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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxtOQ3yCQv
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpo8eQNmu7
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WMWTY2NeM
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4gIomFGXz
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3kmwn7FdY
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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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eDm46JNX7
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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?"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJbC77ZFDc
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8peVDCCAgu
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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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZohDpwggmu
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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."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKab3x8DUWm
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOghvkbj0W0
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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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlk71Zit2e
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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."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAG0UkFO0H
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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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVNEjnxFcr
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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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdR1F1BDGE
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PWcX9Ulxb
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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."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dUyibC5v2
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNWrVvuWtQ
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzljjCrs2p
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2G52G7O4co
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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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7PrbgirO2
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiezk0S0W1o
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ99bO1f1UW
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7k4sjCEz6k
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTRGESrbxj
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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?"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDAdxyFMKc
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjdZdwlGbq
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZW34AmYuI
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0064ucptMu
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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."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAYb8jmqCR
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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?"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfapbEiMUg
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DpSodYzGb
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxdZvU8A42
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvnrPjl2p6
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgmeOsOVYc
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCuXdj5srQ
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXu5QWBvJjb
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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?"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6xQUgav7h
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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..."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgvx2q2w7V
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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."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EHab8FtMu
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBQn38RVRz
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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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ULRDenNbX
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7LysAIvJE
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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."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcusC5sXaiJ
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHIPPE2rl6
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTYa4lFxr1
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghCgB3wbri
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6vIdefFQy
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgsLfMW4rZ
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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."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaJzfk9Jnt
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3T5WwWe4ZG
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAauRTq9iX
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkmjutZ4Oe
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWNNwxadKP
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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."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuTyzcn3w8
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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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRYedHe2mq
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkv4ERhlMCH
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuKLUE8J3X
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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.151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8RoOckoHu
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