Kristen Blake first came to Salem in 1993, and was saved from being mugged by John Black. Originally she was grateful, but when she learned who he was, she wanted nothing to do with him. She kept finding herself attracted to him, but her brother Peter constantly warned him to stay away from John Black. When a mysterious sniper began firing at John in Salem Place, he saved Kristen's life, and Kristen found it harder and harder to deny how she felt for him. Alice Horton decided to do a little matchmaking between the two of them, and put them in charge of the Horton Center together, then arranged for them to both be at the cabin, where they made love for the first time.