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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXr3BtZARY
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmDKAjAhBn
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKE917shnm
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRpE6yOTHQ
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEu39irrdIR
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fm4LzoVV9
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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?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpsmLzyWkC
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98NLvTyoZC
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVAxXrrEYG
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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."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8R4x9aPXkD
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAbWi9XRJN
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qoD73ThFB
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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."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tUSvnpSSL
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTauxUPkBvA
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwK76ntXbJl
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2TYdAaO0n
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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."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2WFbqV5DC
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrhdUxpyTb
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrukcXJz5k
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUe4bTnx7lw
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoXCQ4nCMK
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeIb1XiaLY
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFETqK5QZPr
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvayXYzUMH
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZFo8xVvH0
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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?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5Z21QEVqi
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6UJUbgvIZ
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1DJ1zUOPi
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7COWrql1Vr
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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."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqYSafelw9
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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?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4hk1dw10R
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyr5XoXDnZ
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtm5RdvHt9
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLRw7rK49M
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4coi7p34aK
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0oeyg4o2C
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLgidcoGff
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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?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3tZP1EPuB
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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..."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4WrrxVf5e
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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."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zDDHEe5Wd
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUIIT17zoY
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcg0UiHrEU
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1KZJhsrQp
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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."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaXodfCKQo
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tu6Z3XMVi
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefjGD3EIdJ
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvaDw83XFe
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6N7ygBt8k
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLFSqhaC2o
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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."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbXxGD7v6j
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuf3upXjkS
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVHqdb1dNo
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrYpHq1g38
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuECqb0iDs0
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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."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLBxuov4iD
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDI3uEZfbZ
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupZR2lzxPw
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnIGsV6SCU
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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.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoi5VUyOtRP
Penana
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