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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2tyuIfgG7
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjBGAa4R1I
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfAAjP14Kb
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEDQ48M5eU
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjugDJmAzdT
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSYZlnCv4f
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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?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUsmk9ALEK
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SnFKQMHm8
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEX7NEoBur
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEtmBXcv0X
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSffeID0JS
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGnJ4m86gj
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigM2BqJdu3
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9puIPTUTJ
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1gtt6RL1u
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYew50Tslc
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThKFD7zeLU
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBsNlkCkML
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAn9kDwQ7c5
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVbu9vKkUZ
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkbFmMEKXu
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTau5RNX6uo
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHEBsrjB7T
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdDjd3tlxP
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tN4rINiqy
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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?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LpJ0mXsVU
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiczvuQ8x7p
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkpAlWTKhW
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvruSpYGz1L
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9SXCIgbUz
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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?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwlW1zkiSY
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwJ3WZyfdt
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGiEA8AsDG
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuaDqgWds3
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjW78luPqI
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwIMR2927O
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW76nwIwdys
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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?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQBnz00Fcj
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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..."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraoy3MyLVp
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡropb9q7waS
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKS2Lp580k
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17YFRbKxoz
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDuQunu3PE
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1tPlcZzGA
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSrGEI9zpf
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAtZMnw2wK
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00VxcdJdqi
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6Vez3gNYl
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxBGXdtpY2
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSsB8WxE4N
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZk3g91P5YL
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiIu7Ld5LZ
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgm5vDBGSIs
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2D2Ttwn05a
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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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmvuPnDgbH
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgdjMCTfNI
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGGW7kmaXQ
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxB0RuZKpjA
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgz1tjFSzEt
Penana
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