Hotaru watched as Trista left the apartment. Fuming, she turned to Amara and Michelle. "That's not fair!" she protested. "Why did you make Trista leave? Why are you guys fighting?"

"It's not fair for us," Amara pointed out. "Why does she get to break the rules and marry the Lord of the Underworld while Michelle and I can't marry? Then she disgraces us with the fact that she committed adultery before her marriage! She isn't fit to be a sailor soldier, much less one who serves our precious Princess Serena."

"But—"

"But nothing. Trista has disgraced us. That child of hers will be no good to any of us," Michelle declared.

Hotaru said nothing, but wondered where Trista could have gone.

************************************************************************************************************************

"No way!" Serena exclaimed. "They kicked you out?"

Trista nodded. "I'm afraid so. All I wanted was to give them the good news and for us to figure out a name for my baby girl." She sighed, leaning back on the couch in the living room. At least Serena understood her situation and didn't judge her for what happened. It had been a good idea to come here.

"That's not fair at all." Serena sighed. "Well, I'm sure they will forgive you soon enough. They can't be mad at you forever."

Trista chuckled in spite of herself. "You don't know them like I do, no offense Princess. They can stay mad for decades if they so chose to."

Serena crossed her arms. "Well, they shouldn't prevent you from seeing Hotaru. You're right—you're like a mother to her."

Trista replied, "I know."

There was a silence, then a sudden knock at the front door. "I wonder who that could be," said Serena. "Hang on, I'll be right back." She got up and went to answer the door, leaving Trista alone with her thoughts. Hearing an excited squeal from Serena, Trista turned and looked at the visitor—who turned out to be no other than Hotaru herself.

"How did you know I was here?" Trista inquired.

"I figured there was no other place for you to go to. That, or you went back to the Underworld. I at least had to try here," answered Hotaru.

"But Amara and Michelle said—"

Hotaru interrupted her. "I don't think it matters what they said right now. We are all friends and family. We shouldn't be separated, nor should we hate each other." She sat down next to Trista.

Trista smiled. "Thank you, dear Hotaru."

"I'm sure you'll make them see that it's not so bad. After all, you did marry the father and you aren't giving up the baby. I don't see the problem, really."

"That's what I tried to tell her," Serena said. "I guess it doesn't matter to some people. Anyways, Trista, you are welcome to stay here as long as you need to. I'm sure they don't have baby shops in the Underworld. Oooh shopping! You totally have to take me with you!"

Hotaru giggled. "Me too, Trista. This is going to be so much fun!"

Trista hadn't considered the shopping factor yet, but was grateful for her two friends' enthusiasm. "Thank you," she said, bowing her head. "It should be fun. But she still needs a name though," she reminded them.

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The entire day, Serena, Hotaru, and Trista shopped for various baby items, all the while trying to think of a good name for the baby itself. Still, no name seemed to fit the child, although Helena and Katrina both seemed like good names (suggested by Hotaru, of course).

At the end of the week, Trista made her way back to the Underworld, opening the portal from Serena's room to her own room at Hades' castle in her sailor scout form. She noticed with surprise that Hades was in there, looking at the mirror in her room. Turning around, he immediately smiled. "Ah, dear Pluto. I missed you so much," he said, walking towards her and hugging her. "It is good to see you. How was your trip?"

"Good, actually. See, I have things for our child," Trista replied, showing off the bags from her shopping trips.

"Ah, so typical of you women—shopping, shopping. But it is good that you did this. I'm sure our little one will enjoy it very much." Hades cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. "Now, let's see what you bought."

***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Charon waited on the edge of the cliff, watching the gate as he always did. He seemed to be expecting someone, however, and before long, a spirit in a long black cloak with a hooded appeared. "About time," Charon muttered, turning to meet the visitor. "Do you know how long I've been waiting for you?" he asked aloud.

"Well, it is rather difficult to escape the black gates alone," answered the faceless spirit. "But since Hades himself has been distracted, I have managed."

"Yes, it is good that he has a distraction. Pluto…the child…do you know what this means? The child of two very powerful beings can be quite the goddess herself. She would be immensely powerful. We should find out from Oracle what this child brings."

"But of course. Surely she would know the future of this little one. What do you plan to do eventually with this child?"

"Raise it as my own," answered Charon. "I will raise it and give it a specialized education in power and darkness. It will be my weapon, and I will once again rule the Underworld. Hades is too weak to run this place by himself. He is weak enough to fall in love—too weak to ward off anything from here much longer. I plan to relieve him of his duties very soon. But first, we must capture him when he is most vulnerable—sometime when Pluto has left again. She has returned, but I'm sure that's only temporary. Once the child is born, she'll do the typical female thing and show it off to the other scouts."

"Then we can attack."

"Of course."

"Good. I'd hate to have to face both of them. And let's not allow Pluto to involve the scouts this time. Last time…well…"

"I know," Charon replied irritably. "You died—so to speak. But to kill you would be impossible, right, Grim Reaper?"

The Reaper nodded.