How Ever Did We Fall In Love? - Trista and Maverick - By SMA/CMA
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Rated: PG-13 (maybe)

Summary: Trista was deemed the new time guardian after her birth.  Many years were spent in isolation because everyone was afraid what would come out of her youth, even her own parents.  Millennia later, Trista is still alone.  But events will soon show she wasn't as lonely as everyone thought.

AN: Welcome to Trista's story in the HDWFIL series.  As always, this is an original piece by me.  I recommend that you read Amy's story first, otherwise, you may get lost.  Well, enjoy!
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Chapter Two
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	Trista sat up and stretched her arms above her head.  Yesterday, with Maverick had been fantastic.  They had talked for nearly three hours, discussing everything from philosophy to their favorite music.

*The day before...*

	"So, you own Planetary Fashions?"  Maverick handed Trista her cup of coffee and sat across the booth from her.

	Trista slightly blushed.  "It's been a dream of mine forever."

	Smiling, Maverick added, "My sister loves your shop.  In fact, she got all of her wedding apparel made there."  Leaning back, Maverick studied the woman sitting across from him.  She looked like she had stepped from one of his dreams he had been having lately.

	"So, what do you do?"

	Maverick smiled again.  "I'm an English teacher over at Juuban High.  My students rather hate me right now.  I'm forcing them to write papers, using all of the proper grammar, on what they would like to get out of the second half of the class."

	Trista laughed.  "I can sympathize with them.  What I wanted could be summed up in a few sentences, much less an entire paper."

*

	They spent another two hours talking to each other.  When Trista finally looked at her watch, she inwardly groaned.  She hadn't felt like this with a man in...  a few millennia.

	She rose from her seat and made the motions of going.  "I'm sorry.  I didn't realize what time it was.  I need to get going."

	Maverick rose as well.  "Well, can I have your phone number?  I'd really like to bump into you again."

	She smiled.  "I'd love that."  Taking business card out of her pocket, she added, "The bottom number is my home phone.  If you want to reach me, I'll either be there or at the shop."  Then she did something that was completely out of character.  She reached over to Maverick and planted a small kiss on his cheek.  Waving as she left, she didn't see the pair of red eyes watching from the shadows.

*Present day...*

	Trista was pulled from her reverie by her doorbell ringing incessantly.  Rising from her couch, she wondered, 'I wonder who it is?'  Opening the door, her spirits dropped a little.  Orion was standing there, with flowers in his hand.  Pulling her robe closer together, she asked, "Orion, what are you doing here?"

	He smiled and tried to kiss her hello.  When he got rebuffed, he said, "I was in the neighborhood.  I thought I'd drop by and see you."

	Trista bit her lip and looked at him.  She needed to tell him she wasn't interested anymore.  "How about we go take a walk?  Let me go get dressed, and we'll be on our way."

	Trista opened the door farther and let him in.  "Wait here.  I'll only be a minute."

	Orion took a look around the room.  It was her.  There were quiet stamps of the Princess of Pluto lingering around the room.  Soft touches of maroon and charm to ward off death.  Yes, this was her.  He took in a deep breath and felt his eyes change to their natural color.  His soft red eyes scanned the room, looking for a portal to the Gate she protected.  Maybe it was in her room...

	"Ready?"

	He let his eyes return to the violet shade that she was accustomed to.  Turning to her, she smiled and said, "Let's go."

	Something in the back of her brain told her that something wasn't right, but she ignored it for the moment.  Grabbing her keys and purse, she ushered Orion out of the door.  Locking the door behind her, she suggested, "How about the park?  It's not very far."  She mentally added, 'And it's secluded so I can talk to you.'

	Setting a brisk pace, Trista led Orion to a gazebo in the center of the park.  It was private enough that people wouldn't hear what they were saying, but public enough where he couldn't do anything too drastic and hurt her.  Turning toward him, she started, "Orion, I..."

	However, Orion had other ideas.  Before she could get anything else out, he crushed her lips to her teeth.  It was the opportunity he had been looking for.  He let go and dropped to one knee.  Looking up at Trista, he said, "Trista, it would be my greatest pleasure if you would become my wife.  Will you marry me?"

	Trista groaned and rolled her eyes.  Drawing in a breath, she looked down and answered, "No, I can't be your wife.  We don't know each other well enough.  I would only hurt you in the end."

	Orion felt his heart drop.  Standing up, he looked at her one last time and said, "When you find out I've been hurt, you'll be sorry.  Very sorry."  He whipped around and stalked off, already formulating a new plan.

	Trista sat down and heaved a sigh of relief.  She felt a little bad, but it was for the best.  She couldn't marry someone who didn't know who she was.  Who she really was.

	"What just happened?"

	Trista jumped a little, but smiled when she saw Maverick standing there.  "I turned down some guy's proposal.  I think he took it hard."

	Climbing into the gazebo, Maverick grabbed her hand and gave a gentle squeeze.  "I think he's plotting to get even.  He didn't even budge when he almost ran me over."

	Rolling her eyes, and sending a prayer toward heaven, she said, "That would be Orion for you.  I just wish he would leave me alone.  I didn't ask for this when I caught Amy's bouquet."

	"Who's Amy?"

	Trista smiled.  "She's the first of my friends to get married.  She and her husband Robert met at her ex-boyfriend's funeral.  Right now they're trying to adopt his twin girls.  The mother died in childbirth."  Trista shook her head, "This guy treated her like dirt, yet she still wants to take care of his children.  I would expect that from Serena, but not Amy."

	Maneuvering to sit on the seat beside her, he asked, "Why Serena?"

	Facing him, she replied, "Because Serena has the biggest heart imaginable.  That, and Amy has always thought with her head and not her heart."

	Almost under his breath, Maverick said, "You always thought of the distant future and didn't think too much of the present."

	Before Trista could comment, a blood-curdling scream could be heard in the park. Turning her head to determine where the noise came from, she was a little shocked to see Orion being held by his throat.  The youma that was holding him was as ugly as hell and --from the look on Orion's face--had the breath to match.  A bright glowing sphere appeared in the youma's mouth and flowed forth, disintegrating Orion in the process.

	"Shit."

	Trista turned back to Maverick.  She swallowed deeply and said, "Maybe they should call in the Sailor Scouts."

	"Good idea."  Not looking back, Maverick ran behind a clump of trees and pulled out a violet rose.  Raising it into the air, he called, "Saturn Rose Transform!"  The power of Saturn flowed through his veins.  He had nearly died the first time he summoned his powers, but after that, it was a welcome home rush.  In the background, he heard, "Pluto Garnet Transform!"  He heaved a small sigh of relief at Pluto's transformation phrase.  That meant he didn't have to work alone.

	Meanwhile, Trista --now transformed as Pluto-- ran toward the youma.  It looked like a cross between a cat and a lizard, it's feline-like eyes trained on her.  Clutching her staff in front of her, Pluto asked, "Now what?"

	The thing hissed at Pluto, but gave way for its master, Lord Ruin.  Ruin stood there, his eyes glowing a soft red.  He looked down at Pluto and sad, "I gave you a chance, High Princess of Pluto.  However, you never grasped the opportunity.  Therefore, Orion had to die.  He wasn't a very useful shadow anyway."  Seeing the shock on Pluto's face, he pulled out a glowing orb.  Smiling at it, he added, "I didn't really love you, but I would have liked the chance to.  Goodbye, Trista."

	"No!"

	A violet rose came out of nowhere and hit the orb, sending bits of it scattering.  Tuxedo Saturn came out of the shadows, panting heavily.  Pointing a finger accusingly at Ruin, he said, "The Princess will live.  Stake your life on that!"  He pulled out another rose and aimed it at Ruin's heart.

	Trista sent a little of her power toward the rose, hoping it could seriously hurt Ruin.  Watching it fly, she knew it would strike him.

	Ruin watched the little rose.  He smiled at their determination.  'I don't see how that could hurt me, but I'll have Lizat test it out.'  Jumping out of the way at the last possible moment, ruin watched as it hit the youma.  He was a little frightened to see the youma fall over and turn to dust.  "I'll get you later," he cried as he fled through a portal.

	Pluto heaved a sigh of relief at the disappearance of Ruin; however short the duration would be.  She turned to her left and was surprised to see Tuxedo Saturn still there.  Placing a hand on her hip, she asked, "So, did you have as much fun as I did?"

	He smiled and replied, "So much fun I could burst."

	Pluto laughed and asked, "Why are you stalking me?"

	He stepped closer so his lips were to her earlobe.  He softly whispered into her ear, "Because I can't resist a great pair of legs."  He felt her pull away, but he leaned forward and captured her lips.

	Pluto thought she had died.  His lips were still as soft and as sweet as they were yesterday.  She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him in closer, plastering herself to him.  She let go of his lips and started trailing kisses on his neck.  "Please, tell me your name."

	He softly moaned.  Pushing her away from him, he said, "I'll tell you when we know each other better.  To do so right now would scare you away."  He turned and ran the other way, knowing he would only find hurt in her eyes if he turned around and looked.

	Trista finally detransformed when he was completely out of sight.  For some weird reason, she felt like she was betraying someone she loved by wanting to see him again.

	She finally sat down and started to cry.  If this was her test, then the fates could chuck all the results for all she cared.

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