Disclaimer: I do not own Zorro, and do not make any money from writing this story. Dialogue and situations used from the episode are property of ZPI, the rest of the story is my property and cannot be printed or used without permission.

Author's Note: Here I am again…but this one's finished I promise. I'm posting these two chapters and I'll post the other hopefully later today. This is not officially beta'd, because Marla is dealing with the harsh realities of RL right now. LaCorelli, DietMJ, and Katinka helped encourage me and gave pointers, so thanks. I thought posting this today might give Marla a distraction if she needs it today.

Real life is still beating me up, too. I know I have two unfinished stories. A Simple Beginning I find myself conflicted on, and it's tough to stick to the plan. I love everyone's opinions on it, and I hope you stick with me. Hopefully something will go right for me next week and I'll be able to relax enough to write Victoria buying some new clothes with Diego too close for comfort. Or maybe she'll be quite comfortable letting him close…you must wait and see.

For now, some sad drama.

zzz

Victoria smiled slightly when Alejandro answered the door. The visit was not during a happy time.

"Victoria, welcome." Alejandro stepped back and closed the door after Victoria entered. "I didn't know you were coming here tonight. Are you here to see Diego?"

Victoria nodded. "Don Diego doesn't know I'm coming, but I did come to see him. Is he still awake?"

Alejandro looked behind them into the quiet house. "Yes, I'm afraid this week has been hard on him. He won't talk to me. Maybe you will do him some good."

Victoria followed Alejandro into the library where Diego sat staring into the crackling fire. She nodded at Felipe in the corner and thanked Alejandro as he left her to speak with Diego. She walked further into the room, but Diego didn't even notice her.

She watched him for a moment, aching for his loss, and then smiled at Felipe when he threw something at his mentor to get his attention.

Diego stood to face her when he finally became aware of her presence. "Señorita Escalante, I apologize. I didn't see you."

"I understand it's been a long day."

Diego waited for her to take a seat before he sat back on the couch. "You're lucky you're not in jail," Diego mumbled. "I wish you would stop going against the alcalde. It's a good way to get yourself killed," Diego said as he watched the fire.

He didn't notice her stand and he jumped in surprise when she sat close to him on the couch. "You should follow your own advice."

Diego leaned his head back on the couch to face her. Their shoulders were inches apart. He wanted to put his arms around her, reassure himself that she was alright.

She wouldn't have been at risk in the first place if it wasn't for him. "You could have been shot today."

"So could you."

"I wasn't jumping in front of armed soldiers to protect a myth," Diego ended with a scowl as he turned back to the fire.

Victoria raised an eyebrow. "A myth? Zorro is important. Your friend needed a doctor."

Diego sighed. "Zorro…"

Victoria took his hand and held it in her lap as Diego watched curiously. "I did it for you, not Zorro."

Diego watched her fingers lace with his, so small and delicate compared to his, but turned back to look at the fire. "I lost a friend today."

Victoria squeezed his hand. "I know. I'm sorry."

Victoria smiled slightly at him when he turned back to her, his eyes roaming over her face. "You're my friend. I wish you'd be more careful."

"Friend? Is that all?"

Diego dropped his eyes and turned away again, making Victoria frown. He was even more surprised when Victoria wrapped his arm around her shoulder and put her own arms around his chest. He hesitated, unsure, before he gave into his need to be held and wrapped his arms around her in return.

"Sir Edmund was the one who taught you to fight?"

Diego's hands tensed on her back and silence echoed through the dim room. He glanced back at Felipe who had stood in response to the quiet, simple question which just rocked their world. Diego nodded his head at Felipe and the teenager followed his instructions to leave them alone.

The quiet night and the low fire leant an intimacy to the situation, but Victoria was determined to be there for him, as he'd always been there for her. She turned in his arms to face him, not caring that she'd come here uninvited and now was nearly laying in his lap. She wanted him to know she wasn't running away, and she wouldn't let him run either. Or deny.

She reached up a hand to his cheek, and slowly Diego relaxed again, holding her close. "I heard who he was. I doubt he would have come all this way to visit a failure of a student. He came to find help from his best student."

Diego laced their fingers together where her other hand rested on her stomach. "You shouldn't be here."

"Why?" Diego looked back at the fire, but his thumb still stroked her hand. She squeezed his hand, worried that he was so quiet. "You shouldn't be alone." Diego looked at their clasped hands, but she didn't let him pull his hand away.

"I am alone. That's how it has to be. You need to leave me alone."

Victoria shook her head, but now he did remove his hands from her completely. She felt chilled now that he wasn't holding her, but she knew he needed her right now. "That's what I'm saying, Diego. You're not alone. You've helped so many people. Talk to me. Talk to your father. We can help you." Victoria waited for him to look at her again, but he still stared at the fire.

She chilled even more when Diego chuckled darkly. "Help me? Getting yourself thrown in jail helps me? You give the alcalde a target to use against me. The entire pueblo talks about how you've staked a claim on Zorro. The alcalde already knows you are interested in the stranger in a mask. Soon he'll use you to force my hand. How is that helping?"

Victoria couldn't breathe. She reached up to pull his face around to look at her, but he shook her hand away. Victoria's eyes widened as she turned crimson and scrambled off his lap, off the couch.

Diego's arms stayed open as he regretted the loss of her soft warmth for a second, but he forced his eyes to focus on the fire so he wouldn't have to watch her go.

"Me?" She bit back tears as her breath hitched violently. "You kissed my hand. You said I was beautiful. In front of everyone. I thought…"

"You thought what, Victoria?"

Victoria flinched. What had she thought? She'd been shocked when she'd figured it out earlier today. Diego as Zorro? But Diego was a good and decent man. They were friends. He didn't care that they were different. If he was really Zorro, she wouldn't have to doubt his intentions. Now…

Victoria took a step back, afraid of what he might say next, but needing to know. "What are you saying?"

"I've never said anything. I never made you any promises. You put yourself in danger without considering the consequences. Am I supposed to thank you for your support?"

Victoria took another step back because he did turn to her now. But his eyes weren't soft and blue, full of promise and affection. They were dark, glittering in the firelight and she felt as if they stabbed clear through her chest.

"I'm…" Victoria wiped at her eyes as they started leaking against her will. He didn't blink. He wasn't taking back his cruel words. "I'm sorry…I thought…" Victoria couldn't breathe. Her throat choked on any words she tried to utter, the air in the room felt like it was suffocating her. Had it all been her? He told his father all the time he wasn't interested in marriage.

Unable to breathe, she turned for the door, crying out in pain when she stumbled on the coffee table on her way out of the dark room. She'd been sitting alone with a man in a dark room. What was she thinking? Why did she forget everything else when it came to Zorro? She loved him.

But he didn't love her.

She stumbled again when she ran into Alejandro, but she didn't pause. She needed to be outside, to find air that wasn't full of hate and scorn. Alejandro called after her, but he would stay with his son. Who was she to the De la Vegas? She was a fool for trying to reach above her station.

She didn't know that's what she'd been doing though! When she'd realized Zorro's identity she'd been happy because Diego was the best man she'd ever known. Now she'd destroyed everything.

Zzz

Author's Note 2: If I drew you in with this chapter, please consider reviewing before moving on to chapter 2.