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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVWwJx5YXp
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuWTeZVO4v
"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDf9pshXbO
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dJ682e6p2
"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡki7m5SML8p
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR04Vle0zaW
Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xFt2wlM30
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkYGZC7XTZ
"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcarnSCJ7Dq
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1lavZhYhO
"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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFf4Qy50ar8
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwthxMdaCr
Ethan's brow creased. He was reluctant to get his hopes up. "You think that might... work? Stop the heat early?"95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC11ZKUAMMM
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EgibzeCMg
Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMR1peUqpc9
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdn5aJfGqq
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1x3OCJu9FF
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK748K2RDbH
"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."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3uNJWB3Lb
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdS39j5aHIS
Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinNBds47JH
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfueVZX4pyC
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTMQ0Mo3T2
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sKLNJUQqR
Hanna slowly set her mug down on the table. "Oh. Um, I'll see when I can convince her to come out here then."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukTFKQuG58
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJwZEVmspM
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBHyTsy0k3
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXaPjONywf
"Alright, she'll drop by in a few days," Hanna informed him, picking up her half drunk mug of coffee again.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTQDqP4eUJ
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfpjsmWMSS
"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGnEPBmL6H
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2GL48LKdY
"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."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9EyQVkcYR
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwMFu5mhjt
Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YuQYAgMPn
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07tmwY9Csy
Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHhGwq1OHn
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWaDgnTytu
Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xNIHCBPdx
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKT2KtD08J
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8LT7rKaY4
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfYTvl9UjK
"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuz29d2Mpnw
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8v1yE5UQnL
"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZFZG77wsR
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡis7z1crHdp
Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMkBFHZg2Z
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqbZY7DIJ6
Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9IMwrIPp0
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkYHGxhQwC
Hanna laughed, a light and carefree expression of joy. "Wait, I thought the scientists agreed we were technically the same species?"95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8acLSADTv
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86vvwiBMOK
Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJbaCdt7n2
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZB3b366Ne
"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sDykEaVwl
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzKxo89hfs
"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8br3Envwal
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLgrFSrXUD
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."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUAktt5WIJ
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkebmejDKk
That's an interesting take on Charax-Terran relationships, Ethan thought, unwilling to push the subject further. "It fits. What's our cover?"95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnBaYGfe0f
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMOl9IWTG4
"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOJfMUVc5q
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3i1FtgHDIb
"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrmmqo7xsS
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIoGPxKsMV
"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHB1fdLYgad
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9l9eNMdt8o
Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eMLSPrmo4
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8ffQzTkSQ
"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0Xsi2Nyph
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3fJLtoRO1
"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciB9WrgOYm
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHlIXzMx88
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?"95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPyAmRaTiQ
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJR2LsXpgWU
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..."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡht4Mwy7SCk
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljsFBk54NY
"That sounds like a lot of work," Hanna said, still doubtful. "I like the outdoors, I think she'd buy the vacation line."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Oz8k5ECVA
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUskaEO57Xe
"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7eU9Dp96H
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvT66OEQS8q
"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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RyeEcEpJm
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxh2KEr7Rht
"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgg5LKW2cC
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKlM3R8yDC
"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."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaYrWO8dwY
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5M9gQdj2i
"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbEvaD6Myu
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBRynKkjy2
"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZONuGkReT
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJYzRit3an
Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXmTwiK2ei
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnqpCxgcfr
"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDag2VTuZQ
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5lQDuNFly
Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjCys08XW8
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVkGm03Aw5
"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."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGAOdrNf6n
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPw7NUIBWLU
Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ341PRo3bye
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCBdOPKxAg
Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1tfxPTP01
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBnpaShyEM
Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UTvveocAV
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JudTeRRon
"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdR2OHm23Cs
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8mziADvb8
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."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4WBRpyrCk
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrTGKp6gOS
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIUjYxoHnK
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEl49WTMSv
"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGrM2Mt6AJ
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSX8N737dW
"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVlbazcJSu
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eeXWiBvLP
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.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTsBIX1eXT
Penana
search
Loginarrow_drop_down
Registerarrow_drop_down
