a familiar saber caught his eye. He turned his head back to the doorway in which he had just passed but the feeling had dissipated as quickly as it had come. Diego shook his head. He felt like he was being watched, but felt foolish looking around the large plaza crowd for someone who was probably not even watching him.

A flash of color caught his eye and then disappeared in the crowd. He shook his head and decided he was imagining things. He had seen Victoria in his minds eye the past month or so that she had been gone, and now he thought he saw her in every short, black haired woman he ran across.

He chuckled to himself. Love did indeed fry a man’s brain like a crisp tortilla.

He mounted his stallion and took off in the direction the hotel manager had pointed out the barracks in question to be.

Diego didn’t see DeSoto step out from behind several tied stallions, a small grin forming on his slim lips.

‘I can’t believe the man made it all the way here without getting lost. And at a pace I could barely keep up with!’

"Something is going on here and I am going to find out what it is." He muttered and mounted his stallion to follow at a safe distance.

A young woman turned swiftly, her black hair blowing stray strands around her face in the cool summer breeze.

‘It couldn’t be.’ She thought as she stared at the caballero’s back. ‘What would he be doing all the way down here?’

"Let’s gather some flowers for the table today." Another young woman bubbled and pulled amber eyes from the direction of the retreating horse.

When Diego reached the soldier’s barracks, he obtained the information that he requested to see his young childhood friend.

"Diego!" Ramon cheered when he noticed his well-dressed friend waiting in his small living quarters. "I’m so glad you could come!"

The two men shook hands and Diego forced a smile to his lips. "I would have missed your wedding for the world, Ramon."

"Thank you! You are going to be staying with my fiance’s family until the wedding." Ramon glanced around the small room and grinned. "As you can see, there is barely enough room for me here."

"Oh, I don’t want to impose. I could stay at a local tav - "

"I wouldn’t have it any other way. Rosita’s family has extended the invitation to any of my friends that come from out of the territory." Ramon smiled and indicated the young don to sit in the chair across from the bed. "Besides you have been a friend of this family for as long as I can remember."

Diego smiled and Ramon’s features grew solemn.

"But there is one thing I must ask that you don’t take back to Los Angeles with you."

Diego was curious and he searched the younger man’s eyes carefully. "What is that, Ramon."

"My sister is here and she really doesn’t want anyone to know where she has gone."

Diego breathed a sigh of relief he hoped Ramon didn’t see. At least she was safe and in good hands.

"Is – she staying with your fiance’s family as well?" He managed to ask.

Ramon nodded. "Yes. And," Ramon looked away, suddenly nervous about broaching the subject with his longtime friend. "Victoria is in a delicate condition right now and please don’t pressure her about anything."

So she did regret leaving him. Diego was elated that she at least still loved him to some extent. Diego needed to know how much she had told Ramon.

"We are all worried when she up and left so quickly without so much as a word to anyone."

Ramon nodded. "There were reasons that I can’t go into. If she wants them known, she’ll have to tell you herself."

Diego nodded. " I understand. I’ll be glad to help her in any way that I can."

Ramon breathed deeply. "I wish she would accept your help. She has accepted it from no one else."

"Well why don’t we go out there and see if I can do something to change her mind." Diego smiled; A genuine smile that permeated his entire being. He would get another chance with the woman he loved. And this time he would make her see that her place was with him and not hundreds of miles away.

As the horses were taken into the stables to keep them out of the hot sun, introductions were made to the family members that were present in the hacienda.

"Diego this is Rosita’s mother, Elindsa, her father, Estaban, her brother Carlos and her sister Malindsa. Everyone this is my childhood friend Diego De La Vega from Los Angeles."

"A pleasure to meet you." Diego bowed over the Señora’s hand, kissing it lightly, repeated the same action with the young sister and shook hands with the two men.

"Diego has been a friend for as long as I can remember. Victoria, Francisco and I would always do our very best to get the proper caballero into some trouble or another!" Ramon began his stories as the family sat around to listen to the exaggerated tales.

"You have a beautiful home, Señor Calzon." Diego observed, smiling at the older man.

"Thank you Diego." Estaban smiled.

"Rosita and Victoria went into town to gather a few things for dinner." Elindsa smiled. "Victoria has been a godsend to us. She is an excellent cook."

Diego grinned. "That she is. We miss her in Los Angeles."

"I can imagine." Estaban grinned.

"Well I think it is best that she is here. In her condition……." Estaban glared at his wife and she immediately snapped her mouth shut.

Diego shot a questioning look at Ramon but before the young man could explain, the door opened and in popped the two young women.

They were laughing as they carried in the groceries for the evening’s meal. Rosita cocked her head at the new face that turned to look at them, and smiled widely, taking a step forward to greet the man.

Victoria, however, stopped in her tracks, frozen in place, as the tall lean form of her husband stood slowly.

She didn’t notice the clay pot they had purchased, slip out of her hands and shatter on the floor, until it was too late.

She jumped back as the pieces bounced across the floor, and Ramon was instantly at her side. Diego, immobilized by the site standing before him, stared at the young woman’s frightened features.

"Are you all right?" Ramon asked, searching his sister for cuts.

"I’m - I’m fine." She breathed, unable to tear her eyes away from those of her confused husband.

Elindsa quickly gathered the pieces of shattered pottery and took them to be disposed of, while Ramon led Victoria to the seat he had just vacated.

"Ramon, I- I’m not feeling too well. I think I would rather rest." Victoria pulled her eyes from Diego’s and stared at her brother, feigning exhaustion.

Ramon blinked back his confusion in favor of his concern for his sisters well-being. "All right, let me take you….."

"I’ll take her." Elindsa offered, and took the young woman by the arm and led her to the side of the room where the sleeping chambers were located. "Stay with Rosita and introduce her to our new guest."

Ramon nodded, took his young fiance’s hand and smiled at Diego. Still unable to get his sisters reaction out of his mind, he missed the first introduction until Diego had already bent over the young woman’s hand.

"Rosita, I presume." Diego forced a small smile. His mind was still reeling with the sight he had just witnessed. "Diego De La Vega."

"Oh, Rosita, Diego is a long time friend of the family. I am ecstatic that he has been able to come all this way from Los Angeles to attend our wedding."

"Welcome, Señor," The young woman blushed up at the tall caballero. "I’m sorry about Victoria, you see she is in…."

"A delicate condition, yes." Diego finished for her and turned to Ramon. "The condition you mentioned before we arrived, I presume?"

"Sí." Ramon nodded and turned to the family. " If you don’t mind. I’d like a few words alone with Diego. I didn’t prepare him well enough for what he would find when he arrived and I can imagine he has a few questions for me."

They nodded and filed out of the room, one by one; His young bride-to-be pressing a kiss to his cheek before stepping into the hallway to check on Victoria.

Victoria launched herself into her bed. Tears rolled swiftly down her cheeks despite her best efforts to stop them. How had he found her? Had she left a trail easy enough for him to follow? She couldn’t bear seeing him now. It was too painful.

She shook her head. He knew. That much was obvious by the burst of shock and recognition that flashed across his eyes as he looked at her.

Maybe he had come to tell her that he had changed his mind. That he would give Zorro up forever if she would come back. But was that what she really wanted? His masked persona is what drew her to him in the first place. She didn’t want him to give it up. She simply wanted to be able to acknowledge that she loved him in public. Was that such a difficult thing to ask?

Yes. It was. Zorro was a much loved legend among the people of Los Angeles. Everyone knew that she was in love with the man. Suddenly announcing that she was going to marry Diego, or was married to Diego, would cause unexplainable questions.

Why was Diego here? She thought frantically, trying to figure out what would have made him come all the way to Mexico City.

Ramon! Ramon must have contacted him. But why? He had promised not to tell anyone from Los Angeles that he had any contact with his sister. Then what was she missing? Wait! Ramon had told her that he had sent invitations to Los Angeles, one to his very sister, to invite many of his old childhood friends to his wedding. That must have been what had brought Diego to her doorstep.

She held her head in her hands. What was she going to do now? Everyone in the house had seen her reaction to Diego. She would need to come up with an explanation. No, she needed to talk to Diego so that they could come up with one.

She stood and splashed her face with cool water to wash away the effects the tears had caused. Her eyes were still red as she wiped her face with a small cloth. She sat on her bed and dabbed at her eyes. She would wait a little until the swelling had gone down. She didn’t want anyone to know that she had been crying.

Diego whirled on Ramon but Escalante had anticipated a similar reaction and already had the words framed and on the tip of his tongue.

"I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before. But I didn’t know it would be so noticeable."

Diego’s eyes widened and he struggled to keep his voice down. "How could that condition not be noticeable!?"

"I know you are wondering what…"

Diego shook his head and began to pace the small room. "Ramon, is this why she left?"

Ramon nodded. "Among other things. She doesn’t like to talk about it. She has told us only what she wants us to know."

Diego sighed and absently brushed his hair back into place, this caused an unruly lock to dislodge itself and fall over his eyes, making him look years younger.

"Diego?" Ramon’s eyes narrowed. " Why did she have that reaction when she saw you?"

Diego thought up a quick excuse. He was becoming very good at lying. Sometimes he didn’t know where the lie ended and the truth started.

"She obviously left the pueblo because she thought she would be publicly ridiculed. In a city as big as this, a woman in her condition would be presumed to have a husband, even if no one had ever seen one at her side. Seeing me, someone from her home, might have shocked her if she wasn’t prepared." Diego took a deep breath. " I’d like to speak with her though, if I may?"

Ramon accepted Diego’s excuse. It sounded reasonable to him. After all, his sister had run from Los Angeles for many reasons, her condition being one of the most important.

"I’ll check with her." Ramon nodded and turned toward the room that, for the time being, his fiance and sister shared.

Diego nodded slowly, masking his true emotions again. He turned toward the window, when Ramon had left, allowing the pain and agony of this new situation wash over him. A tear slipped from the corner of his eye as he stared at the setting sun.

Why didn’t she tell him? Diego couldn’t understand. The simple note she had left stated nothing about this situation. She had given him no indication that this had happened.

He was torn by anger, fear, love and rejection. The woman could drive him insane with all of these emotions. He wiped violently at the tear that crept down his cheek, wondering what on earth he could have done to be punished in this way.

"You are the young man she fell in love with, aren’t you?" The soft voice startled him and he turned quickly, wiping at his face one more.

"What?" Diego asked. "I’m sure I don’t know what you mean."

She chuckled and moved towards him. Wrapping her arms around his, she led him out the back of the home and into the yard so that they could speak in private.

"I saw your reaction to seeing her condition. I’ve also learned enough to know that she would not have had this reaction to a simple family friend. She has also been very quiet and has not discussed her husband in any way." Her tone was a little biting and Diego couldn’t say that he blamed her. The woman probably thought horrible things about him. "What did you do to her to make her run from you?"

"I don’t know what to say, Señora." Diego sighed, looking around the small garden the women obviously struggled to keep alive.

"Explain it to me."

He chuckled. "That would take a lifetime."

"You may have that long if she sends you away."

He lifted his downcast eyes to stare into those of the woman standing there as if to judge him.

"I would not go." He stated matter-of-factly.

"I won’t let you hurt that young woman again. So you had better tell me everything."

"I’ll tell you what I can," He opened his mouth to speak when they heard a knock come from the front of the hacienda.

Diego and Elindsa walked into the house and toward the front just as Estaban pulled open the door.

Diego’s heart plummeted into his chest when he noticed the alcalde, dressed in formal military attire, smiling widely at the young don.

"Who are…."

"Alcalde." Diego stepped forward and introduced the alcalde to Estaban and his wife.

"To what do we owe this surprise?" Diego asked politely, keeping his anger and nervousness in check.

"I heard about Ramon’s wedding and thought I would travel down here to wish him luck in his new marriage."

Diego knew the man was lying but he couldn’t make such an accusation without insulting the alcalde and bringing unwanted suspicion down atop his head. He’d already had enough slaps in the face today, he didn’t need another.

"Welcome then, Señor." Estaban took the alcalde’s hand and indicated that he should come in and join them for dinner.

Diego could see that Rosita’s father was ecstatic that his soon to be son in law was friends with such an important government official.

He could see that the man would make every effort to make the alcalde feel welcome in the small home.

Ramon and Diego held their tongues but were immediately concerned that the alcalde would have a wonderful time when he saw Victoria. Both knew that she did not need any of his badgering.

Both men were quite relieved when Victoria declined dinner, deciding instead to sip some soup from her bed.

As darkness approached, the alcalde took his leave, but not before inquiring as to how Victoria was doing.

"She is doing fine, thank you." Ramon answered quickly but his short remark had the opposite affect on the alcalde. Instead of placating the man, it made him even more curious.

"You say she is not feeling well. Perhaps some information about what has been happening at home would lift her spirits." The man grinned widely, while gazing around the table.

"I believe I can provide her with such information, alcalde." Diego answered, using the same fake smile the alcalde had.

The man sighed. "Until the wedding then." DeSoto stood, kissed the ladies hands, and took his leave.

"He is the last thing she needs." Diego muttered as the women cleared the dishes from the table. "He would cause nothing but trouble for her if he discovered…."

"He who? Discovered what?" Victoria stood in the doorway. Her eyes were still little red, as if she had been crying or had been getting very little sleep.

When Rosita, Malindsa and her mother returned, insisting Victoria go back to bed and rest, she shrugged them off. "I would actually like to speak with Diego, if I could. I was very rude today and I owe him an apology."

Everyone nodded their agreement, with the exception of Elindsa, who stared at the way the young caballero looked at Victoria.

Family members filed out of the room until Elindsa was the last one remaining. She turned to Diego as she walked toward the door, "Choose your words carefully. Remember my words in the garden."

Victoria swallowed deeply. "What words were those?" She asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"I think she has figured out –" Diego began and then changed his mind and started on a different train of thought. "How much have you told them?"

She turned away. His eyes were piercing right through her heart and she didn’t have the strength to withstand his pain as well as her own.

For a split second his heart twisted in his throat. He thought she was rejecting him. She turned away. But then he could see her shoulders shaking and he realized that she was crying.

He closed the distance between them in two steps and pulled her against his chest.

"Why didn’t you tell me?" His voice shook with his own powerful emotions.

"I – I, I didn’t think you would – The alcalde would use this baby to get to you. And then where would we be? He would hang you." She was sobbing uncontrollably and he turned her around in his arms. "And our child would grow up without knowing his father."

"So you left to protect me?" Disbelief crowded out his rational judgement, but when she nodded, he bent and pressed a tender kiss to her parted lips.

" I couldn’t live in hiding any more." She sobbed. "The more you tried to end the oppression in the pueblo, the harder the alcalde oppressed us. I couldn’t live like that. Not after I discovered I was pregnant. I couldn’t tell you. I was so upset. I was going to have to raise this baby alone without you."

She lowered her head. "I still may have to."

"Why would you ever think that I will leave you to raise our baby alone?" Diego’s voice was full off sadness. How could he have done this to her?

"Your fight…"

"My fight for the people is nothing compared to the thought of loosing you forever." Diego embraced her tightly. "I will no longer take that chance. I will ride as Zorro when I can. But I will find a way for us to be together publicly. We will return to Los Angeles husband and wife in everyone’s eyes."

He didn’t care who witnessed the kiss. Elindsa apparently had already figured it out. If she didn’t tell the others soon, someone would. He wouldn’t let her go though this alone. She was his wife and despite the fact that he was a wanted man in Los Angeles, he was not wanted elsewhere. He would stay with her for as long as was necessary until they could return home to safety.

She became stiff in his arms, momentarily forgetting that this was her husband that was kissing her. She soon began to respond more favorably to his kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck. She stood on tiptoes to better reach his mouth and a small sigh escaped the back of his throat at her response.

"Victoria I've missed you. I can’t live without you. Your absence from my life these last weeks has proven that to me." He breathed against her lips. His hands slid to a waist no longer as slim as he had been used to, and pulled her tightly against him.

He could feel her tears wetting his cheeks and he kissed them away, his lips tasting the salty wetness.

The plaza was bustling with people from all over the region. Diego was astonished by the amount of people that were gathered in the large plaza and down every avenue leading away.

Brightly colored material was hung from the plaza walls, from carriages, from doors and posts.

It was the first weekend of the month and this was when the city transformed into a place where families could gather and picnic, merchants could come and sell their wares, and those who wanted to come watch the street performers could do so without fear of being harmed.

Diego cast a wary eye on Rosita and Victoria. They were laughing and giggling over an elegant piece of material. The held it up across their chests, trying to decide which one of them it looked best on.

After they had moved on, Diego bartered with the merchant and bought a fair amount of the dark material. He shoved it into his jacket and rushed back to his stallion to put the merchandise away where no one would notice.

In doing this, however, he lost sight of the women. Diego had instantly become overprotective since learning of Victoria's condition. He constantly watched her. He just wished he could share with her a room at the Calzon's home. It would be un-proper to do so without revealing the entire truth about their marriage and relationship. And that was something that they were not willing to do, regardless of how much Rosita's mother thought she knew.

For now, Diego would have to be content to sleep down the hall from her. She was sharing a room with Rosita, her mother thinking that it would be a good way for the young women to get to know each other. After Rosita was married, she and Ramon would move into a small home that the young Escalante was having built. Perhaps then, Victoria would permit him to share her bed even if for a few hours.

Diego caught sight of Ramon first and slid up beside his friend, who was buying a delicate gift for his soon-to-be bride. Diego smiled and cast a look towards where the two young women were standing, a smile playing across his lips.

Ramon dropped several coins into the merchants hand and turned to Diego. Noticing the smile on Diego's face, Ramon followed the caballero's eyes and grinned.

"I do hope you are looking at my sister and not my fiance." He joked.

Diego reluctantly drew his eyes away from Victoria's form and smiled. "Perhaps."

"Diego?" Ramon began hesitantly.

He wasn't sure if he should mention his suspicions but he was too curious. Diego was a good man, and his sister needed that kind of man to stand by her. Unfortunately, she had married Zorro and such a marriage may be difficult to annul, since Victoria was now pregnant with the man's child. But maybe it would be possible and Diego could court her. He did seem to be fascinated and devoted to Victoria since discovering her condition. They had all been childhood friends but the man always thought that Diego and Victoria would have made a good couple, had fate not intervened. Then Diego went away to school, Victoria's parents had supported the revolution and not soon after, died and left their children to fend for themselves.

"Is there something happening with you and my sister?"

Ramon's pointed question pulled Diego's eyes away from the two women.

When Diego didn't answer right away, Ramon hurried on to cover the uncomfortable feeling that was radiating from Diego. "I approve, you know."

Diego chuckled. "Why thank you, Ramon. But I don’t think....."

"Zorro has all but abandoned her." Ramon continued, casting a look at the smiling woman. "I haven't seen her smile like this since she arrived. You did that. I don’t know how but you made her laugh again."

Diego nodded. 'I've made her cry more times than you will ever know, Ramon. It's about time I paid her back tenfold for the pain.'

"I do care about her, Ramon. I will be honest with you about that." Diego admitted.

"Would you consider…" Ramon looked away, knowing what bounds he was overstepping by just bringing up the question.

"Yes?" Diego’s eyebrows raised. He knew what Ramon was going to ask and he know why the young man was nervous. These things were just not discussed.

When the young man said no more, Diego finished the question for him.

"Would I consider courting and marrying Victoria despite her condition and past?"

Ramon took a deep breath and nodded slowly.

"Don’t be nervous about asking, Ramon. I could see this was where the conversation was leading." Diego rested a calming hand on the shorter man's shoulder then cast a quick look at the two women. "I may just consider it. We’ll have to see."

Ramon smiled. He wasn’t expecting such a quick response from his friend but was delighted that such a wealthy caballero would consider courting such, and Ramon shivered to think of his sister in this way, soiled property.

But his friend was a noble and kind man. He only hoped his sister could come to love him and accept him in her life, rather than the outlaw with whom she had given her heart and everything else that a woman held dear.

Ramon nodded and Diego clasped the younger man on the shoulder. "Lets go catch up with the women before we loose complete sight of them."

When they reached the ladies, Ramon reached his arm around his young fiance pulling her against him in a loving embrace.

Diego, with difficulty, resisted the urge to wrap his arms around his beautiful wife, determined to keep the secrecy they had fought so hard for, from being thrown away with one simple gesture.

Victoria could see the longing in her husbands eyes and it hurt her even more that she had to keep him at arms length. For her own sanity, she did so in public and private. Different behavior in such situations might be a recipe for disaster. She didn’t want to whisper an endearment to him in private only to slip and make it in public as well.

A man a few years younger than Diego stepped around a merchants wagon and sneered at Victoria. He smelled of wine and but his clothing was neat and pristine.

Diego's reflexes tightened and he cautiously stepped in between Victoria and the stranger.

"Good to know she has a husband." He observed, sizing up her young defender. " I was worried since I didn’t see a band around her finger."

Ramon grasped Rosita’s arm and pulled her against him as they watched Diego’s reaction to the strangers comment.

"That should be none of your concern, Sir." Diego said sharply. He considered wrapping his arms protectively around Victoria but decided against it until the man made another insulting comment.

"Ha!" The man sputtered. "An unwed, expectant woman, you should know caballero, is a disgrace. Best put a ring on her finger to ward off others who would think distasteful things about the lady."

"Like I said, Señor," Diego’s voice rose and his eyes narrowed. "The marital status of this beautiful woman is none of your concern. I do suggest you apologize to her for your rudeness."

The man looked from Victoria to Diego and then back again. He was clearly sizing up his competition. And Diego did not wear a blade. When he placed his hand on the hilt of his blade, Diego wrapped his arms around Victoria and pulled her back against his chest.

"I think my comments are quite justified, Señor." The man slurred.

"A true caballero would not insult a lady in this way." Diego glared. "Apologize to her."

Victoria turned to her husband, "Diego that is not necessary. Let’s just go."

He shook his head and while there were no words spoken, their expressions spoke volumes. He would not let any man disgrace her for something he, himself had a part in.

"I will do no such thing." The man pulled himself to his full height; a height that was still shorter than Diego by several inches. "It is a correct assumption to be made when a woman wears no wedding band."

"Why were you curious about such things in the first place?" Diego’s barely contained rage was seeping through in his comments. "You do not know this woman and she does not know you."

"Gentlemen," A younger man, obviously influenced by the bottle as well, stumbled up beside his friend. "Why don't you settle this affair like men of honor."

"No." Victoria's eyes implored Diego to walk away from this confrontation and for a moment she thought he was going to comply.

He rested his hand on Victoria’s arm and turned to Ramon, "Let's go. I've had enough of this rodent insulting Victoria."

Ramon nodded quickly and when they turned to leave, the man made another insulting and derogatory comment that Diego refused to ignore.

Victoria cried, "No!" when Diego whirled around to face the man.

Diego barely heard Victoria’s cry as his fist impacted with the man's jaw. The man staggered back, barely keeping his balance, surprised at the power behind the swing.

Ramon turned around, pushed Rosita behind him and pulled Victoria away from where she gripped Diego's arm, imploring him to leave it be.

"Its too late now, Sis." Ramon wrenched her fingers free of Diego’s arm and pulled her back from the two combatants. "He has answered the challenge and Diego would have been foolish to swallow that insult. If he had, I would not have."

The sound of a sword sliding from its sheath caused their heads to snap back to the situation at hand.

Diego had not been armed. He was not wearing a blade. Ramon prepared to un-sheath his own blade and throw it to Diego when the stranger’s companion raised his and tossed it toward Diego.

"You can borrow it, Señor!" The man cackled.

No sooner had Diego caught the blade than the man attacked with a less than precise swing to his chest.

Diego backed away. Seeing no way to get out of this duel, he conceded and cast an apologetic look at his family.

He would not have to hide behind an inept don’s shoes here. He was in Mexico City and would be able to use just enough of his talent to defeat the man but without drawing unwanted attention on himself. He saluted like a true gentleman should and backed away, giving the stranger ample time to form an attack strategy.

There was no return salute, testimony to the stranger’s hot headedness and disregard to matters of honor. His attacks were wide and much too large to be of any real danger to his opponent.

Diego parried the man’s attacks easily and stood just enough distance away that he could lunge quickly and disarm the man, should the need arise.

Ramon blinked at his friend’s talent. He didn’t know Diego could use a blade so well. Although fencing with a man, who had obviously had more than enough to drink, could not really be called a talented adversary.

The man executed a good lunge but his balance was off and he missed his target. Diego parried easily then, quicker than the man could see, brought the thick end of his blade down on top of his opponents, snapping it out of his hand like a twig.

The man fell to his knees, his arms extended at his sides. He fully expected to die and Diego knew it. At least he was that honorable.

"Get up!" Diego hissed. "And get out of my site."

The man knelt there puzzled as to why the young Don had not yet taken his life.

"I will not say it again. You have your chance. If you are not gone when I turn around, I will kill you." Diego dropped the blade and turned toward his wife and her family.

"Lets go." He put his arms around Victoria and she did not shrug away.

She knew how difficult it had been , once she had seen his temper snap, to hold back and not kill that man. He needed comfort as much as she did for that man’s harsh and insulting comments. She would not deny him the simple, gesture. She leaned into his strong embrace as he led the way back to the carriage they had arrived in.

Ramon couldn’t believe his eyes. Diego had defeated the man with little or no effort whatsoever. He hadn’t realized his friend was so good with the blade. Maybe he could even rival Zorro’s talent!

That, and the intensely personal gesture his sister permitted, when the young don’s arm snaked around her waist, was something he had not expected.

He had wondered if there was more than a growing affection between the two but he had thought no more about it since neither of them had mentioned anything.

He would have to speak with Diego, or his sister, as soon as time permitted.

Neither noticed the pair of curious blue eyes that had followed every movement that Diego had made during his ‘affair of honor’.

‘Where did De La Vega get the courage, and that talent, for that matter? He is no more competent with a blade than Mendoza! And to stand up for a woman who had been impregnated by a notorious outlaw?

She was soiled goods now. Why would Diego have any interest in defending such a woman's honor? Despite the Escalante's and the De La Vega's having been friends for years, what other reason could he possibly have?

DeSoto's eyes narrowed as several other reasons popped into his head. Many were unbelievable but he forced himself to leave out nothing, because once he did, Zorro would again slip through his fingers.

Ramon and Rosita watched Diego and Victoria as they talked in the small garden. The back of the home was about the only place that one could get any privacy, other than one’s bedroom and that would not have been at all proper.

"I hope she doesn't reject him out of hand," Ramon whispered, reluctantly tearing his gaze from the window and smiling at his bride-to-be.

They had been holding a lot of private conversations lately, spending time together reading or walking around the hills, and Ramon was encouraged. Victoria did seem to smile more now that Diego was around. His sister even let the young don touch her stomach to feel the baby moving within. Something that would have been very un-proper given other circumstances.

"I don’t think she will," Rosita glanced out the window. " I think she knows what she has before her and won’t turn him away. I think she knows that she is lucky he came to her when he did. And that he even has these feelings for her at all."

"It all goes to show you don’t choose who you fall in love with," Ramon pulled his fiancé into a tight embrace and kissed her lightly. "God does."

"I think he loves her more than he is letting on." Rosita grinned and returned his kiss.

"Oh?" Ramon’s eyebrows lifted in question. "And how, mí preciosa, do you know that."

"Oh," She smiled wickedly. "Just some of his actions in the last few weeks. I can see something in his eyes. I can’t really explain it. Just call it a feeling."

Ramon shook his head. Women were so much more observant in some things. Sometimes he just gave up trying to understand.

He cast one last look out the window and smiled when he again noticed Diego rest his hand on Victoria’s growing stomach.

"Y’know." Ramon smiled. "I think you are right."

"Ramon is getting married in a few days." Diego observed, resting his hand on the miracle he had helped to create inside Victoria’s every growing mid-section, " Will you allow me to escort you down the aisle as your husband?"

She shook her head. " Carlos is looking forward to that honor."

She almost regretted her quick answer when she saw the hurt look in his eyes, "It would not look right if you did so."

"I don’t care, Victoria. You are more important than anything in this world to me, and if that means I have to take certain risks, then I will accept them gladly." He enveloped her in an embrace so tight that she was sure she would die from lack of oxygen.

"I think you have been taking them by actively courting me since you arrived." She grinned, closing her eyes at the feel of his strong arms around her.

Diego glanced around the small garden. "Are you up to taking a short walk?"

She grinned. She understood his meaning. There were too many eyes in the house and they still needed to be careful. If anyone realized that the two were already bonded as man and wife, there would be unpleasant questions they were not yet prepared to deal with.

There were rolling hills as they followed a small footpath that led away from the home and the city.

Diego carried a small pack filled with lemonade and fruit. One thing he had learned during his stay was that Victoria could get violently hungry at any portion of the day or night. He wanted to be prepared. Since her temper rose and mood declined when she was hungry and couldn’t find or get to anything to sate the hunger.

They took refuge from the scorching sun under a large tree. A small trickle of water flowed by them through the rocks and Victoria wet her hands and rubbed her neck to take away some of the heat. Diego unpacked the food and offered the tender morsels to the young woman. His hands took the place of hers and began to rub down her neck.

He felt her sigh and he smiled warmly at the softness of her long, slender neck. A neck that it had been weeks since he kissed. He wasn’t sure if she would accept anything more than his delicate rubbing but was encouraged when she leaned her neck to one side and then the other. They had behaved like an unmarried couple in public and private and the strain was beginning to show on Diego’s smooth features.

He longed to pull her into his arms and kiss her, hold her, love her. But he was afraid that would be pushing their delicate relationship.

He had hurt her more than he had ever though possible to hurt a woman, and he was struggling to make every bit of pain he had caused up to her.

"That feels so good," She cooed, closing her eyes to the shivers rushing along her arms and down her back.

He smiled and decided to risk a small kiss. He bent his head over his hands and pressed a gentle kiss to the hollow of her neck. She shivered visibly and he accepted the reaction as a positive one.

"I’m sorry." Diego whispered into her neck. "I couldn’t resist any longer."

He could feel her sigh and was a little disheartened at her next response. "We shouldn’t do this where someone could see us."

"We’ve walked a few miles, no one would follow us out here." Diego tried desperately to relax her and moved his strong hands to her shoulders and arms, massaging them carefully. "Besides, I think most of the family knows there is something going on."

"What?!" She turned around sharply and he didn’t realize that a woman almost 6 months pregnant could move so quick. "What do you mean?"

He was taken aback by her sudden movement and couldn’t quite figure out if she was upset or just surprised.

"I have not exactly been secretive about my advances toward you." He reached forward and began to rub the front of her shoulders. "Ramon asked me if I could consider courting you."

Her eyes widened and she stared into his eyes, a slight grin forming on her lips. "And what did you say?"

"Perhaps I would enjoy courting you." He chuckled and leaned forward to press a gentle kiss to her parted lips.

She returned his smile and leaned into his lips, deepening the kiss. "You courted me for years and I never even knew it."

He was quickly loosing his resolve, and her arms wrapping around his neck drawing him closer, was the last straw. His determination to not place her in another compromising position snapped and he pulled her close, wrapping his tongue around hers with a boldness that surprised even himself.

She relaxed under his gentle persistence and he was encouraged. He coaxed her onto her back beneath the tree and began to roam his hands over a body that was much fuller than he last remembered.

He risked a questioning look into her eyes and found them to be glazed with newly awakened passion.

It had been a long time since he touched her in this way and, for a moment, he was worried that she would not respond to his touch. Or that she would be nervous or want to put him off.

His voice deepened, "May I?" He asked, his eyes searching hers. He didn’t want to force her into something she was not ready for.

She did not answer but simply nodded her head as a confirmation.

She rested her head against his chest as their breathing became normal once more. He caressed her hair and her back lovingly, pressing soft kisses to her cheek and face.

"Was it too much? Did I hurt you?" His voice was full of concern.

She lifted her head and smiled, playing with a lock of hair that fell over his collar.

"No, Diego." She whispered. "I just wish I could lay here in your arms forever. With no more secrets, no more lies, no more deception."

"Would you like me to buy a small hacienda here?" His question came as a surprise to her and she lifted her head to look into his very serious eyes.

"You would do that?" Her voice was laced with disbelief.

His arms tightened around her and he smiled slightly. " After living without you, I found that I would never take that chance or play with fate again. I will do anything for you." He leaned forward and kissed her nose. "And if that means leaving California to start a new life elsewhere, then I will do it."

"What about your father, Felipe?" Victoria asked. She shook her head. She wouldn’t let him do that. Not for her. "They wouldn’t know what to do without you."

"I don't know what do without you." He whispered.

"We'll think of something. For now. I think I am just where I want to be."

He grinned and held her close. They fell into a peaceful slumber, the cool summer breeze ruffling their hair and clothing.

Alejandro was enjoying a cool glass of orange juice when Mendoza barged in, breathing heavily.

"What is it Sergeant?" Alejandro acknowledged the man’s presence and then went back to examining the letter he had just received from his son.

"There are more bandito's then ever running rampant in the pueblo." The man sat down and ordered a large tamale lunch from Maria.

"Oh?" Alejandro continued reading. His son had written him of everything that had been happening and Alejandro was discouraged.

His son had been vague on a few things and had not mentioned when he would be coming home. That in itself didn't worry Alejandro, what worried him was that Diego did not look favorably on his relationship with Victoria.

He had mentioned in his letter that Victoria was staying with her brothers new family. But beyond that his son had been very silent.

"Don Alejandro?" Mendoza's voice permeated into Alejandro’s brain and he realized that he had been completely ignoring the officer.

"Yes? I'm sorry Mendoza, I was fascinated by the letter I just received from my son. What can I do for you?" He set the letter down for the moment and gave the Sergeant his full attention.

"With the alcalde gone and Zorro missing, the banditos have been working our lancers harder than they have ever worked before!" The exasperated Sergeant smiled widely at the young señorita when she set the plate of hot tamales in front of him. He began stuffing himself immediately and Alejandro frowned.

"Yes, trouble in the pueblo does seem to have increased since the alcalde left."

"And since Zorro took off with Señorita Escalante, the pueblo has not been the same.

"Do you still believe this nonsense that Zorro ran off with Victoria?" Alejandro tried to push the thought out of the Sergeant’s mind but under the circumstances, many believed the same thing.

"Sí, where else could he be? But the alcalde has gone on a mission to find Señorita Escalante and he thinks he will find Zorro as well."

‘That is Señora De La Vega and he will not so much as touch her or my son’ Alejandro silently vowed. ‘That I promise on my life.’

Aloud he said. "He needs to just leave Victoria alone and let her make up her own mind. He needs to be back here governing his pueblo."

Alejandro blinked. That was it! He had been wracking his brain for months on how to get the alcalde out of office and he had finally thought of something to bring up to the territorial governors that would look badly on the alcalde’s service record. The trouble in the pueblo would only strengthen his argument.

"Oh, I wish he was." Mendoza mumbled around his tamale.

"Enjoy your lunch, Sergeant," Alejandro stood, determined to put the first phase of his plan into action. He needed to get home and write a letter to Diego informing his son about his plans, and the alcalde's, if Diego wasn't already aware.

Alejandro leaned back in the plush chair. He had just arrived in Monterey to meet with the governor and was awaiting patiently his audience with the man. It had not been an easy task to get the governor to clear his busy schedule. But when he heard the De La Vega name, he had agreed. Noble lineage did have its advantages.

Diego had spoken with this man over a year ago, when he had ridden to ask for help and extra troops from Monterey. The governor had sent those troops to take care of a tribe of renegade indians who had been raiding the pueblo.

Alejandro let out a long sigh. He was not unhappy that his son had not turned out to be the man Alejandro had thought. But sometimes he wished his son could have chosen a much less complicated life for himself.

Alejandro chuckled. While he was troubled by the fact his son was now having some difficulties with his marriage, he was indeed becoming content with the thought that there would finally be a woman around the house. Soon, he hoped, the pitter patter of tiny little feet again; something the hacienda had lacked over the years.

If only they could find a way to merge Diego’s two personalities into one. Or barring that possibility, rid the pueblo of the alcalde all together, thus ending the need for Zorro’s talents. That direction seemed the only plausible way and that was why Alejandro was sitting in the governors office now.

Alejandro wanted to get this business over with so he could return home, but the governor seemed to be delaying the meeting.

Alejandro shook his head. If only he could have convinced Diego and Victoria to wait, if even for a little while longer.

Alejandro leaned back lost in thought. ‘That would never have happened,’ he chuckled. ‘My son is just like me. I would have never been able to keep the two of them apart.’

Diego’s argument on the subject had been firm and Alejandro was proud that his son had been able to come up with so many good reasons for the wedding to take place when they wanted it and not when he, the alcalde, or any other bandito dictated.

"Señor de le Vega?" The voice permeated Alejandro’s memories and the man blinked at the young lady standing before him.

"Yes?" Alejandro stood immediately.

"The governor will see you now," She smiled sweetly. "This way."

"Thank you."

"Nervous?" Diego grinned at his nervous friend, helping him straighten his uniform.

"No." Ramon said quickly and then let out a long breath. "Yes."

"I would be too if this was my wedding day." Diego smiled wryly. He stood back and took a good look at the young man standing before him. "You look great."

Ramon turned away. He wanted to ask his friend a question but he was too nervous. As usual, Diego could see into his mind and questioned the young officer before he could even frame the correct way to ask.

"You want me to ask your sister?" Diego's eyes were twinkling and Ramon smiled.

"I wish you would." Ramon nodded. "But I can understand any reluctance you might have."

"There is none at all, Ramon." Diego shook his head. "I plan to do just that. But in a while. I don't want to take away from your special day."

Ramon's eyes lit and he clasped the young don on the shoulder. "That's wonderful! I don't care. Have a double wedding with us!"

Diego shook his head, forcing the wide grin that came to his lips down to a small smile. "No, I hope you understand that we would want this to be a small affair."

Ramon quieted. "Yes, I can understand that. Have you asked her?"

"Victoria?" Diego smiled. "We've discussed it as a possible future. I'd actually like to wait until the – her baby is born."

Ramon nodded in understanding. He knew that it would probably be a great sacrifice for Diego in social circles, to be walking down the aisle with a very pregnant bride. Hell, it would still probably be socially unacceptable for him to be walking down the aisle with his sister at all. He was glad his childhood friend didn't see things as the rest of the world viewed them.

"Ah, I understand. I think Sis is starting to fall in love with you." He observed and smiled when Diego turned away.

"I would certainly hope so. I have been trying my hardest to impress her." Diego chuckled and then became very serious. "I do love her very much and I would be a fool not to admit it."

Ramon sighed. " I wish you two could have discovered how much you loved each other before…."

Diego nodded., placed a comforting hand on Ramon's shoulder. "I think things needed to happen this way to show us what our lives would be like without each other. Don't worry, my friend, I don't respect Victoria any less ."

Ramon squeezed Diego's shoulder. "You don't know how much it means to hear you say that. I thought that my sister, " He took a deep breath. " Well, lets just say, her condition is not exactly attractive to men."

"Actually she is quite beautiful." Diego commented, a slight twinkle in his eyes that Ramon would have been a fool to miss.

"You are in love." Ramon laughed.

Diego smiled and checked his timepiece. "It's time. Shall we?"

Ramon nodded nervously and followed Diego out of the chapel back room and towards the front of the altar where the guests were seated.

The wedding feast was spectacular. With Victoria's cooking abilities and her expertise in the kitchen, all of the food was home prepared. Not a single thing had to be ordered from an outside market.

By early evening, Victoria was looking a little worn. She had been on her feet most of the day cooking and preparing the food for the kitchen. Rosita, her mother and sisters were a big help and Diego also did as much as he could without being too much of a nuisance.

Suddenly, Diego appeared behind Victoria, took a tray from her hand and took it into the kitchen. Ramon noticed his friend's action and grinned widely. He really did care for his sister. Victoria was a lucky woman. He chuckled when Victoria followed Diego into the kitchen, a horrified look on her face.

"Just what do you think you are doing?"

Diego set the tray down in a corner and whirled on the woman. The move put him much closer than a polite friend should be and Victoria proceeded to move away. His hand shot out and circled her wrist gently holding her in place.

She shot him a playful grin and mouthed the words, "Not here.'

"And why not?" Diego asked with a grin.

The two turned sharply when Rosita's mother entered to gather another tray of tamales. Diego nodded at the woman who simply smiled and took the tray back out to the party.

Diego turned back to his lovely wife. "You looked beautiful today." He bent to place a soft kiss at the corner of her mouth.

Victoria turned toward the door, frightened that someone would walk in on them.

"Ramon knows that I am going to publicly ask you to marry me. Elindsa, I suspect, knows that the baby you carry is mine, and I do believe the rest of your brother's new family likes me well enough."

He was grinning so widely that Victoria, in her frustration, anger and hormones, hauled off and smacked him in the arm.

He slid his hand around her fist and brought it to his lips. "Perhaps, now that there will be one less pair of eyes in the hacienda, I can spend a night or two with you."

Victoria's eyes widened in horror at the thought and he laughed. "I would never permit such a thing."

"All right." Diego wrapped his arms around her ample waist and pulled her against him. "Then I will wait to share your bed until we are publicly married." He bent to press a soft kiss to her lips. "But remember, by law, you are already my wife and that cannot be contested by anyone."

She melted into his embrace and rested her head on his chest. The times that he held her were few and far between. They simply had no privacy in the household in which they were currently residing.

"I think you need to rest." Diego observed and turned to lead them out the back door of the kitchen when Rosita and her mother entered.

Neither of the women looked at the couple questioningly. They simply accepted the relationship that Diego and Victoria had formed. Diego, however, felt he needed to explain their closeness.

"Victoria is not feeling well. She's a little tired. I'm going to take her to lay down and will be back to help you with anything you need."

"Not necessary," Elindsa smiled. "Take her. She has been working too hard for a lady in her condition. Stay and help her relax."

Rosita opened her mouth to question her mother, which the older woman silenced with a look. Rosita politely took another tray of food and left the kitchen.

Elindsa took another tray and , before slipping through the doorway, turned to the couple and whispered, "You're alcalde is out there, you might want to put her to bed early."

Diego nodded and Victoria's eyes widened. "Thank you."

The woman nodded and took her leave.

"Where is Diego tonight?" DeSoto grinned. He was pristine in his commander's uniform and Ramon's fellow officers were in awe that he knew such a well known, not necessarily a good thing, military officer.

"I'm not sure." Ramon gave a polite look around the gathered crowd. Rosita had told him that he had gone with Victoria into the back rooms to help her rest, but he was not going to tell the alcalde.

"I'll entertain our guest, Ramon." Estaban shook hands with the alcalde and waved Ramon away. "Why don't you go look for Diego."

Ramon nodded. Grateful to be out of the infernal man's presence.

Ramon quickly found his new mother-in-law and asked where Diego was.

"He's going to have to make an appearance just to satisfy the alcalde's curiosity." Elindsa sighed. "He took Victoria in the back. She was looking tired."

"I'll go get him then. I don't want the alcalde to see Victoria. We'll just say she isn't feeling well."

Elindsa nodded and sauntered up to her husband, sliding a hand around his arm.

"And, come to think of it, Victoria is also missing from the festivities." The commander commented and Elindsa chimed up immediately. "I can't believe she would miss her own brother's wedding reception."

"She was feeling a little under the weather this evening," Elindsa smiled sweetly at the officer. "So she has gone to bed."

"Ah," DeSoto nodded, suddenly suspicious. "I do apologize for missing the wedding this afternoon, but pressing business came up that I could not ignore."

"It's quite all right, Señor DeSoto, we understand completely." Elindsa batted her dark eyelashes at the man.

Victoria's condition was again safe from his prying eyes. Elindsa alone knew the secret Victoria and Diego kept from the rest of the family. She wasn't certain she understood the reasons behind the secret, but she had agreed to abide by their decision so long as Diego worshiped the very ground Victoria walked on.

She would tolerate no more pain for the young woman who was now related to her by marriage.

Elindsa could tell that DeSoto was also hiding something. She was afraid that he knew about her daughter by marriage' condition. If that was the case then there would be some trouble brewing.

"Are you comfortable?" Diego asked, pulling the blanket up the Victoria's waist.

She was sitting up in the small bed, a mug of warm milk in her hands. She took a few sips and wrinkled her nose.

"I hate this stuff." She grumbled. "But I guess it's good for the baby so…."

"Well I could always make you some cactus tea." He chuckled and she swatted at him with her free hand.

"Yuck. No, I'll stick with the milk."

When she finished he took the empty mug and set it on the stand on a table beside the bed.

"Need company tonight?" His tone was mixed with suggestion.

"I'm sure I'll manage." She grinned, absently rubbing her swollen stomach.

He reached forward and placed his hand on top of hers, squeezing slightly.

"I love you, Victoria."

She reached for his other hand and pulled him close to her so that she could kiss his lips tenderly.

"I know you do." She whispered against his mouth.

He sat beside her and took her head in both of his hands, deepening the kiss.

Sliding his hand down the silky smoothness of her neck, she leaned away from him, giving his lips a clear path.

He grinned and trailed a line of kisses from her jaw to that tender spot that always made her shiver in delight when he touched it.

"Diego," She whispered, lacing her hands through his soft, dark hair. "This isn't a good idea."

"Making love to my wife isn't…"

She placed a silencing finger to his lips. "With a hacienda full of people just outside and where anyone can walk in and find us, no, I don't think it's a good idea."

She leaned closer to him, pressing her lips to his and sliding her tongue into his mouth, tasting the wine. "An no one knows that I am your wife."

He didn't answer, simply tasted the spice the tamales had left on her lips, the lingering flavor of the warm milk she had just finished. The tastes intoxicated him and he took a deep breath.

A soft knock on the door startled them apart and Diego stood quickly. The door opened and Ramon stepped through.

"Sorry to bother you, but the alcalde is outside and has been inquiring about you." Ramon was completely oblivious as to what had been going on seconds before. "We told him Victoria was tired and has gone to bed. But we couldn't make an excuse for you, Diego."

"That's quite all right." Diego sighed. "I'll pay him a visit." He turned back to Victoria, "Get some rest. I'll check on you a little later."

She smiled up at him and nodded.

He took both Ramon and Victoria off guard when he bent and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek. "If you're sleeping I'll see you in the morning."

Victoria blushed after he left, leaving Ramon to stand there in admiration of the young Don.

"You're lucky, Sis," Ramon smiled. "He really does love you, despite…"

"I know." She smiled, leaned back into the pillows and pulled the blanket to her chin.

Knowing a hint when he saw one, he kissed his sister goodnight and shut the door behind him.