Chapter Text
One month later, Diego and Victoria were in the courtyard when the carriage carrying Felipe and Alejandro came to a stop in front of the hacienda. Don Alejandro was first to get down and hurried over to the pair, while Felipe took his time and hung back from the welcoming couple.
"You're early, Father," Diego said. "And I see you decided not to take the Monterey coach back."
"Not after the trip to Monterey. Besides we could use another now, and since we finished our business, we were in a hurry to get home," he said.
"Welcome home, Don Alejandro," Victoria said.
"Now none of that, Victoria," Alejandro insisted as he hugged her. "Indulge an old man and call me father. It's taken long enough for it to become official."
Victoria smiled. "As you wish, Father," she said.
Alejandro returned the smile. "Now, daughter, tell me what it took for my stubborn son to ask you."
"A house falling on him," Victoria said with deceptive ease.
"I'd say it was more of a door actually," Diego interjected.
Alejandro laughed. "Either way, that sounds right for a de la Vega. Though I'd say the house is more likely, considering how thick-headed de la Vegas can sometimes be."
"And stubborn," Victoria added. "At least that is a trait I share and can certainly appreciate."
"Father," Diego said quietly. He'd been staring in distraction past Alejandro. "Is there a reason that Felipe is still outside the gate?"
Alejandro glanced back. "Perhaps. I believe he wanted to give me a little time first."
"Time for what?" Diego was sure something was wrong. "Is it to do with why you came back early? I hope it wasn't because we married. We didn't want you to leave on our account. I would have expected you to be spending some time with Señor Montez."
"We did spend time with Señor Montez. He was very knowledgeable..." Alejandro trailed off.
"But..." Diego interjected.
"Felipe wanted to come home," Alejandro said. "We'd been nothing but busy between Señor Montez, De Soto, and taking care of the legal aspects of his adoption. I think we were both looking for an excuse to leave."
"I see," Diego said, wondering why they had given up on Montez so quickly. Perhaps Felipe just wasn't ready, and after all, it was about what Felipe wanted. "The important thing is that he's finally a member of our family."
"Completely and officially," Alejandro said, waving to Felipe, who finally entered the garden.
"Welcome home, little brother," he said happily as he hugged Felipe.
"D-d-di-e-go."
Diego gaped at Felipe. "Did you just..."
Felipe nodded then slowly said, "Sí, Di-e-go."
Looking at his father in astonishment, Diego said, "I thought..."
"I never said Señor Montez didn't help," Alejandro said with a smirk. "I just said we wanted to come home. Now that he's started, Felipe would rather work on things here at home, and Señor Montez gave us many pamphlets of instructions and means of helping him." Alejandro looked Diego in the eye. "You've helped Felipe with so much already; I thought you'd enjoy helping him with this as well."
"You're right," Diego said, his eyes suspiciously moist. "Felipe, I'm so happy to hear your voice again."
Victoria said, "I'm glad to see you both back. The house felt empty without you two here." She looked at Felipe. "And I bet you're hungry, and I won't see my new brother and father starve. Why don't we go into the house?"
She and Felipe started heading to the house, but Alejandro grabbed Diego's arm and held him back.
"Son, I got your letter about what happened after we left for Monterey," Alejandro said. "It was terse and to the point, and I know it's over, but I want to know what really happened, not the story that Mendoza would tell me in the tavern."
Diego sighed. His father seemed to have gotten more perceptive in the last few months. "All right, Father," he said. "I'll tell you the story, but first I need to know what you know about your uncle Teodoro and his apprentice Solomon Kendall."
"Ah," Alejandro said, with a knowing look. "It's going to be one of those stories..." He started towards the house. "You know my grandfather used to tell me about a calling for certain de la Vegas, but my father said it was more about human evil and old superstitions. Is that what you're wondering about, Diego?"
"I'm not entirely sure, "Diego said thoughtfully, "but I do know it's more than superstition or the evil of mortal men." He stopped short of the door and looked back over his shoulder. He scanned the horizon, for what, he didn't know. "I just hope I never encounter its like again."
The End