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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Sk6YNcl1M
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaDbI9j4fU
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjtBlolCy7
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcwV6lk9yB
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyek63G272
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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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIG2v0KGc4O
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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?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDASMeNoo4P
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwnACOWqAz
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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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcNq0xRu3s
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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."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadSVaMWkqX
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvdRM0mCCV
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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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZzxtT50Tj
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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."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9psTWPRraX
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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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOVVq4vQBk
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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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvyhnP0cEI
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlBD5bEcf1
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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."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2Qi3gpwZw
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbAKMveXmV
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcqBQvP0Q0
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1MkLyF7X2
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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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYN5xnQxq9d
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxodc5MVnj
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTPZYKclp6
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvFIPXapFz
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNt4Su5QSu
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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?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUWz9uY2yk
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YwZZjdomN
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcoEv21u5U
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL98YQhhCcP
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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."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQy6JKwfFy
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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?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5esgzVYDlF
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0wOJzEXRQ
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjB7tTB7tJ
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81Ew15a0qu
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluJLLYISkU
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbVGTzWE1i
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNla7ziK3yB
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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?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmJybOmcpx
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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..."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInviteMvsQ
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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."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbf7gbUjG4
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJbTSlxKy2
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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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaClYeIcAc
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9j0clX9Ah
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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."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMtF4v9CW9
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwDK4HnosQ
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjOBElUwWm
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFHLbEsZ0h
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVexO8rUrR
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaiIBrI3Ga
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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."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNzbuAEl0j
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKvoSFM2k5
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjYREum9fZ
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1EhPuWmSs
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlF4WBvsXn
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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."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdEGS47tH2
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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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLb1m2oKjva
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6y2NaOQlV7
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxhJJtj934
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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.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsx1GpuT1fW
Penana
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