Hanna sat down at the table with a hot cup of coffee, alone. She set to braiding her hair, trying to keep her mind occupied. She began interweaving her dark hair so it would fall over her left shoulder, an old style, one that she didn't usually use, but she liked it. The last section was just being completed as Ethan walked into the room.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAdw6an34H
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwIXJ6NOSs
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZt5bc1yzH
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybtCpiRCab
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7y7CzOQfE
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"I have a friend, she's pregnant, and I was thinking if you met her, that might help. Maybe trick your brain," Hanna proposed uncertainly.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIm1YHoDrj
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Ethan's brow creased. He was reluctant to get his hopes up. "You think that might... work? Stop the heat early?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIvlxAcqwb
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfqjHxDJxi
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Ethan turned to look out the window, his expression hidden. He was reluctant to get his hopes up, it seemed like a long shot, then there was the inherent risk of letting another person know their location.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VKgSZX7i6
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"It's just an idea. You don't have to. It might not even work," Hanna babbled. She stared into her coffee mug, as if the dark, bitter substance had all the answers. "I know you're not very comfortable with people coming here. And I know it's risky, but Penelope isn't the smartest and I don't think she'd figure out your identity."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl04pQuEBi
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEmWqykw6A
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It might be worth it, Ethan thought, weighing the options. He really did not want to spend another three weeks in heat. "It's a good idea. We should try it," he stated finally.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh59jzwVFea
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Hanna slowly set her mug down on the table. "Oh. Um, I'll see when I can convince her to come out here then."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwS3urMWcS
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Ethan nodded, gaze still fixed on the dreary forest outside. Hanna got up quietly and went outside to make the phone call. A few minutes later, she came back in to find Ethan sitting at the table, a half empty glass of water in front of him.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFhQ9zKKfG
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"Alright, she'll drop by in a few days," Hanna informed him, picking up her half drunk mug of coffee again.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JewGfwRpN
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8s02gqWiTp
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"I didn't tell her you're Charax, for obvious reasons," Hanna paused, starting to realize she might have been a little presumptuous with her cover story. "I told her I wanted her to meet my new boyfriend."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2c18avmPSk
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyw6pa33oo
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4inQfUjxz
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNRGqfStXp
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Hanna resisted the urge to sigh, his hormones were probably still messing with his brain. She had no clue how much of his behaviour was really his and how much was caused by the heat. Even if he said he wanted to be in a relationship... she wouldn't be convinced until he confirmed it out of heat. If he didn't want to be in a relationship... she didn't want to hear that right now either.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpbMAue9j3
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQNSZsT83M
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gKkqwOBVM
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyoWLsQ2mx
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LQ6ocR38N
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Hanna laughed, a light and carefree expression of joy. "Wait, I thought the scientists agreed we were technically the same species?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrPrHbOkJe
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqo4tjEaNdo
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8I7LX7bpad
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfotEQwbC9P
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Hanna shrugged, obvious to the changing tone of the conversation. "That there will probably never be a consensus so it doesn't matter what they say." She went to fill up her mug from the pot on the counter. "So, anyways, 'boyfriend' was the closest Terran label I could think of, if you're alright with that."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHknUOtvM9h
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That's an interesting take on Charax-Terran relationships, Ethan thought, unwilling to push the subject further. "It fits. What's our cover?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWrkA0Thhu
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpF5xP5At39
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBYQzJyTNS
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObD2C3ibyf
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4XcbvZZtH
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINx5MdaHJK
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaB9oREHk0p
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Hanna glanced about the large room. The place certainly did look like it needed a new coat of paint. The counter had chips in it, the dinner table was scratched, the sofa was stained and the lounge chair was falling apart. But that was all typical of a well-used cottage. "Don't you think she'd notice no supplies around?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriJdoPo3k8
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Ethan walked over to the front entrance, gesturing at the large front window. "She doesn't need to come inside, we could hang up some sheets..."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKt3SHl8u3
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"That sounds like a lot of work," Hanna said, still doubtful. "I like the outdoors, I think she'd buy the vacation line."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVCOu8Nt5I
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulDUQbIFzm
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"I do, I like hunting," Hanna fibbed. She didn't like hunting that much but it was her typical excuse for why she had a bunch of guns and knew how to use them. She'd used it enough as a cover for enough of her missions that almost no one questioned it anymore.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbOHq7w54U
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlh4boCUj1
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"Yes." Hanna stuck firmly to the lie. "But it's the off season so we'll just pretend you don't like hunting or something."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcYyiQKazS
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zzmkPKxbZ
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgueTgZBdlz
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncEMwrssFS
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nGyAetfLs
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrND12eKpyJ
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"It just has to be mildly believable, not actually true," Hanna suggested. "Even if she thinks we're actually doing something else, she won't mention it."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGPW9BGEmF
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwELwj5Ax8
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnzsB4Q6of
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2dtsWPPb4
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SB1dRJIjE
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Ethan flashed her his typical overconfident smile. "I'm sure you'll be able to come up with something if you put your mind to it."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjX0Xk1q7v
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Hanna resisted the urge to roll her eyes at him and bit back the sassy comeback that was on the tip of her tongue. I've been good enough to fool you so far, she thought smugly. She put a small smile on her face. "I'm sure I'll manage," she said sweetly.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqTRFsOqw3
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlT0grvyjy1
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5t1pXQfaT2
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Ethan gave her a skeptical look, already questioning if this whole plan was one big mistake. He decided to let the matter drop and picked up the crossword puzzle book instead, hoping to distract himself from this new problem, at least until he had to deal with the usual one.69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTJAFdiINo
Penana
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