Two Sides of a Coin

**Two Sides of a Coin** -- A Disney Zorro Fanfiction

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Sometimes, he wondered what it meant to be Zorro. Was it riding to save someone unfortunate enough to earn the wrath of the capitan or whoever was in authority? Or was it just plain helping someone who was being taken advantaged of? He did not hate his job, but he did not feel rewarded as much as he used to. Not that he wanted any recognition for what he had accomplished, but lately, he became Zorro almost purely by instinct, not thinking anymore whether he should ride on a particular occasion.

Like this time. The bandits raid the house of a fine haciendado. They demanded valuables, which they got. Not having enough, they threw out the owner and his family and took over the hacienda. Zorro was in a blur, so driven at the sight of the helpless family that he slashed at the bandits, one man against at least three or four armed men. They were not killed, fortunately, but they were scarred almost beyond recognition nevertheless. Seeing the bodies, Zorro shook uncontrollably and stumbled on his way, unable to afford a glance at the grateful family.

"You look unhappy," a kind voice remarked.

He stopped his faithful horse and looked around. Standing in the shadow of a tree was a white-haired woman. The way she almost blended into her surroundings made him believed for a moment that she was some kind of apparition.

"What is troubling you?" she asked.

He narrowed his eyes. For an elderly lady, she had a very pleasant voice. Was he so tired that he started imagining things?

"You need a rest, Senor," she continued in a soothing voice. "Please at least come in. There is something that... I would like you to know. If after listening to me, you still want to leave, I shall not stop you."

Numbly, he dismounted and followed her into the hut, which he did not think he had seen before. He was certain now that she was real. In his present state of mind, he could not possibly make up the senora's long speech, or any speech for that matter.

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"Gracias, Senora," he said after his hostess got him a warm drink. It did work wonder calming his nerves.

"De nada," the lady responded, waving. "I don't know if it is the same stuff as what you caballeros always have, but hope you like it."

He almost choked on his drink. How in the world...?

She leaned forward and steadied the cup that threatened to fall off the edge of the table. "Be careful, Senor. It's rather hot."

He started to breathe in relief. Perhaps she did not mean anything by _that_ remark.

"It is all right, Senora. I am sorry for being so clumsy."

"Don't worry about it. You must be tired, chasing after bandits all the time." She smiled, revealing her almost toothless mouth. He thought that smile would look quite interesting on a younger woman. However, what she said about bandits make him feel rather uneasy.

"I do not mean to sound rude, Senora, but what is it that you want to tell me?"

"Young men these days, they are so impatient," she teased. "Well, I will tell you, but I have to ask you some questions first."

He felt guilty right then. He did not answer her question when she asked it previously. Could he do so now?

In the end, his curiosity at what she had to say won out.

"I suppose it is only fair." He bowed his head. "What would you like to know?"

She regarded him with a piercing stare, and for a moment, he believed she was able to see his very soul.

"Well, I want the answer to my earlier question. You looked terrible when I saw you off the highway."

Zorro thought about it and had to shake his head. "I have no idea why."

The senora got up from her seat and walked over to him. "Maybe I should start with something easier. What had you done just before we met?"

He looked up at her, standing there close to him, yet far enough to give him space. She could be trusted, he decided.

"I was out chasing bandits, as you say. I did not know what possessed me, but I just kept on attacking them, even when they were already down. I am scared of myself, Senora, or rather, of what I am capable of doing."

"Dear boy. I don't want to find out what you are capable of!" she said in a mock serious tone.

'Neither do I,' he thought. "When I first started my "work", things were different back then, at least for me. I could actually find satisfaction in helping other people. Now it is more like a curse. I do not know what I am doing anymore."

"Oh." She raised her eyebrows. "Care to elaborate on why you think your work has become a curse?"

"I can't shake it off, that's why! There are times I don't know whether to be my real self, or to be the pretended, shallow version of myself that I so thoughtfully came up with!"

He regretted his harsh words the moment he saw a frown on her face, and was about to apologize when she posed another question.

"Would you still be Zorro if you know in advance what you would get yourself into?"

Despite himself, he smiled. That was one question he had an easy answer to. "Yes, I would. I just might be able to deal with it better, knowing how things will turn out before hand."

"Like problems with your various admirers, no doubt, who barely give your real self a second glance."

He was surprised at an almost bitter tone. Like what she said was personal. But that was not possible, was it? They had just met after all.

He did not realize that he had been staring at her until she blinked. "Oh.. I am sorry. You probably don't want anyone to know of your identity."

"Do you know...?"

She smiled mysteriously. "I would not say that I know who you really are, Senor, but I have my suspicion."

"Ah..." was all the flustered Zorro could say.

Seemingly deep in thought, the lady walked toward the window. Zorro could not help wondering whether she knew his secret, although it would not bother him too greatly either way. No way would he still last if she were the type of person who would shout his real identity to anyone she came in contact with.

The senora was still gazing out the window when she addressed him again. "There is no doubt that you have done a lot of good for this pueblo, Senor," she started slowly. "Unlike some people, I won't pretend to understand whatever your reasons might be for this sacrifice, but I am grateful for it. Now comes a hard part. I have a tendency to speak my mind most of the time... so please forgive me for what I am about to say." She looked down, as though it was a crime to be honest.

He flashed a smile for her sake. After all, he disliked seeing a lady in distress. "No problem. I promise to listen, so I will."

She turned to face him and returned his smile. "Thank you."

He shrugged. "I hope this is worth the suspense you put me through."

Her eyes widened. "You don't mean..."

"What I 'don't mean,' Senora?" Zorro gave her his most innocent smile, which made her laugh. In fact, he could have sworn that she was giggling if she had been younger.

"I feel like I have known you somewhere before, Senora," he went on. "You remind me of a friend."

"Well, I _am_ also your friend, yes?" she demanded, putting her hands on her hips.

Zorro quivered. Although he didn't quite understand how, he realized that he must have offended her. "I apologize, Senora. I did not mean any disrespect."

The senora reached out to touch his arm. "I never said you did," she returned softly. "Don't mind me so much. I am just an old hag with her nose for trouble."

He felt so comforted with the gentle way she put her hand on his trembling arm. The world seemed to stop moving. As far as he was concerned at the moment, there existed only the senora and himself.

"I _do_ know you, don't I?"

His question seemed to surprise her, for she momentarily took her hand off his arm.

"That is for you to decide, Senor," she said at last. "I promise to tell you something, and after I do, you may or may not figure out whether you know me."

"So please get on with telling it and leave me with one less problem," Zorro blurted out in one long extended breath. He was grateful for his mask because otherwise the blush on his face would have been visible.

Her eyes seemed to twinkle in response to his reaction, but she did not comment on it.

"All right, here goes. You are thinking that you have to be Zorro all the time and that you can never be yourself for fear of discovery. You are brave, Senor, but, forgive me, you are also foolish. It is not that you are two persons to begin with. You are just, well, you." She wiped her brow and sipped her drink.

Zorro began to regret his decision to hear her. What she said hit too much close to home. Only his promise kept him from leaving.

"You probably decided, when you began your noble crusade, that no one, not even your family, was to know about your secret life. However, I trust that there is someone whom you let in on the secret. He or she must be the person that is least likely to be suspected of being Zorro's accomplice. Am I correct so far?"

He could only nod and wait. She was not going to tell him what he had already known for nothing.

The senora took a deep breath. "I am sorry for reminding you of things you know by heart, but it is necessary. That aside, I do not doubt your acting skill, but do you think your family is completely fooled by your charade? Or for that matter, do you really believe that your friends and acquaintances are as ignorant as they seem?"

Her questions caught him off-guard. His father had known, but Zorro had always wondered for how long. And as far as his friends were concerned, he was ashamed to admit that he never gave much thought whether they might suspect him, as long as they continued to act like they had no clue.

He looked up to find the lady smiling at him, although her eyes looked sad.

"Yes, you try to do what is best for everyone, which I must applaud you for, but sometimes some people might not care for your generosity. You are just one person, thus cannot be expected to please everyone. But you do have your good judgement."

He blushed again, not because of the compliment, but because she put things into prospective, something he should have done a long time ago. Perhaps she had a point. He had no right to decide for his friends and family whether they should know about his secret.

Nodding, the senora held out her hand toward him.

"Well, please think about it, Senor Zorro. You do not have to answer me, or anyone else for that matter, but I do hope you find your own answer, and eventually your inner peace. Good luck." She shook his hand, and, before he had a chance to express his gratitude, left the small hut.

Zorro stood still for a few moments, then rushed out after her. But she simply disappeared. Undaunted, he mounted his horse and searched for her. After a while, however, he came to the conclusion that the senora must only be a voice of his conscience, despite his earlier conviction that she was real.

Long after Zorro was gone, his companion in the hut climbed down from the big tree right above the place he first saw her.

"You just don't look hard enough, Senor," she whispered, then removed her disguise, revealing her youthful features. "You are not the only person who can wear a mask."

The End

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Disclaimer: Disney owns the characters of Zorro and the senora (when she's not old that is :) I just borrowed them for my little tale.

End file.

Two Sides of a Coin by Scroll Keeper


Rent Day

_Not mine. No claims are made by the author. No money changes hand._

_This is NOT a Saving the Fox story. _

Friday was rent day. Jamie always took the cart out to the de le Vega house. He loathed riding horseback, and now that he no longer _had _to, well, why add more needless suffering to the world? He didn't even own a saddle anymore.

Anyway, most weeks he continued on to one of the nearby farms to purchase vegetables or eggs or cheese. It was astonishing, how much food the tavern went through. And it was important to keep up the quality. A new inn had opened in town last year, and they had a very good cook.

Not that Jamie was worried. Los Angeles was growing.. There was plenty of business for two inns and the boardinghouse too. And - although he would not boast about it aloud - Jamie was not merely a 'very good' cook.

As the cart came around the last corner, Jamie slowed up and guided the horse over to the side. The entire de le Vega family seemed to be at the corral. Shielding his eyes from the sun, Jamie climbed down. Alejandra and Edmund were cantering even circles around the edge while Don Diego, in the center, was giving Alfonzo a riding lesson. The toddler might be too young - he was too excited to sit still. It was a wonder that his jiggling and yelling didn't spook the pony, but the patient animal was standing as still as a statue.

Jamie walked around the side to join Dona Victoria leaning against the fence. Her belly was huge, and Jamie blinked in embarrassment and quickly looked away. He and Rosa had three children at home, but two of them were adopted and the first - Rosa was nicely plump. Her belly had hardly been noticeable. Victoria, on the other hand, always looked like a whale when she was expecting. Not that Jamie would ever say anything about that. Or get caught looking.

"Good morning, Senor Mendoza," Dona Victoria said cheerfully. Her glance in his direction was very brief. Her attention was on the riding lesson in the corral.

"Good morning," he answered. "Is it Alfonso's first time?"

She blew out an amused breath. "His third. He is just so completely beside himself..." She smiled fondly. "His first word was 'horse' you know."

Jamie nodded. He knew. Most of Don Diego's conversations these days were about children. "I am sure once he calms down..."

She watched Don Diego lead the pony slowly forward. Alfonso held tightly to the saddle horn and managed to keep from shrieking. "So, how are things in town? How is Rosa?"

"Ah. Rosa. Do you know what she got me for my birthday?"

"Your birthday was last month," she pointed out.

"It was late." He smiled. "It came by ship. An all metal stove! Oh, you should see it. The sweetest, sleekest...it is amazing!"

"Oooh. I would like to see that."

"You must come over for dinner after church on Sunday. I will bake a cake - Oh, you would not believe what I can do with that stove!"

"I can already guess. I think you have become a better cook than I am."

"Never," Jamie said loyally. "I still miss your enchiladas."

In the corral, Alfonzo let out a delighted shriek and nearly toppled himself out of the saddle. Don Diego quickly snatched him up and tucked him under one arm. "That is enough," he said.

"It certainly is," Dona Victoria agreed, reaching over the fence to take the boy. "It is naptime." She raised her voice. "Edmund! You, too. It is time to go in."

"I don't understand," Don Diego complained, passing the squirming package over the fence and into his mother's arms. "He is three. The first two were already reining by now. Oh. Hola, Mendoza."

Dona Victoria tisked at him. "They are not all alike, Diego. We did not stamp them out of a mold." She set Alfonso on the ground and patted his head. He ignored her and stared longingly back at the pony. "We'll try again tomorrow."

"Don' wanna nap," Alfonso protested. "Riding."

"You need a nap," she said, holding him still.

"I don't _need_ a nap," Edmund protested as he rode up to the gate.

"_You_ have not finished your schoolwork," she answered mildly. "You both know the rules. There is no point in arguing."

"Can I at least ride Sparrow back to the house?"

"To the barn," Dona Victoria corrected, taking Alfonso's hand and leading him along. "And you will comb her down yourself, this time. No leaving it for the stable boy."

With a suspiciously innocent look, Edmund nodded and rode on ahead.

"He's a handful," Jamie remarked.

"They are all a handful," Diego corrected cheerfully. "You know, for the life of me, I cannot remember if I was _ever_ that creative about finding new ways to get into trouble. Is it just because they outnumber us?"

Jamie leaned against the post and watched Alejandra canter around the corral. At one end was a series of low hurdles. She jumped over all three of them neatly. "Your father used to tell stories. Apparently, you were very good at getting into trouble. There was that time, when you were seven, and snuck out to join the spring round up. Or the time you decided the wall in the parlor was too boring and needed some artwork - I think you were three. And then - "

"Yes," Don Diego said quickly. "Thank you. I am sure my father would agree that my present trials are well deserved..." He sighed and turned to look back toward the house. Jamie could have kicked himself. Four years Don Alejandro had been gone, and Diego still found mention of his father difficult.

To change the subject, Jamie took a little bag out of his pocket. "I have the rent."

Diego turned back and smiled. "Ah. You know, you are the most punctual man I know." It was not _such_ a generous compliment, except Diego was looking at him so seriously, with so much warmth and pride. Jamie found his face growing warm.

He groped for another change of subject. "Rosa said to invite you to dinner on Sunday."

"It will be our pleasure, of course. But surely it is our turn."

"We have invited Senor Bednikov and his daughter as well. We are hoping Felipe will come."

Don Diego thought for a moment. "Irina," he said. "Rosa is matchmaking again."

Jamie tried not to squirm. "Irina is a lovely girl. And very practical."

"Unlike Senorita Isabella."

"Well...that was a bit of a mistake... Anyway, I'll make a cake in my new oven. You will be amazed, Don Diego."

"We wouldn't miss it. Are the children invited?"

"Of course. You know how Rita looks up to Alejandra," he glanced past Diego where Alejandra was trotting across the corral. Now, with her father looking away, she glanced around furtively and turned her horse in a wider circle. Jamie had been in the King's service for more than twenty years: he knew the look of someone about to commit a crime. But what could she be up to here in the corral? She wasn't about to mistreat the horse, surely. Diego de le Vega's child cruel to an animal? Never.

Her casual arc turned into a gallop. Jamie gasped: she was headed for the adult sized hurdle at full speed. Diego turned to look. He bit off an exclamation. Now was not the moment to startle that horse, because he was already about to leap - already in mid air - a perfect arc, more than a foot above the hurdle. Dear God.

They landed without breaking stride or slowing. It was a perfection he had seen many times before, and Jamie whispered, "She's another Zorro!"

It was only when Diego made a soft choking noise that he realized he had said it out loud, and it was the wrong thing to say. Jamie flushed miserably. He could not look at Diego. He swallowed hard and turned away. Behind him, Don Diego was leaping the fence, admonishing Alejandra, taking possession of the horse, sending the girl back to the house...

Jamie wished the ground would open up and swallow him.

Don Diego walked the horse in a broad circle and then returned. He stopped with the head of the horse between them and rubbed his nose.

Jamie forced himself to look up. "I will never tell anyone," he whispered.

"_What_ is it that you will never tell anyone...about my oldest child?" It was a voice - angry, hard, unrelenting - he had not heard in almost a decade.

"That you are Zorro, of course. I mean...I haven't told anyone yet. I'm not going to say anything _now_."

Don Diego blinked at that, surprised, and Jamie realized that he had thought Jamie was implying something else _entirely_. That made him blush again, and he said quickly, "Although...I never understood why you kept it a secret after the revolution. I mean, Zorro's crimes were against the Crown, the Mexican government dismissed them."

Don Diego sputtered widlly. "How could you possibly think - Where did you get the idea - Zorro! Me?"

"Oh. Well." Jamie shifted his feet. He cleared his throat. "You know...nobody was very surprised when Victoria married you after Zorro disappeared. Especially with your father making no secret that he was pressuring you both..." And in hindsight, that seemed very much like another of the Fox's diversions, but he wasn't going to mention that now. "Except for me. I thought she liked you too much to marry_ you_ when she had given her heart to someone else." He shrugged. "But, you know, sometimes when she looks at you - of course, most of the time she is very correct and proper - but sometimes she looks at you the way she looked at _him_." Jamie swallowed nervously. "She used to - look - at Zorro very openly."

Diego stared at him. Jamie swallowed hard.

"So for years, you've been convinced..."

"Oh, maybe not _convinced_, that is such a strong word." A nervous chuckle escaped. "I _thought,_ but I was not convinced. Well, not until two minutes ago." He wanted to laugh. He wanted to beg forgiveness. He wanted to turn into a bird and fly away. "Zorro used to get angry...um...fairly frequently in the old days. Not so much any more. But I know his voice."

Don Diego closed his eyes. "I didn't want to spend my life fighting off young men who wanted to test themselves against Zorro's reputation."

"Oh," Jamie said in a small voice, "I thought perhaps you were very pessimistic about the new government."

Don Diego laughed once, weakly. Then he said, "The children don't know. Victoria. Felipe. My - my father." Another laugh. "And you, apparently..." He took a deep breath. "I suppose - Rosa?"

Jamie shook his head. "She is my wife. I would have told her if she'd asked. But why would _I_ know who Zorro was? She never asked..."

Don Diego studied him for a moment and then began to slowly unsaddle Alejandra's horse.

"I wanted to thank you," Jamie whispered. "So many times. For so much."

Diego's hands froze on the cinch. "So have I," he answered. "You could have had me. Twice, toward the end."

Toward the end Jamie had been so fed up...but then so had DeSoto. The entire last year after they had come so close to execution, it was only inertia that carried them forward. DeSoto had put away his painting of Machiavelli. He'd gotten drunk once and started talking about how ambition had failed him, duty was impossible, and honor - he didn't have any. It had been terribly sad.

Jamie had had a hard time believing in duty, too, given that Spain had abandoned California to the likes of Risendo and even DeSoto himself. But honor? "Zorro had enough honor for all of us," Jamie whispered, wishing he could explain. "You did. You never betrayed us, you never gave up."

Don Diego shook his head numbly.

Jamie continued. He just had a little bit more to say. "I tell my children stories - all the children who come to play - I tell them stories of Zorro. I don't tell stories about war anymore..."

Don Diego slowly lifted the saddle onto a fence rail and turned to face him. For a moment he couldn't seem to speak. Jamie had never seen Don Diego - or Zorro - at a loss for words before. "I...I should apologize for all the mending you had to do," he said at last.

Jamie forced himself to laugh. "Yes, you should. I used to have a little callus on my finger from the needle, sewing up all those _Z_s."

"I am deeply sorry," Don Diego said, bowing grandly. Mendoza laughed, this time for real.

"I won't tell anyone..."

"I wasn't worried that you would." He produced his watch and checked the time. "It is later than I thought. You must join us for lunch." He clapped Jamie across he shoulders and steered him back toward the waiting wagon.

"You will come for dinner on Sunday?"

"Oh, of course we will. I am warning Felipe about Irina, though."

_~end _

End file.

Rent Day by Therrae


Rain

Title: Rain

Author: Robin aka icyfire

Summary: The people of Los Angeles enjoy the rain at the end of "Water"

Disclaimer: If I owned them, I would make money from them. Since I don't, I'm not.

Rating: G

Diego walked to where his father and Victoria stood on the tavern's porch. They stayed far enough back under the roof so the rain did not touch them, but the satisfaction on their faces made him smile. "I just saw Mendoza. He was grinning as the rain drenched him. The _alcalde,_ however-"

"The _alcalde_ is furious because his punishment of Mendoza is over!" Victoria finished for him with a wave of her head. Diego's smile grew broader as he saw her eyes flash. "It isn't fair-to make a man stand out in a full dress uniform in this heat is inhuman!"

"This drought definitely brought out the worst in our _alcalde_. Did I hear correctly? He was the reason the fountain stopped flowing?" Diego asked so innocently that no one would believe he knew all of the details. He should; after all, he was the one who had stopped Ramone from taking advantage of the situation. The fountain in the plaza had provided water to the people of Los Angeles over the years when there had been no other water to be found, and its source had remained a mystery until recently. Having never dried up in known history, it suddenly stopped flowing in the middle of this drought, which was admittedly an especially bad one. Even the de la Vega well had dried during it.

Nodding, Victoria looked at him, and he saw a sparkle in her eye with which he was becoming familiar. It always appeared when she began talking about her favorite subject, or whenever he appeared. "Yes, Ramone discovered that the source of the fountain flowed through his land, so he blocked it with boulders. Can you believe he was actually selling the fountain's water to the people-oh, excuse me-he was _giving_ it away after charging everyone for using the road to his land. When Zorro found out, he blew up the boulders blocking the stream. That's why we have water in the fountain again. Zorro rescued this _pueblo_ from the _alcalde's_ greed yet again."

Diego barely kept himself from laughing when she gave a short, proud nod of her head. "So Mendoza was supposed to guard the dam-" Diego said, as if he really wanted to know all the details. He worried about attracting attention to his absences, but most people seemed to accept and even expect them now.

"Yes, and since he didn't stop Zorro, the _alcalde_ ordered him to stand guard duty in the plaza in this heat. As if the _he _could have stopped Zorro," Victoria finished angrily. Diego loved it when Victoria got upset about something, because he enjoyed both listening to and watching her. She was beautiful when she was passionate about a subject, with her eyes flashing and her checks flushed.

"Yes, the _alcalde_ was yelling that he was supreme commander and that there would be no relief for Mendoza when the rain began to pour," Diego told them, unable to hide his own amusement.

_Don_ Alejandro and Victoria both laughed, and the stiffness left Victoria's shoulders. "Yes, it does look like his orders were countermanded by a higher authority," his father noted, looking upward.

Victoria leaned on against a beam and smiled. "I've always loved the rain. I love to hear it pounding on the roof. It almost sounds like music to me." Her voice sounded wistful as she watched a couple of children playing in the rain.

"Yes, I always enjoyed the rain, too. When I was a child, I did the same thing those two boys are doing. My mother used to get so angry. I would come in soaked to the bone and my clothes covered in mud," Alejandro said with a voice just as wistful as Victoria's.

Diego looked at one and then the other. Then, he gazed out at the rain and grinned. He knew what they wanted to do, and he knew them both well enough to know that, without a push, they would deny themselves the enjoyment. So he gave them the push. "I believe this dance is mine," he said as he bowed properly beside Victoria, who gaped at him, startled by the sudden gallantry as well as the idea of dancing. She was so surprised, she said nothing as he gently embraced her with one hand on her hip and the other grasping her hand.

"Diego! What are doing-" The question ended in a shriek as he swung her out into the rain. The downpour drenched them both within seconds.

Enjoying her shocked look, he smiled down at her. It was not often as Diego-ever-proper gentleman that he pretended to be-he was given the chance to surprise her. Or anyone else really. "Why, my lady, we're dancing. Can you not hear the music?" He held her a little closer than was proper, but having never had the chance to hold her before, not even as Zorro, he couldn't resist the urge. He was going to enjoy every tiny second of this moment here, dancing with Victoria in the rain. When his mother had died, he realized that life was only moments added together and each one was so precious.

"Diego, get back here this minute!" Alejandro called from the porch. Diego laughed inside as he saw the look on his father's face. Good thing there were no flies out today; if there were, Alejandro would be sure to catch some in his mouth.

Victoria relaxing in his arms and beginning to follow his every lead told him she was getting over her surprise. When she laughed, he joined in and noticed that several of the people watching smiled at the sound. "This is wonderful! I always wanted to dance in the rain, but I didn't-." Her smile began to falter, but he refused to let her fall back into the seriousness that being an adult required. Not at this moment.

"Your wish is my command, my lady." he said playful, unable to tell or show her how serious he was with that statement. The way his heart beat at this moment, he knew that one of these days, he was going to fulfill every one of her wishes. When the mask came off for good, he was going to enjoy pampering this lady.

Only long practice prevented Diego from suddenly turning and grasping for a sword that wasn't at his side when another lady shrieked. The smile on Victoria's lips and the laughter in her eyes told him it was nothing serious. He relaxed his grip of Victoria's hand and spun her around so he could see what was going on behind him. He smiled as he watched _Don_ Arturo leading his wife in the rain dance. Mercedes was fusing at him even as she danced. "Arturo, this is _loco_! We are grown adults, and we have-"

"Be quiet, dear. Enjoy the music," Diego heard, over the beat of the wind and the rain, the kind man say to his wife. They smiled at one another, and then both began to enjoy the rain.

Slowly, the entire plaza started to fill with people. Children raced out, enjoying every moment of playing, as their parents smiled and waved them out into the cool falling water. The parents, wearing bashful grins and laughing self-consciously, soon followed their offspring. The entire _pueblo_ was having an impromptu celebration for the end of the drought. For a little while, adults became children again.

"I can't believe I'm out standing in the rain," _Don_ Alejandro grumbled as he walked up to his dancing son. Diego hid his smile, knowing his father well enough to know the old man was enjoying every minute of it. "May I have this dance?" he asked, his voice quivering with joy. Diego smiled at his father and turned Victoria over to him. He immediately missed the feel of her in his arms as the cool breeze blew around him.

Instead of asking for another dance with someone else, Diego stood in the rain watching peasants and _caballeros_ alike dancing, their clothes drenched with the water that was renewing their spirit. He watched children running around having fun. He saw Victoria laugh at something his father said to her. Even though he regretted having her out of his arms, he enjoyed the fact Victoria and his father were close. _Don_ Alejandro had become a surrogate father to Victoria after hers had left the _pueblo_ in a desire for revenge that got him killed in a revolt. One of these days, when the mask was off for good, Victoria was going to be able to call _Don_ Alejandro "Father".

The plaza was becoming increasingly full of laughing people. For a day, the grueling work could be forgotten. For a day, the pressure of living under a tyrant could be forgotten. For a day, the adults could forget they were not children anymore.

Watching them all laugh and love together, Diego laughed. Just enjoying the moment, he let the joy overflow. Today was a good day to be alive.

The End

Thanks for reading!

End file.

Rain by icyfire


A Fairytale Reveal

**A Fairytale Reveal**

Victoria looked at the piece of black cloth in her hands. Now that she had cleaned it and washed out the blood, her own blood, it no longer clumped together so much and she could make out its shape. Zorro had ripped it out from his shirt to bandage her when she had been shot. The wound had healed since, but she still remembered her pain and the horror on Zorro's face when he thought she'd die there in his arms.

As a reminder of the events she had kept the piece of Zorro's shirt. It was only a rag now and of no use anymore. But then she thought of a fairy tale Diego had read to her a few evenings ago. It was about a prince who fell in love with a beautiful woman at a ball. He wanted to marry her, but she had left the ball before he could find out her name. All she left behind was a glass shoe. The prince then vowed he'd marry the girl who fit the shoe. Victoria began to smile and a plan began to form in her mind.

The next day in the tavern she made her announcement. Holding the folded cloth over her head, she told everyone that she would marry the man who presented her a black shirt that would fit this piece of cloth in the next three days.

After the general surprise turned to wild gossip among her customers, Diego came over to the bar to talk to her. "Do you think this is wise, Victoria?"

"Why don't you like it, Diego?" Victoria challenged him.

"Because I think you will achieve nothing with this. How many men do you think will be willing to come forward if they have to admit they are Zorro at the same time?"

"If a man wants to marry me he'll only have to present the matching black shirt!"

"It's a bad idea, Victoria. How will you know that the man who shows you his black shirt is the right one?"

"I have this piece of cloth to compare the pieces. And if Zorro wants to marry me, he'll claim me. You'll see, Diego!"

Diego only shook his head. "Just do what you think you must, Victoria. I'm afraid you'll be very disappointed when nothing comes of it. How many black shirts do you think there are in this pueblo? Except for Zorro nobody wears black shirts."

"All the better! It will only make it easier for me to find my Zorro with this piece of shirt, Diego!" Victoria didn't waiver despite Diego's disagreement.

Z Z Z

Proving Diego wrong, Don Pedro came to the tavern the next day, showing her a black shirt. "Senorita Victoria, please do me the favor and become my wife. I have the black shirt you requested."

Under the curious eyes of the gathered guests he unfolded a black shirt on one of the tables. Victoria only needed one look to see that it wasn't the right one.

"This is a caballero shirt with ruffles in front and it isn't even missing a piece!" Victoria exclaimed. "Why do you think I'd fall for this, Don Pedro?"

Guiltily the man looked at her. "You are a beautiful woman, Senorita Escalante. I'd be honored if you married me."

"I'm sorry, Don Pedro. I love Zorro. I want to marry him, and no one else." Don Pedro nodded sadly, folded his shirt and quietly left the tavern.

Z Z Z

The next day a farmer she had never seen before came forward with a black shirt. He was tall and had broad shoulders. But when she looked at the shirt she was relieved. It was missing a piece of cloth on the wrong side, and the shirt was plain linen, not silk as the one Zorro wore.

"Don't you think you should stop this foolish plan?" Diego asked her. "So far it has only brought you two impostors, Victoria."

Victoria shook her head. "There is still tomorrow and I'm sure Zorro will come!"

On the third day the tavern was crowded like never before, as the whole pueblo was curious if Zorro would make an appearance and claim his love.

But instead of Zorro it was Don Fernando who stepped forward to present her his black shirt. Incredulously she looked at him as he unfolded it on one of the tables. It was a black silk shirt with no ruffles and a piece of cloth was missing on the left side about the same size as the one Zorro had used as a bandage.

"Well, Senorita Escalante, will you marry me?" Don Fernando asked her. "Here is the shirt as you wanted, now I want you to keep your promise!"

"But you can't be Zorro!" she exclaimed. "Zorro is much taller and much younger than you!" Helplessly she looked around.

"You never said anything about the man when you made your announcement, Senorita," Don Fernando insisted and Victoria didn't know what to say.

"Don Fernando is right about that," Diego agreed with him, stepping forward. "But I think I may be of help." Expectantly the gathered crowd looked at him. "Victoria, would you please give me the cloth from Zorro's shirt?" Victoria handed him the requested item and Diego unfolded it carefully, laying it next to Don Fernando's shirt. Then he pointed out the differences.

"The material of the cloth may be similar, but Don Fernando's shirt is of much thinner cloth than the one from Zorro. I don't think it would last a fight without ripping apart." Those close enough felt both parts in their hands and nodded in agreement. "And if you look at the two pieces you'll see that the parts don't match exactly." Diego pointed at the seams. "Don Fernando's shirt looks as if it was cut by scissors while the other one was torn apart."

"Thank you, Diego," Victoria beamed at him. "So do you still insist on marrying me?" she addressed Don Fernando.

"It was worth a try, Senorita Escalante. Too bad that Don Diego was so clever to see through it." Don Fernando said angrily. "I wonder who has a black shirt that is missing a part."

Leaning against the bar Victoria looked at the black cloth in her hand. Who had a black shirt like this? She decided simply to ask.

"Victoria? Victoria?" she heard someone call her and it took her a moment to become aware of herself. She looked into Diego's blue eyes as he bent over her. "Does your black shirt have a piece missing, Diego?"

"Of course, my black shirt is alright! What are you talking about, Victoria?" Diego asked her puzzled. "Why are you asking that?"

Only then she realized that she was sitting on a bench in the kitchen and wasn't standing at the bar.

"Why am I here in the kitchen, Diego? A moment ago I was standing at the bar."

"No, you weren't, Victoria," Diego corrected her. "I was looking for you and found you fast asleep here in the kitchen. I kept you so late reading fairy tales at the hacienda yesterday. It's no wonder you're tired today."

"Yesterday? It was only yesterday you read me the tale of Cinderella?" Victoria asked surprised. "But I thought..."

"What did you dream, Victoria, that you wake up asking such strange questions?" Diego was curious.

"Wait a minute, Diego!" Victoria eyed him suspiciously, coming to her senses. "I may have been dreaming when you woke me, but I was awake when I asked you about your shirt. You said that your black shirt was fine. So why do you have a black shirt, Diego? Black shirts aren't very fashionable among the caballeros, are they?"

Victoria rose from the bench, standing close to Diego. Taking a closer look at him than she had in years, she noticed that his height matched that of Zorro and his eyes were of the same blue.

"I think you just slipped with your answer earlier, Diego. I think there's only one reason why you have a black shirt. You are Zorro! Am I right?"

Diego didn't know what to say, searching his mind for an answer. Finally he gave in, sighing. "I'm curious to know what you were dreaming earlier." He smiled at her. "You caught me by surprise, Victoria. I am Zorro." He took a step closer to her, then whispered, "What will you do now?"

Victoria produced an impish grin. "Zorro and I are breaking up. I'm going to find comfort in the arms of my best friend, Diego." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him as she whispered, "I'm going to hold you in my arms, and never let you go."

* * *

_A/N: Thank you Marla for betaing and correcting my stories. I like your suggestions._

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A Fairytale Reveal by katie1999