Victoria held her breath as she watched the masked bandit riding across the plaza, giving the Alcade yet another one of his lessons which he never seemed to learn from.

There was a great spectacle at the plaza, citizens where cheering and shouting like there was no tomorrow. For them all of this was great, their single one greatest source of entertainment. What was there not to like? You had your hero, your villain, previous exsperinces dictated this would all turn out just fine. What was there not to like about this?

Victoria though was not one of the ones cheering, not anymore. She had been ones, when Zorro first had appeared. Slowly though, she had changed her approach, and now she would stand there at her spot at the tavern veranda. Looking at Zorro with a strong gaze, trying to lend him just a bit of her strenght.

Others might not have noticed, but Victoria had. Zorro was no longer the same way as when he had first appeared.

When Zorro had first appeared he had been so full of energy, he had been cocky and filled with enthusiasm. It was like nothing could ever touch him.

Now though, the energy seemed a lot more strained. His cockiness almost seemed to be a distant memory, his enthusiasm was clearly wearing thin and more than anything. Zorro just looked tired. Very very tired.

He had been worn out, slowly. Inch by inch, only so very little at the time but it was happening and Victoria saw.
It could be days or years, but one day Zorrro would be completely worn out and it would be over. One mistake, a bullet he didn't dodge, a sword he didn't pare. It would take less than a second. And Victoria was worried, so worried.

She closed her eyes and thought back on how it had all begun, he show she had first fallen in love. Victoria had been scared, so scared and alone. She was afraid she was going to die by the Alcades hand but then Zorro was there. He assured her in such a strong calm voice that things would be fine, and Victoria could only believe him.

And indeed, because of Zorro things did turn out just fine.

So many times Victoria had been scared. Scared that she would loose her tavern, her only livelyhood. She had been scared for her life, for the life of her friends. But each and every time things turned out okay because Zorro was there.

He was there to stand up for them, he was there to make sure Victoria would be treated fairly, he was there to make sure no one would die.

Zorro, he was there. He was always there. He had filled Victoria with such hope, and then he had turned to her and given her that cocky smile which made Victoria believe that everything really was fine.

It had made Victoria melt, and then he had approached her, talked to her, touched her. And Victoria had been along for the ride, feeling so excited, her entire body tingling. And most of all she had felt so very safe.

Zorro had been a constant comfort in her mind, like she knew he would always be there for her. He loved her….

He had made her feel so many things. Like she was strong and beautiful, like she was special. With his encouragement Victoria felt like she could do anything, and it had given her the strength to go on. And be as strong as Zorro believed she could be.

And that's why Victoria had to do what she could, what-ever little that was. Trying to convey her message with her eyes.

You're not alone Zorro, i'm here to! Please, be strong. If you want me to, i'll be there! Just like you were there for me when I needed you.

She only wished she could do more, only standing there in support seemed like so little. Especially now when Victoria feared he could break.

She had to stay strong, if not for herself then at least for him.

At last it was over, Zorro rode off with a grin on his lip and was cheered on by the citizens, Victoria though just sighed a deep breath of relief. Zorro was going to live another day.

His final smile had been rather forced, but it seemed like no one had noticed except Victoria. She though didn't say anything, she turned around and walked back into the tavern. Trying to distract her mind by working.

People were always in such a strange mood after Zorro had been seen in public, it made people excited and in the mood for celebration.

Really, Zorro appearing in the pueblo was extremely good for Victorias business, she always sold a lot of drinks after a Zorro triumph as people would salut to their heroes health and well being.

Victoria though was not quite in the mood, even the extra money she earned couldn't make up for her worry. And then her second cause for worry walked into the tavern and took a seat in the furthest corner away from the commotion.

It was Diego De La Vega.

Victoria glanced at her old friend, she had known him since they were both little kids. Victoria couldn't even remember a time she hadn't known him.

Diego could be a rather confusing man, he was difficult to read, un top of that he was a very private man whom rarely spoke of his private life. Victoria had noticed how he would always move the conversation away from himself and unto other subjects when he became to uncomfortable.
Subjects like arts and music, which he did indeed seem to have a great passion for.

How-ever, lately Diego's passion had seemed to dwindle. When-ever Victoria saw Diego he just looked tired, his skin looked oddly mat and there were large shadows under his eyes which used to be shining with intelligence but now looked dull and exhausted.

Victoria had started to develop a theory… When Diego had been a child he had always been so filled with energy, he had basically been the leader of the rascal pack among the small boys always running around.
But ever since Diego had come home he had seemed oddly meek. In the beginning it had seemed strange, it had seemed like he had plenty of energy but just couldn't be bothered to do anything.

Slowly though, it seemed like energy had been drained from his being and made him become tired. That spark in his eyes and his teasing sense of humor and gone away bit by bit.

Maybe Diego was sick… Maybe he had one of those illness's which isn't even noticeable at first but then slowly progresses over the span of years.

Victoria had heard of that kind of illness's before, she had been told some of them could take decades before they became really serious but it would still happen and eat away at a person by increments, every single day.

Perhaps Diego had found out he was sick while he was in Spain but had hid it from everyone ones he made it back to California. Even to her.

It certainly would explain a lot, his refusal to be in on the action, his acquired clumsiness. Perhaps it was just all part of the illness and he didn't want to be in the way.

Victoria sighed deeply. If Diego truly was sick she just wished he would tell her already, but Victoria wouldn't ask, instead she walked towards the young Don only to smile amused as she realized Diego has already fallen a sleep sitting in the chair, his head lightly resting on his chest.

Madre dios, he had just walked in, sat down and fallen a sleep. And in his age? Victoria bit her lip as she felt the worry fill her again and she reached over a hand touching Diegos shoulder. "Diego, hey. Wake up." she whispered.

"Hmm." Diego groaned then his eyes opened and he looked up to groggily looking at Victoria. "Victoria?" he asked.

Victoria smiled amused. "Diego, you fell a sleep."

"Ah!" Diego realized as his eyes opened up and he shook his head as to wake himself. "I apologies Victoria."

"That's quite all right." Victoria smirked amused then her smile faltered. "Are you okay Diego?"

"Si. Is there a reason I shouldn't be?" Diego asked confused as he blinked his blue eyes briefly meeting Victorias as he looked questioning at her.

"Well no, you just… You look very tired." Victoria then admitted.

"Oh. Well, I suppose I ended up reading for a bit to long last night. Heh." Diego send her a grin though it looked rather strained.

"I see." Victoria nodded thoughtfully. "What was it about?" she asked softly.

"Huh?" Diego asked.

"The book, must have been exciting." Victoria commented.

"Oh yes it was." Diego halted, he glanced down then he looked up again. "A medical journal, about… Anesthesia."

Victoria blinked. Diego was usually very quick in his replies, this time though it had taken quite a while for him to respond. Seconds shouldn't matter, but when Diego was concerned it kind of did. It was like he had to think of a reply before being able to give it, and even then he looked flustered as his eyes were lingering at the table.

"Diego do you want to borrow a room?" Victoria then asked in Diego blinked as he looked up.

"What for?" Diego asked.

"You look exhausted. More than exhausted, perhaps a nap is what you need." Victoria commented. "I got a few free rooms, you can borrow one. And I can bring some food and drink up there for you to eat in silence."

Diego smiled thankfully at Victoria. "Thank you Victoria that's very kind of you. But it's not necessary, I only came to check on some private business and I need to ride home very shortly anyhow, after a bite of lunch I think. My father needs help with some calves."

"Oh. Okay." Victoria blinked. "Tell me though if you change your mind."

"Gracias Victoria. You're always there for me, what did I ever do to deserve that?" Diego asked.

Victoria smiled amused then shook her head. "I'm just returning the favor." she said feeling a slight blush covering her cheeks. "Please take care of yourself Diego." she asked. "I'll just be a minute with your lunch, and of course. If you need anything else, just say the word."

Diego smiled at her with a genuinely thankful smile and a warm gentle caring in his eyes. "Gracias." he said again and Victoria gave him a slight nod before she turned around and headed back to the kitchen.

Well, it was nice to see that at least Diego was eating. He ate all the food on the plate Victoria had served him, and then even asked for a strong coffee before he started riding home.

Victoria really would have preferred if Diego would just take a nap instead on relying on coffee, but truth be told Victoria had never been able to make Diego do anything.

And so she watched for the second time as a man she deeply cared about was riding away on his horse, this one not even hiding his exhaustion and Victoria could only pray he wouldn't fall off his horse!

Madre Dios. Zorro and Diego, she didn't even know who was worse! Why couldn't they just take a break if they needed it so badly?!
Why couldn't Zorro just leave the pueblo to its own devices for a bit, it wasn't his job to make sure the perimeters were safe, he shouldn't even have had to do that in the first place!
And why couldn't Diego just tell them all what was wrong with him?!

The two were different like night and day, but they sure were being equally difficult!

Both refused any help, both refused to admit that things were perhaps to much. They were both so filled with secrecy and so damn stupidly proud!

Victoria hissed annoyed. Heck now she thought about it, there were certain areas where Zorro and Diego were exactly alike! Like bloody twins! Or the same person!

Then suddenly Victorias eyes widened as her head snapped up and she looked towards the horizon where the figure of Diego had already vanished.

It felt like her heart had stopped, Victoria gasped for air as she just stood there.

No… It couldn't be! …. Could it?