AN: This story takes place immediately after the Monterey episodes, when everyone's already said their final goodbyes. I had to wonder: after everything that had happened, what would Diego be thinking as they left?

Regrets

Anna-Maria Verdugo was a beauty, but that was not what had captured Diego's regard. He had once had an admittedly pretty señorita swoon into his arms out of delight at being with the real Zorro – beyond a sense of mild embarrassment, it had little effect on him.

Nor was it her good nature. Once he could think about the past weeks without the haze of attraction confusing his judgment, he realized that typically, her behavior would have earned his wariness rather than his good regard. She had pointed a pistol at him within the first day of meeting him, distrusted several people she knew well and was only swayed by a black masked stranger she had never met – No, she was hardly the example of good nature. He would always be waiting for her to do something unexpected out of sheer mischief.

Her fiery nature then? Perhaps – but that was one of the problems Zorro had continually encountered during his time in Monterey. If she would only do what was wise, rather than acting on a whim... Not to say that she didn't have her good points – her genuine kindness, her naturally cheerful nature – but the man who married her would be kept on his toes even without the double life he already led.

No, Diego realized as he left the Monterey tavern for the last time, his father walking by his side and Bernardo trailing just behind with Diego's bag. None of those were the reason he had 'fallen' for her – been willing to take the fall despite the many people who would then have no one to protect them from the unjust follies of the law.

Anna-Maria, above all her traits, both good and bad, had somehow come to represent normalcy in his mind. A home, a family, no more private wars or near misses... just the simple joy of having a secure, loving place to return to.

Diego glanced at his father, and Don Alejandro noticed his glance and gave him a warm smile, brimming with all the words he had yet to say and the undisguised love of a proud parent.

This... this was why he would not stay.

If not for his father's intervention, Diego de la Vega could be a married man... but he would also never be able to return to his home, to Los Angeles, to the life he knew he truly loved to lead, despite its downfalls. Sergeant Garcia might no longer trust him, meaning the loss of a truly treasured friendship. All of Zorro's enemies would know where to find him for retribution. And most of all...

Diego smiled, somewhat sadly. While he cared for Anna-Maria, he did not love her.

He would return home – denied the 'freedom' of a pardon, but the recipient of the much more powerful forgiveness and openness of a father-son relationship with no secrets. The legend of Zorro would live on, perhaps forever – perhaps never truly revealed. But Diego knew one thing.

He climbed into the carriage after his father, with one last glance at the brilliant blue sky above their heads.

Diego de la Vega was going home.