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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeu7qzytLP
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaYgQchLFf
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMz4dh9iWaO
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwuE24gbaD
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuPMQ1or3z
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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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOEdCavgN0
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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?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAmMAJBkNu
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYimDtJksRo
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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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzH4xL2IoeI
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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."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv87wCjYVk5
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJn99Ox0vJj
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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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8Y7eccFe3
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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."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4Yl6LJY0N
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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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqAQwjJnqV
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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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieqAH77e1s
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡog656Aa256
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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."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioreGfnb1m
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMUhpBq6cY
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLFs5bZCNW
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7dTUHrRbZ
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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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBtKUab6Lm
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJSHr0p6ST
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM11M6S2uYc
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjt1VdkXul
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrrii5JI2z
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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?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPdYmJQwyr
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3H7qa3NChF
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVZ7ZLwNxI
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATYhgNrmah
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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."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyeq3bOTII
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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?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTucJ96eAP5
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrc6gR4OGv
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzckUcQV39d
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxFE4G6Z4b
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhgXRYGc16
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsubxYsbE1U
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8BYlAiXyl
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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?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5s0jTJO4l
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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..."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jtJPRCzaE
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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."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkWbCpsEyJ
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiL1brNUEW
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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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vZUqeFnUG
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOKXUIrcrH
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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."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDXSMhLCrB
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnYCdHKAOc
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEpRrfx9nG
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYxRUzXDnl
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtObEJAgIe
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCISEGL83lC
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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."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxH1Mr2r1sm
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOw94OEK9fM
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdasXUaZLP
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwJ6wrgyVM
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WbkeohDOy
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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."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCEP5VbNrK
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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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYoWkc551O
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAQ1ig9Dhn
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDTMccaH0p
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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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwvxAE9i17
Penana
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