After my word is my bond Chapter 1, a zorro fanfic

English is not my mother language, please don´t be very hard. I use a dictionary with references but the result maybe is not very good.

Chapter 1: You can hide, but you can not run.

Victoria said happily. - Now, if that were Zorro, he wouldn´t be such a baby about a broken leg. -

Don Alejandro said in the same tone. - And if Zorro had a broken leg the pueblo of los Angeles would be the one to suffer. -

Diego went away hiding his wounded pride under his best lazy Diego smile. He limped into the tavern and sat at a table.

Victoria worried about what she had said. - Don Alejandro. Do you think I hurt his feelings?. -

- Don´t worry Victoria, he is used to our jokes. -

They walk together to the tavern. Victoria still looked worried and don Alejandro asked her. - What are you thinking about?. -

I´m not sure, but when I saw Diego walking I just realized about something. Today Zorro acted a little strange. When he fought I think he couldn´t move as usual, he limped a little, and later he didn´t left his horse to kiss me.

- Victoria, my dear, I think you let him take too many liberties with you. You should be more discreet.

Victoria flushed and tried to go to the previous topic. - But. What if he is hurt?. Maybe he had a twisted ankle or even a broken leg. -

- That would be a coincidence. -

Don Alejandro and Victoria stared at each other. They had the same idea, something both had thought previously but discarding it quickly. Finally don Alejandro broke the silence.

- Diego is one of the tallest man around here. I think only Zorro could be taller than him. Do you think Zorro is taller?

- Maybe, or maybe not. Zorro is usually wearing a hat, and it would make him look a little bit taller.

- Diego´s eyes are blue. And Zorro´s? -

- He has blue eyes. - she answered very sure about it.

- The same color?. -

- I don´t know. Diego hardly ever looks at me in the eye. -

- I thought you were good friends. -

- I believed he didn´t look at me because he is quite shy. I didn´t think about the reason. -

Don Alejandro looked worried and Victoria didn´t know what to think. Don Alejandro spoke again. - How many tall and blue-eyed men do you know?. -

Victoria looked quite confused. - You are not really thinking that Diego… - she didn´t dare to finish the sentence. After a few seconds she spoke again. - I have an idea. Could you come to my tavern and wait for me in the kitchen?. -

- Of course I can. -

They entered the tavern through the back door and don Alejandro staid in the kitchen, that was empty because Victoria´s helpers didn´t start with dinner. Victoria crossed the tavern to go to the stairs and watched Diego sat having a lemonade with Sargent Mendoza. She didn´t looked at him for long, but she was getting more sure about him. She went to her room.

A few minutes later Victoria met don Alejandro. - You must promise not to speak about this with anyone. -

- Of course, you have my word. -

She nodded and extended her right hand. It was shaking a little when she opened it and showed a gold and emerald ring. - Do you know this?. -

- It was my wife´s!. Where did you get it?. -

- Zorro gave me when he asked me to marry him. -

- Are you betrothed?. - asked don Alejandro trying to exclaim in a low voice. It wasn´t easy.

- I´m going to kill him. -

- I know he deserves it, but. Could you marry him and give me some grandchildren before?. -

- If I do that I think I will not want to kill him any more. -

- I´m glad to know it. He is my only son. -

They stayed in silence for several minutes, in deep thought.

- Do you want to come to the hacienda for dinner?. We can talk there. He can not escape with this broken leg. -

- Are you very sure he can´t?. Sorry, but It´s not possible tonight. I´m waiting for some travelers to stay overnight.

- So you can come tomorrow. -

- It´s OK, but please take him away because if I saw him here I don´t know what I can do. Are you not telling him something?. -

- I am very angry now, but I prefer waiting for you. I don´t want he suspects until we can speak to him together. I don´t want you to kill him, but we can make him sweat a little.

Victoria looked at don Alejandro appreciatively. - Yes, I think it´s a great idea. -

Don Alejandro left the kitchen and met Diego.

- Were you in the kitchen?

- Yes, Victoria needed a little help and as you are in pain I offered myself. Do you want to go home?. You look quite tired. -

- Yes, thank you, I would like to, but I didn´t say goodbye to Victoria. -

- She is quite busy with the dinner. She will understand. -

They took the wagon and went back home.

Diego went to bed early. He woke up quite early in the morning and he was resting all day long. He spent the evening reading in the library, with his leg on a chair and enjoying one of the books he had recently received from Spain. He felt quite relaxed for first time in a long time. He didn´t know about what was coming over him.

He heard footsteps and voices and his father entered the library followed by Victoria. She looked at him very attentively and saw the happiness in his sight when he saw her. She remembered herself that she was very angry with him. Was she?

- Victoria, what a nice surprise. - said Diego. He tried to stand up, but his broken leg prevented him from doing it and he fall down again on his chair, quite confused.

- Diego, you don´t need to stand up for Victoria, don´t be so polite with her, she is just an old friend. -

Victoria looked at don Alejandro. She didn´t like being called an old friend. - Your father invited me to dinner and I wanted to come and ask you how you are feeling. You looked quite in pain yesterday.

- I´m feeling much better today, thank you. -

Victoria went near Diego and help him to put his leg on the chair. She pulled with a little bit more streght than necessary, making him startled. - Sorry for my clumsiness, you know I would do anything not to hurt you. - He stared at her remembering his words when she was at Zorro´s cave with a twisted ankle. She was looking at him and added. - I wanted to apologize about what I said yesterday. I didn´t want to offend you. -

He looked touched. -Thank you Victoria, you didn´t need to do it. -

Victoria arose trying to remember again that she was angry. It was more difficult than she thought. She changed the topic. - Zorro was magnificent yesterday, but I realized he looked a little bit strange. -

- Which way?. - asked don Alejandro.

- I think he had some trouble. He didn´t fight like other days. -

- Do you think he was hurt?. -

- It´s possible. He is just a man under the mask, flesh and blood, and he can get hurt like everyone. What do you think Diego?. -

- I think is possible. - answered him.

Don Alejandro stared at Diego. - But if he rides when he is not in good form, he would be doing a foolish thing. Do you think Zorro is a fool?. -

- Maybe he didn´t want to ride but he had to because Victoria was in danger. -

- So you think he is a fool very much in love. What do you think Victoria?. -

- I don´t understand why we are speaking about Zorro so much. - said Diego becoming defensive.

- You are right, we should better speak about you. I don´t know why your leg was hurting so much yesterday. You look well in the morning. - said don Alejandro.

- I think I had a bad step and my leg suffered.

- Could be, but I´m very worried about your health. You look strong and robust, but some days you are so tired that I think your books are not good for you. I don´t understand how your studies can exhaust you so much.

Diego could not answer that. He looked from his father to Victoria like a boy caught with his hand into the cookie jar.

- Is something wrong with you, Diego?. Asked his father. -

- And with you?. - asked him back. - You both are behaving strangely today. -

- What do you mean with strangely?. Maybe like if we were hiding something?. -

Victoria came back near him. - Your father and I were asking ourselves why you have so well developed muscles if you spend your days reading and playing the piano. - She put her hand on his upper arm feeling it cheekily. He looked at her quite shocked and didn´t see the smile on his father´s face when he saw Diego´s reaction.

- I work in the ranch also. -

- Not as much as Antonio or Ramiro and they don´t have your arms. - said don Alejandro. - We also realized you look very much like Zorro. His same height, his same complexion.

Victoria took a chair and put it right beside Diego. She sat and her face was as the same level than his, very near his. - Your father is right. You also have the same mustache and same eyes color. - Diego was looking at her without blinking. Then Victoria kissed him and he could not avoid responding the kiss. He pull back a few seconds later.

- Definitely you kiss the same way than him. -

Diego´s scared face made them feel a little bit better.

- You are needing a chaperon. Victoria, do you think two months until the wedding will be all right?. -

- Can´t we get married before?. I have waited for long. -

- I´m not sure. I think he will need the time to recover and not limp to the we need to think something to prevent the Alcalde suspects. You must break with Zorro as soon as possible.

Diego was still mute. Victoria looked at him. - You didn´t confess. Do you want to tell us something?. -

- I am Zorro. - he admitted.

Don Alejandro and Victoria stared at him very serious.

- Is this all you are telling us?. - asked his father.

- If you are yelling at me we should better go to a more private place. - He used his cane to stand up and press the lock in the fireplace. The door opened and he invited them in.

They went downstairs to Zorro´s lair. Don Alejandro saw the empty stall. Where is the horse?. -

- Felipe took him out to make some exercise. Tornado can not stay all day long here in. -

- Felipe, I should have guessed. All right. Remove your shirt. -

Diego was surprised about that. - Victoria is here. -

- She is your fiancee. I think she will not oppose.

She just flush and shook her head.

- I said I am Zorro. What else do you want?. -

- I want to know the price you have been paying. Remove your shirt now. -

He reluctantly did it. His father and Victoria could see the scars on his chest, abdomen, back and arms.

- I can see that after all, not all bandits and lancers were so clumsy. I suppose you have more scars but I will let Victoria discovers them your wedding night. -

Diego put his shirt back and his father realized he was a little bit pale. He was standing on his good leg, trying to put some of his weight on the wall.

- Go and sit down. I don´t want to torture you. -

- Thank you. - He went to his desk and sat down using it as a support. He din´t dare to look at them. - I´m sorry for not telling you. I wanted to protect you. -

- I would never had let you take so many risks. -

- We could have help you. - said Victoria.

- And share my punishment if someone captured me?. - said Diego looking at her.

- You are telling us everything, but you will hear my opinion first. -

Diego straighten on his chair and look at his father. He was ready to affront what he wanted to say. -

Don Alejandro started talking in a deep voice. - You really don´t know the way I´m feeling now. You have been very irresponsible and I´m hurt because you didn´t trustme. - He closed his eyes trying to decide what to say. - I feel specially pride. I couldn´t be most proud of you. -

Diego needed one moment to assimilate what he had heard. He blinked when felt tears. - Thank you, father. -

- Thanks to you, my son. -

- I want to say something. - said Victoria. Diego looked at her.

- You are a liar. -

- I know. Please, forgive me. -

- I´m angry, and hurt. And I want to say I´m sorry. -

He was very surprised. - Why?. I should apologize, not you. -

- I was very unfair to you. I made you ride with a broken leg. -

- You couldn´t know because I didn´t say to you. -

- Do you really want to marry me or it was another lie?. -

- It wasn´t. I want to marry you. It´s my dearest wish. I want to be your husband. I want to have children, a life with you.

- Will you stop risking your life?. -

- Yes, my life is yours now. I will not risk it again if you don´t want me to do it. Just tell me and Zorro will never ride again. - He looked at her with hope. - Mi father is right, I´m a fool very much in love with you, and I know you love me, because you are here. You kissed me, you spoke about our wedding. You are angry but you love me, and that means everything to me. -

She looked at him and realized that they really need a chaperon. - How could you punish him as a child?. - asked to don Alejandro.

- It was very difficult when he used this gaze. -

The back door opened and Felipe went into the cave riding Tornado. He saw don Alejandro and Victoria and smiled shyly waving his hand.

- Good, now we are all together. Let´s go upstairs to have dinner or we will be in trouble with María. After dinner we will go to the library and we will take a lot of decisions. - don Alejandro looked at Diego. - And this time we will take them together. -