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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpGtu2jBMV
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQfxw8S2CQ
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXUc4KzOZA
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRlCwxI219
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vije1huA1
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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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVk0KrBIQa
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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?"26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLvg0NGTdd
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPIfbM5ege
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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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIUtkMkiVc
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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."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnd6RdGdyQb
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQ9oIc3i9h
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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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxpLqLEOHa
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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."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKXZk2eplh
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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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdbKvMWNpC
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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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eCvGSfw87
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKh9zXf1fq
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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."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSM1AA1wwj
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CD6MwalKC
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3MIIKZTMx
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEQxVTPY8w
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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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0xOo6zTPQ
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBsKVliPcK
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMHcUi4e0n
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1anFfv4kzu
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEXyYOHyGq
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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?"26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzVKa0i2Pr
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK9rwDT4dM
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaReLXdcwXQ
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsh0l153BEF
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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."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJBaoantD8
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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?"26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxBw0Y9G6S
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEtaNYKyeJ
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwBL6EMgAl
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrloExqkft
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMPV4xHEKC
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeU8GXsgc7
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREwp6MkYay
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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?"26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIp73cU903O
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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..."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rs6aP2jeW
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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."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DGoaxQ9j9
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPHyhePhEV
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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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAp2W765r3O
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwg02GsquGC
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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."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46EqwXHq1i
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbjlI6KkQy
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRi8jwKDEqd
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkJN0KS27G
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfXS1Q871p
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59oJLPRRZS
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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."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuchVX84CI
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtoh9Z1RRd
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqD7mxCcZi
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eajgQyzAY
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6WA3mMrT3
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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."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9MyCOh4O2
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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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKb4Dohnjgj
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkOgTCehVm
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJRg3YI4LG
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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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhHc16Bf0Q
Penana
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