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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXO0oIyqhK
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8Q60JbuF6
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNg1p0f06Ac
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvMTgln49W
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgxc3en3Wt
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SzN8WsJWv
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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?"145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73dPLOxMIy
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzjqHn1PQW
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPHCejWVrf
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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."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdGYLVHYej
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGVj0dNFIW
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPV4mt2bIQp
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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."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPhbFCpius
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMOt5UTtZB
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhU2vgXUwE
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknhoMTmhFv
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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."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCM46iVAK3
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJrPRqidnJ
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwlXXSIMLJ
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9W3Hy7JpOU
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeleZnQ2iyU
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQTveVgtoV
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqMIKgg6C5
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnGE5ALlcr
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NNc43oSVe
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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?"145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xgBSTzXBN
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpwMLclSSY
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuxila3rWn
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4jHJGosAS
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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."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PihjgymVk
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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?"145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyl3BYH2QP
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoIWU2N9w4
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntd2TXcdhl
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9lh5yo4ro
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7HnbbVM3w
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTuwEfSKjJ
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1EVqc1YHb
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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?"145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRCEYPeUjs
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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..."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXtGvRxOPH
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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."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9tMBQNWQx
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToi0fFyelZ
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8ojZAb6DC
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tGpSfrRnb
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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."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3fR4oz2ka
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjSErtUYfU
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSapWBC0aGr
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsa8idU6QqE
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TsXeW52TR
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaC7IiHxat
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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."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡor3B120lKu
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67HAnTSaQj
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizSDvolYkH
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcFRmF6xx5
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWidBNdv52F
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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."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73f9VGeEza
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngQ2VsRkhX
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrIHdsUJP0
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFAPBDEuyp
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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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxK8joy9Ukb
Penana
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