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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAGkejNsqj
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLdgKFLtwV
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnqEFbehI3
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqV0mw023c
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLZni8BNCI
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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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvsA8L4CNE
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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?"65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdzuBp99PZ
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQ0K3fRSA4
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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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmwnd2yFPL
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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."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uf5Nh8S9R
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5a16Lm4Vmj
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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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohGljvOLCf
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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."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUqac77kKn
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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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWJJinxvcY
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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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5p2WelN46
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GnwCAGBDP
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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."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzg6qpDbIAF
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzzKDrpHAN
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOW3hdmbUIZ
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasVtGbJ9gf
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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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbVq5Cvr4a
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ516vbOZfXP
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5yX03G0Uv
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSqDfEBv74
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8OyMnFMtr
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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?"65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPhGAODcR3
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3VrUr45vR
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUouYUZDi6p
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Q4bBrLJHE
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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."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEra4X9tCQ0
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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?"65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchZtNMMwXs
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FLDXpYO8u
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMxnGddtdV
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIiSqo3rGV
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tkflrrnAN
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp79R7ol3JA
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrIsFNpBlQ
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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?"65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WnwoL4vS4
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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..."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVionI5jhj
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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."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkaNkIXFrG
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNp3FTuXat
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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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLaGBfLIAW
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRZkuNbeAV
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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."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNJkoDOxiM
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3Z6lyWhrO
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKX4RuzkaG
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ343T8rKT5a
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyinoGTZJS7
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrajMkbCZS
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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."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCi2XRCD0lT
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFqg0ksRKN
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5xGriiwiw
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVeec4olXc
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCtXkVkLxM
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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."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqgzhGUqWf
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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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ogeYVsceP
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkObNwHd26
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfYK9C3gnI
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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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5eqPPcYY4
Penana
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