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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9WoJnZJ2K
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1CPvfD38z
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnBYThOs4d
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkEzT45GEg
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEREO4WZw92
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2f82Jmnah
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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?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTOrvUdGIG
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgU9dskh0wz
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnkwH7NYbe
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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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgFi6ZWIIO
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLE02wffDba
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOcnjVsBZI
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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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPmtYYKsYJ
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKohpTPbjsp
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwNyN69LcP
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hOlke75Ps
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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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdQ7SVWDdJ
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbXRTv4IDh
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbu0mCM8De
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAqaIKAcq9
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMc9qcJ3Q4z
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBRE3PsTNz
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjanIbYkgf
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzE5g2R74op
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrFma5ruQm
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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?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsJYJIgxgx
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJQ852vcDm
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwyn3P7F2m
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ec2gZMkxd
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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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsM7BetRmG
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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?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaBhxNSmmK
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQX2R8CLQ4
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVjAES6EgV
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0pY8WNYlN
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9h02hYQoKf
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8anKVEMKNJ
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTQBYgNrQX
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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?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoA1xDeP9lp
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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..."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJIYTjfQw2
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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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGJq5HdENy
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlUPWKRPkq
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtlxVzw3Bn
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzImfCIzfyZ
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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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRs6JLADQx
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhNGqVOlJd
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8y98gD4Z6
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeibfnm4BB
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3B6b6kdX1m
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpOqQQNXYi
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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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMQFlOd1nQ
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQIG0gYqlG
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo3zGSGtcR
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvnokADk2F
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYULcrHd5fo
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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."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJ1CqC91MT
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtS9fsePJo8
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfCNEoCEIr
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzteIqbe5C
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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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCS8TOXBrO
Penana
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