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.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0dQtWDqGy
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfiaNc19q5
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGHVVExxG6
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡME6yEzQaO9
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPFvMgVVer
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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.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Qqi93DPU2
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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?"67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSl0kW0cDIq
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRJLjzAU1T
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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.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3M6IKxZX6M
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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."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqq09xuE1ui
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPV9QgavKL
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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.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pbw7SZ6bC
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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."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhijG6eFl68
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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.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Mes4XqGEJ
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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.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pEh1M7mRk
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1fPg3ixtu
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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."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tXXqkqHrw
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0F8w2LLnkR
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRev1lP8SQl
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYZvl87KjS
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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.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3EBirC4K8
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITgl5Csk81
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoE8QzUqcl
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAv59HNgdWg
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQo4wOo1oG
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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?"67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzEvpNigJO
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChuRJ75gYF
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAilhNoPj3U
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwllVQmSy8
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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."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtIF1eRsRj
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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?"67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0eMy1y3xV
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡno0rPrUWLw
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGfTXjDshm
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAt2fXAJKtE
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sTL3tN4dj
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03xPoGaplF
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sUrIrS0s0
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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?"67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaR6OHPuJe
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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..."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1i2AQlkRo
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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."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUPj4pqxpX
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDUuImpAs0
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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.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqUbhqdcSZ
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu26nAl0v0c
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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."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQWahZvcLA
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMMnIts2lU
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ94FuBPYjT
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XV789AcqQ
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkXz0xy5cM
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡku0K9g4vVm
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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."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhgnu3rIfm
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsTQ04px96
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd88d3lARs8
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01yPGYzcmg
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmWO7tSFvt
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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."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJ0mpSfUYs
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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.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4BubZfgm7
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJf1K8rXiC
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjH5N56SbhN
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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.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2M0fVJRTY
Penana
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