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.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKryCcEWHUy
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8likcyaBr
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuIM8cRsPu
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpZjtY9Lnq
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdVavQhO2Z
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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.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9crTrjlWNh
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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?"88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SQlVlHm2c
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlrrFmisHl
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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.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fmpGlVIEg
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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."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EP8fLVXHl
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMRfFACtHk
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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.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBu3SnsURK
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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."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bL2UKqWjx
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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.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJilTu86pN5
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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.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMHEn3QnyR
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0dVVd6zb6
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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."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75NpLyoOP4
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8dKsfCngH
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOpO8rbEnU
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Uxj1xm1p2
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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.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUDdWbbXIR
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9gVnE84L3
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN57nmoN82p
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhB9Yb5SYEE
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs8xDQkkFT
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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?"88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk24ahfV0fr
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyusKqW16gj
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTupHGe40ry
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3H9crzqxKd
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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."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmd33UA5L5
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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?"88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVL2RluJjW
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPS8TNSZdSq
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNSXcKAN65
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwB7dDH5xn
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXByJx1qFVg
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGiAxzkQIp
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzyzHlEJkO
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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?"88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8MlPsWZUM
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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..."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2t3NX2EdiW
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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."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxIAQy6PE5
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhl6MoYaHt4
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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.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfEBSrgGgt
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkX8XkC8Fv
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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."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HBDpxOcPl
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8oYeJja15
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDypsqIbdN2
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdGQvvqzED
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lF7hAEQ08
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgTz2JPDKU
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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."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVjZvU2EJz
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6JVGCRqW9
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJlsSAc46k
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sBA7vB0Bs
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlIvyPQUJT
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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."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PZTxO3hHz
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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.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccpTsRn124
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXZihzXdw5
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YHGr87wtK
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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.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZzAmR6B5H
Penana
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