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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfxea7ra33
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXb8KXlRE8
"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUj9WlYDPSB
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrWv12kKWu
"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVk54c6Brwb
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpz3g6KQPBS
Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvYRMNmTob
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZH9c5TcyIk
"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroScsfX1WZ
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13fpcYUQLX
"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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ608aNOjJRv
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHgBrd2dCa
Ethan's brow creased. He was reluctant to get his hopes up. "You think that might... work? Stop the heat early?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TFH5LcGIw
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7VIlaArA8
Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlmE6hlOEf
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNoZ1yaZSf
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2C0g7sM9U
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UW1rOPPxq
"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."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkSspQuYby
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJb8usYo00j
Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOTlXj6Tdg
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5TI8qk8w9
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6qd31D8Gj
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhFs5PcCxP
Hanna slowly set her mug down on the table. "Oh. Um, I'll see when I can convince her to come out here then."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJJptY71N1
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1YAl31Kkh
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsKjDA0kyF
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaybAVPkz5
"Alright, she'll drop by in a few days," Hanna informed him, picking up her half drunk mug of coffee again.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIu4qCWZzn
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBOppZXWQK
"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7rTbeR1kd
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxdAlMYQDH
"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."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvDfblq40F
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxu8kszv2FY
Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfTk7xT4Ek
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzNAoe23Bw
Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUFTREwD5I
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhOKCTeLkB
Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8FXBSmP4t
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGY3wt2mvGd
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTMqP9UBFo
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsQn22TCB2
"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqVN9aAJOg
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXX2QZYO1Ff
"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNU1KpdLv1M
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMDK25PVP5
Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfgE8VNThQ
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCF9dRR7aEN
Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20hWfDWddD
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRnDOgw5JG
Hanna laughed, a light and carefree expression of joy. "Wait, I thought the scientists agreed we were technically the same species?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rGZolL7Nn
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uz7D8r8v1
Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyPvtqcYi8
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVY5DKVHYN
"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNXo1o6Wt8
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzv5riO8RoE
"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nufSSILiF
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMIUg8kZLN
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."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1imnICMGu
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGjYtjdB43
That's an interesting take on Charax-Terran relationships, Ethan thought, unwilling to push the subject further. "It fits. What's our cover?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OdVuw0XdP
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthhfrwGpeC
"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnc36gr4YF
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJ7tcUs46T
"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LGMKjVjm0
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAQhHWVkKs
"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtstpmAgcy
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJj0qC2VYEk
Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJh96bqJsL
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjAt2oakwv
"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawzPSqoaFC
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmh8bfuqty
"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsB6TTEfbTW
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3YaKhMLOv
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?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOj8Lqj8wV
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDxyNACwLT
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..."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VA6omooTF
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9SW1OV5p6
"That sounds like a lot of work," Hanna said, still doubtful. "I like the outdoors, I think she'd buy the vacation line."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDwaE56T6I
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82sqhfwBcL
"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3MLZwM8uU
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Vm8TC6eJM
"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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQUOo8sPw3
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoljyru27W7
"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvghUUBusA0
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrswcRyiXa
"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."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxO8K83nZvI
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrc2xaabzqa
"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTHmqgpCgg
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5OVjErDJ2
"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jpKYzcemZ
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6A4TvkCDFY
Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jwYCVDTKL
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD2U24aZ8Z
"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGGw2swoYw
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVWT3ktK7I
Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqp5WHC2vF
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zCIkmz1ho
"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."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGc3DN1x0s
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01znyfvPYW
Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLmnlJbTJm
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpSXQQ2CrC
Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyM59Re5n7f
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjebcxhwSR
Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNp24yJgGu
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuw4NGGupaU
"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXnmLaOdBs
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZ4DzpTuvk
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."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59RP9EwLof
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5K1oV0bCbv
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnn1cg9pW2y
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecockUCs76
"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZv9gYrKRsd
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjs8GD34Ny
"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssRPJDiKv8
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOu2ACj1np
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmN8C9bb7N
Penana
search
Loginarrow_drop_down
Registerarrow_drop_down
