FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Disclaimer - I don't own the rights, Zorro Productions does. I just play with the characters.

Plot – What has caused Diego to be rude to Victoria and to argue with his father?

This story is inspired by Icyfire aka Robin.

Chapter 1

"Diego...Diego are you paying attention?" Victoria asked as she came up and stood beside his table, he had been staring at his drink for over five minutes without moving. He must be daydreaming again she mused to herself. She often wondered what he thought about, did he always think about his books or poetry or science? Did he ever think about getting married, having children like she did? She held back a sigh as she wished for the thousandth time that Zorro would finally unmask to her so they can get married and have a family of their own.

Diego shook his head as he pulled himself out of his thoughts. "What? Oh I'm sorry Victoria, what were you saying?" he asked distractedly.

Victoria looked at her friend for the first time in a long time and frowned as she saw dark circles under his eyes. "Are you okay Diego, you look like you haven't slept in days." she asked worriedly as she sat down on the bench beside him. "You're not coming down with anything are you?" she placed her hand on his forehead but felt no fever.

He held back a moan at the feel of her warm hand on his skin, it was so rare for her to touch him that he could count the number of times on one hand. He gave her a sheepish smile. "Well...I've been reading a new book and I found that I couldn't put it down." he knew it was a lame excuse but it was the first thing he could think of.

She smiled knowingly, it was so typical of Diego to lose himself in a book that he would forget everything else, even sleep. "So what was the book about that has kept Don Diego de la Vega from his beauty sleep? Let me guess, was it about poetry or was it to do with you science experiments?" she asked with a teasing glint in her eyes.

He immediately picked up on her teasing and it irritated him. Normally he accepted her teasing as a part of the role he had to play but now unexpectedly his temper rose, he was so tired of her not taking him seriously but he knew it was his own fault. In many ways he was his own worst enemy, he had played the fool for too long, too perfectly that everyone believed that what he portrayed to the citizens, was the true Diego. But right now he did not appreciate her scorn, no matter how light hearted it was and he exploded in a rare form of temper.

"If you must know Senorita, I was reading a medical journal on the spread of smallpox that Doctor Hernandez had given to me." he replied angrily. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some work to do at the Guardian office." he stood up and stormed out of the tavern, leaving behind an open-mouthed Victoria and a room full of shocked patrons.

"Well I never..." she uttered, stunned by his unusual outburst of anger.

Don Alejandro had been chatting with an old friend on the other side of the tavern and had witnessed his son's rudeness to Victoria, he excused himself and crossed over to her. "Victoria, I must apologise for my son's outburst. He's been acting strangely for the last couple of days and I don't know what's got into him." but I'm going to find out, he added silently to himself.

She smiled warmly at the older man. "It's okay Don Alejandro, I was just teasing him about his books but I guess even Diego has his bad days. I know I do." she replied understandingly.

He nodded. "Perhaps but that doesn't excuse his rudeness." he sighed. "I'll have a word with him. Adios Victoria." he said as he strode out of the door.

Victoria sighed as she watched him go, she wished that Don Alejandro would just allow his son to live his own life without badgering him to be someone that he wasn't, to allow him to find his own path in life, whatever that path maybe. What she didn't realise was that she often did the same, wishing that Diego would do more that just sitting around reading his books, that she wished he was more outgoing, more willing to stand up for himself, to be more like Zorro. She shook her head as she moved towards the kitchen.

Diego strode angrily across the dusty plaza over to The Guardian office, stormed up the several steps, entered the office and slammed the door behind him. The sound made him jump and he realised just how angry he was. He was angry at Victoria, at his father, at the Alcalde and he was even angry at the Spanish Government for appointing incompetent, arrogant and self-centred men as their leaders. It had made his life so complicated. He never wanted any of this, he just wanted a normal life with the woman he loved, to be the son that his father deserved.

As he stood in the middle of the office, he closed his eyes and took several deep breaths in an effort to cool his temper. It took several moments but he calmed down enough to understand that his anger did not come from anyone except himself and the letter he had received three days ago. He reached into his jacket and pulled out the envelope and noticed once again the neat handwriting on the paper that was addressed to him. He didn't remove the sheet of paper, for he knew what it said and no amount of wishing would change that.

"Diego, Diego de la Vega, are you in there?" Don Alejandro called out as he bounded up the steps and pounded on the door.

Diego sighed as he quickly thrust the letter back into his jacket and opened the door to his upset parent.

"Si father, I'm here." he replied in a calm manner that he didn't feel.

Don Alejandro exploded with his own temper as he entered the office. "I saw how you treated Victoria just now and it was very rude of you to speak to her in such a manner. It's not how I raised you to be."

Diego lowered his gaze to the floor and sighed, he knew that he had been rude to her. "I know and I will apologise to her." he said contritely.

"Yes, you damn well better. Just because you've been moody these last couple of days doesn't mean that you take it out on those around you." he all but shouted at his son.

Diego snorted as he felt his own temper rise again. "But its okay for you to do exactly that, isn't it father?" He was tired of if all, he just wanted his father's respect.

Don Alejandro gaped at him. "What do you mean by that Diego?"

Diego shook his head. "It doesn't matter father." he replied, his voice back to its normal indolent tone.

Don Alejandro was truly furious now, why couldn't his son just stand up for himself. "Well it matters to me!" he roared.

Diego saw red and his own temper exploded once again. "Well father, you do have a habit of putting me down in public, which tells everyone that you are ashamed of me, that you would've preferred a son to fight with his fists instead of lazing around with a book in his hand. You're always nagging me to do this, to do that. Well father, I'm sick of it. I'm a grown man and I deserve your respect just like any other man." he yelled at him. All his anger and frustrations from the last five years came pouring out of him in a rant that he never thought he was capable of.

Both men stared at each other, their breathing uneven, both very angry and upset.

It was Don Alejandro who broke the terrible silence. He let out a long and somewhat sad sigh as he ran his fingers through his silver hair, he suddenly felt very old and very tired. "You're right Diego, I don't give you the respect that you deserve as a man and I'm sorry for treating you like that."

Diego's anger fell away, replaced by regret for arguing with his father. "I'm sorry too father, I didn't mean to yell at you." his voice hoarse.

Don Alejandro shook his head. "No, you had every right to do so." he said wearily. "Diego, there's something bothering you isn't there?" he asked quietly.

Diego shrugged. "Why do you ask that?"

Don Alejandro snorted. "Well you just yelled at your own father, something you've never done before and you were rude to Victoria earlier." he paused for a moment and then continued. "I hope you know that you can always come to me if you have any problems, no matter how big or small it maybe."

Diego nodded. "I know father but...I...don't know..." he stopped, why was he finding it hard to tell his father everything, it should be so simple. "It's something I need to think about it first."

Don Alejandro sighed again, he had hoped that his son would open up to him and tell him what was wrong because there was something definitely worrying him. "Alright but please come to me when you want to talk. I'll be there anytime."

Diego fought back sudden tears that burned his eyes. "I will father, I promise."

They shared a look of understanding before Don Alejandro nodded. "Good, good." he turned to leave but he faced Diego once again. "I don't say this often enough but I do love you son." his voice trembled with his emotions.

Diego blinked at this unexpected admission. "I love you too father." he replied, his own voice none too steady.

The two men gazed at each other before Don Alejandro turned and left before anyone could see his misty eyes.

Diego let out a long breath as he sat down at his desk, he had truly detested arguing with his father, a man he loved and respected. Under normal circumstances, he would never have dreamt of speaking to him like that but as he reached once again into his jacket and pulled out the letter, he knew his father was right in one regard. He had taken his fears, his anxiety out on both Victoria and his father when it had nothing to do with them.