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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHkE4d4nfQ
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYaDuLlJhE
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWViypZo07
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVd0gc6LPN
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkytEHdrqF
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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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsRbwm9bpN
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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?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36lEbva4dA
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eVsaMsgZ8
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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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZd4G6VxTU
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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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6zkn6Imec
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEFUHM7scW
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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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBycYznpkp
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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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCAYlWBbrI
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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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsagnYnGx9E
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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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rAuBQ9CG9
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8O5zUuLth
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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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWIwnHTCHi
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXMMQLgzfF
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiNSLu59oF
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMP6KyJjSQ
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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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9EmANkdMP
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmoT5hy0Wz
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLpvRwuSBX
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjoWVcTL1z
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nMdySA5D0
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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?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUAqhTwyEl
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCk7GD4CDwh
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9DYod31hP
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhYx6JB6CR
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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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXy1KUXwJ2
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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?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVUK622rr2
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9jmGba7J7
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1HNerEcRr
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESWaa7ePuu
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRq2PjpTyX
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSt6kRWgtox
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIurw3Uc0PU
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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?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5rkIDbVEg
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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..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8IPzFbMnM
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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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlj0xXYV5X
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyDfH6VkGK
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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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTvedMtoyL
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmP3xz3Deq
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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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScoxCGBFqA
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsZs0ik7AX
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoCP9ahhtE
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkjVAUjGGJ
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpApmptzjO
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPXkXODdjW
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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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTHRAov5eH
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCzraro4wd
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsxuKZDUW9
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrCSBWizdA
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPy5DH6zYS
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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."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDrtgeGefz
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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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpizGFVeARQ
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTULBxVdOY
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvG8C81F5Ad
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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.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdM58XIEKQ
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