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.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNA25zfXZh
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTPwluYKzx
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNf4YGFDdA
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNg7jX2kpbF
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EMezHB9j6
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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.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZrKljzaLs
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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?"68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgm8vSYMBb
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXmCy41Gjz
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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.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33KkD4SfjA
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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."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCmkXEyO5y
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkVmMbJcQ3
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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.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaAqY3aySs
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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."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7lNOhLJHw
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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.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLT7dbJ6zxH
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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.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LaXrubQpT
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZ4PtgXmvu
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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."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHcNSAalWw
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyrZGX1rRq
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9B7ZtIRxi
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWzWQ5uKpe
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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.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4YvjggYBy
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXljQJpyk0i
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kQp7jOTnX
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89Tzi2WMvr
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRw1axY2yhh
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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?"68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuln0dYEZjS
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeL816SgOlG
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4wabEC0vd
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhXKStgy2y
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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."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYgjVUscsg
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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?"68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkeGi2I7Kr
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfb46i1X8QG
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDDAmOAJkb
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UpeFSgSMc
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKufObQuUul
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5bplkAZzE
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9C2AtlTq2P
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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?"68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuj3Z5NSUNl
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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..."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgwXHvlE7o
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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."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Rz9aQqkDw
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3qepCrx9E
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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.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCCSyFY0BW
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpn1apq5Oay
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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."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDrOeol2Ki
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxaMVPy7Hf
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ocfJFrGrQ
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBB8CKbACS
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFe3IvOFLF
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAKauVMWCk
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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."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXuZ3FlIKN
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1m4vI8AQHo
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNq1ZIAUm4
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡif9GZFrIWQ
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMrrxbY4Z0
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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."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUd3P5bXQT
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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.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAci0prFHG
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqqOHgPdbJ
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuR1Mh7m3u
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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.68Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZ0nszjz3f
Penana
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