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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9O6Ph086MF
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxc7WCsfEeV
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuB8XnaiIH8
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqpHjliAu8
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4pCCzv7U5
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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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKtBzS0cqC
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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?"52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdYEI4v8yE
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ijAM31Afz
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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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQX4apUgiT
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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."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUMS0Fn259
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLU9clS437o
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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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxW4ogpQIwP
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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."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIWGrs7AOI
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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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNyI3BSgIh
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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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRcTmLnTbm
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZA4Y5AMLYV
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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."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0LQnMU3LJ
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrzAgcACWe
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WcZ1PXpJg
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUuGTNKqFu
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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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BwTfgEAoV
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOQlAy0aoI
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzmKGo5fo8
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VrkmVcKWA
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNwwEiDhUH
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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?"52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsVKcbH3uj
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKQG0h5yr0
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrclpUDLrr
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdUxAMykgp
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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."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmH6lrdqvIY
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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?"52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkp9aXk3tyL
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJhnvxlTWe
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJx3l3my4VR
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ERwZc0yWP
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXXxXxlIwn
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkrEjkbjXH
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhczPoewF6
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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?"52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRgYB7raYI
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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..."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27veVa9tdB
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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."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgEkAdw1ir
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkvRd66aM5
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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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRYtLA72AZ
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ssu7lURD5
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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."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxxVg01KfA
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBh8YQjgyh
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZQ2PPqZ9Y
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaLhnx8vY9
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdptuRDd6i
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJ1GYbmDXO
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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."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1fERFzgRO
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoV96WMqflt
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIqcvK6l5y
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkz19hazFSu
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTkpkcu2mg
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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."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvKcExAPt0
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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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdn4EX9n8R1
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxlM2CXvvp
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGe5AV1s9cs
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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.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UV2XEsvz6
Penana
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