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Conquering Fear	By : emmarae3579 Category: S through Z > Zorro Views: 2149 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Zorro, and do not make any money from writing this story.

Chapter List
- 9
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- 11
Author’s Note: So I guess I always mention Diego’s fancy clothes. In NWZ he doesn’t much care, or wear fancy suits. All the other Diegos do, though... I’ll probably keep doing it, because I need something to distinguish Diego from Zorro. It was a little too obvious in NWZ…
All your reviews and comments have really helped me smile this first week of school as teachers try to cram medical knowledge into my brain. I hope you keep enjoying the story and commenting. Unless I’m posting too fast, and not giving you time…
Everyone seems to be concerned Diego’s a little overconfident…good. Evil laugh. I hope you like this chapter.
zzz
Sometime later, once again Diego held Victoria cradled against his chest. He was happy. Not content. Thrilled. Overjoyed. Walking on air. His hand rubbed up and down Victoria’s arm, and he sank back into his pillow and held her tighter. His bed wasn’t lonely anymore. So often he’d dreamt of having her here. He glanced around his room, eager to show her things, to share his life with her after all these years of secrecy.
“Are you happy?” Victoria asked, stroking her fingers over his chest.
“I don’t think it’s possible to be happier. You’re an amazing woman. I have you, what else could I ask for?”
Victoria listened to his heartbeat for a few minutes. “Is now the time something comes to shatter the illusion?”
Diego switched their positions so he could look her in the eye. “It’s not an illusion. This is reality. The past few years have been the illusion. Tell me what’s going to interfere now that we’re together?”
Victoria cradled his cheek, brushed his hair out of his face only to see it fall down again. “Pretty dangerous illusion. What happens when—“ Victoria’s eyes closed as her stomach growled in the silence of the room.
Diego laughed. “Guess I need to feed my wife. And see if they left me some apple pie.” He kissed her grin. “See how easy that is since I don’t have to drive in to town to eat? And easier for you since you don’t have to cook. Life is better, not more dangerous.”
Victoria smiled. “I thought you liked my cooking.”
“I do.” Diego shrugged. “If you want to cook you can. But if you let Andrea cook, you can sit with me. I didn’t marry you to save myself the trip to the tavern for food, since I only went there to see you.”
Diego gave her a smacking kiss on her neck and pushed himself off the bed while she considered the impact of such a simple statement. Sure, he’d had secrets from her. But Alejandro was right. He couldn’t stay away from her. He went to great lengths to spend time with her, and she hadn’t known.
He went to a drawer and slipped on a pair of trousers while he still had the resolve. Then he opened another drawer and pulled out a beautiful chemisette with intricate lace at the bodice. Victoria reached under her pillow, looking for the chemise she’d just removed. “Where—“
Diego shrugged and coughed. “I accidentally knocked it onto the floor. But I…” He held up the garment and walked closer to the bed. She sat up and reached a hand out to the fine cloth. “…I bought you this.” He glanced behind him, remembering the many gifts he’d purchased over the years tucked away because he was unable to express his love. He sat next to her as she came to the edge of the bed, still covered by the blanket she clutched to her chest.
He bought her underwear? Didn’t he like her clothes? She’d thought the Diego obsessed with clothes was an act… She ran a hand over the fine lace and satin. No one in Los Angeles wore anything like this. Did he forget she wasn’t even wearing a chemise last night? The neck was low, it matched her preference for clothing. The fine satin would be cool and comfortable. It was better than a full chemise or slip which would be more uncomfortable on hot days. Maybe he wasn’t going to tell her what to wear and change how she dressed.
“Sometimes I got … frustrated. My father would press me to get married, Diego would do something foolish. I couldn’t give you things or tell you I loved you. But I could buy you things. It reminded me there would be a future for us. I felt less lonely imagining you living here with me.” The corner of her mouth turned up as she examined the lace and she felt tears threaten. Diego took a deep breath and went back to his dresser.
“So you have some things here. If you like them.” He picked up various things, opening cabinets and drawers, fidgeting nervously rather than letting her see any of the items he was ‘showing’ her as he named off things. Gifts he’d purchased years ago to one day make her happy. Victoria wiped at a tear and told herself not to get so emotional.
“…a few dresses.” He continued rambling. “I don’t really like the fancy suits I wear, but I loved imagining you wearing something I picked out for you.” He turned to his closet and pulled out her blue dress from last night. “I like anything you wear, so if you want something you’re familiar with…” Diego looked up at her and she couldn’t help grinning when he blushed before turning back to the closet. “Or if you wanted…” Diego pulled out a lavender dress with deep purple accents and held it up for her approval. It wasn’t overly showy or fancy, but definitely nicer than anything she’d ever owned. And the most beautiful dress she’d ever seen.
Victoria stood before her silence stretched too long for Diego’s nerves. She left the blanket on the bed, holding the chemisette in front of her until she reached him. She focused on him so she wouldn’t run back for the covers, though she felt her body flush at walking toward him without any clothes. She held the undergarment out to him and he quickly hung the dresses back up to take it from her. Victoria sighed as the cool satin fell over her breasts, giving her some cover again yet arousing her more for only being partially clothed.
She reached a hand to his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. “Who knew you were so romantic. The matchmaker would be shocked.”
“You don’t mind?” Diego wrapped his arms around her, slipping his arms inside the chemisette and resting his hands low on her back. “We could go to Santa Barbara and get whatever you want for the house. I want you to be comfortable here. Happy.”
Victoria wrapped her arms around him when his stomach growled, too. “I am happy. We’ll talk. For now, food. It has to be after lunchtime already. Can’t believe how late I slept.”
Diego pulled her tight for another kiss before he let her go for good. “I wore you out. Now I have to feed you so you keep your energy up.”
Diego held his breath when she turned to the closet, giving him a perfect view of her legs and bottom. He’d also gotten her some slips and pantalets. The chemisette, however, didn’t cover much, and Diego grinned. He’d purchased a lot of chemisettes. And had somehow forgotten to get her a robe.
“A few dresses?” Diego shook himself when she looked back at him.
He shrugged innocently as she ran a hand over the dozen or so dresses in his closet. She pulled out the purple dress he’d favored a moment ago and he smiled when she let him help her dress again. He liked having his hands on her, even if it was to cover up her skin. She looked beautiful. He just wanted to keep her to himself, but knew his father and Felipe would be waiting in ambush whenever they decided to venture out of the bedroom.
Victoria tugged him back before they could leave the suite. “Nobody knows I’m here. What will they say? What do we say?”
Diego wrapped an arm around her and pulled her out into the hall. “We say you’re my wife. Felipe saw us come in. He would have told my father this morning. You are my wife. What more is there to say?
Victoria tugged him to a stop again. “Everyone will know what we did last night!” Victoria whispered.
Diego chuckled at her red face. “Probably. We’re not the first ones to do it, either.” Diego backed her into the wall so he could kiss her, using his entire body to give her something to blush about. He took her hand to tug her along after she melted into him.
“Stop worrying. My father loves you. I’m the one who’s going to be in trouble for being Zorro. He already hit me once yesterday. I left without much of an explanation.”
“You deserved it,” Alejandro said when they met several steps later.
Victoria blushed profusely and tried to step away from Diego, but he didn’t let her go. “Good morning, Father. Be nice.”
“I’ll be nice to her. You’ve got a lot of explaining to do.” Diego reluctantly released Victoria for his father’s embrace. Alejandro glanced down and saw his wife’s ring on her hand. He took it in both of his and kissed it. “You made an old man happy.”
Diego reached for her hand, but Alejandro placed it in the crook of his arm and started walking away from him. Diego stared dumbly after them, and decided he didn’t need to be civil. He walked up between them and took his wife by the arm to continue walking toward the kitchen. Alejandro laughed after them and motioned for them to sit while he brought out some food which had been waiting.
Diego frowned at his father, who appeared to be inviting himself to lunch. Diego thought about putting everything back on the tray his father had just unloaded and eating in his room. He resigned himself to company, though, knowing there were things to discuss. His father had been patient last night, and he knew condoning an elopement was not an easy thing. If he could get the discussion of marriage out of the way, then he could get back to the fun parts.
Victoria cried out in surprise as Diego simply grabbed her chair and pulled it right next to him. He grinned confidently at her and she didn’t have the heart to be mad at him for almost dumping her on the floor. She leaned back, glad they were close anyway as he wrapped his arm around her.
Everyone looked up as Felipe came running into the room. Diego smiled a greeting, then took in Felipe’s appearance. Diego ducked his gaze and concentrated on dishing out chicken and rice and ignored him.
“Ah, Felipe! Diego has finally let Victoria come out for lunch,” Alejandro greeted the boy.
Victoria felt her body turn cold when she looked up at Felipe. He was fidgeting. He looked behind him, glanced around the house, grimaced at her and looked at his feet. He scratched his head and danced back and forth on his feet as if he didn’t know what he was supposed to be doing. Felipe had known Zorro’s identity this whole time. He probably watched over the pueblo so he could warn Diego if there was trouble. She glanced at Diego, who for once wasn’t looking at her. He appeared to be eating, but he was just pushing chicken and rice around on his plate.
“Felipe?” Alejandro called again when Felipe didn’t join them. He turned around in his chair to face the anxious teen. “Felipe, is something wrong?”
Diego glanced up at Felipe, and Victoria wanted to reach out and soothe the tension she could see in his body, but her own body refused to move. Felipe and Diego watched each other for several moments before Diego stuffed a bite of chicken into his mouth. Felipe looked down at the ground again, slunk over to the table and grinned weakly at Victoria before he took a seat.
Silence stretched, the only sound the clock on the wall and Diego’s spoon scraping his plate, since he’d suddenly started eating like a starving man. He glanced at Victoria. “Thought you were hungry?”
“Diego—“ Alejandro started.
“What?” Victoria jumped as Diego’s spoon hit his plate hard as he glared at his father.
No one moved, and Diego glared at the clock now as if it was interrupting him, too. Victoria leaned a fraction closer to him and Diego took her hand which was like ice against the table. He toyed with the ring on her hand that he’d placed there just hours before.
“Diego—“ But Alejandro was cut off again.
“It’s my wedding day, Father.” The emotion behind that quiet statement hinted at all Diego had given up for Zorro, for the people, and Victoria wanted to hug him and take him back to the bedroom and let him ignore the world forever.
Diego took a sip of the drink he’d just poured moments ago, but it tasted bitter. He looked across at Felipe again, and the boy silently left the table. Felipe knew Diego would go. He always did.
Diego’s chair scraped loudly against the floor as he stood, and his glass shattered against the wall across the room. He attempted to rein in his temper as he politely excused himself and followed Felipe.
- 9
- 10
- 11
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Conquering Fear