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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.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52pNp6Te71
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJWhB1VPDs
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGJVyGFwYu
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoI0rD8CKWt
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkUPOXwMrG
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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.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueQPRqsB4o
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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?"99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDDtcGVvpx
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRFG3cLYch
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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.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMNGqayJ8x
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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."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojlLDSAWyZ
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1iuGwS3F9
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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.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmx2m2HwmD0
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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."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgMNhbqcld
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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.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJfRc2TVK2
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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.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9EjiMTHhk
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1OKqFoUnl
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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."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd680Ur02KW
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzmHbAF6Px
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGox7Z1TYBo
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfSqbMsbn7
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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.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ici6mK2Gl
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJ3L7kkJLJ
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnFrPTYCM5
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatMuFgHcei
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOGl5unTRu
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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?"99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcgKgKQKOC
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7D2GgncL2W
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOINiBqfb7
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7nUSwIxyI
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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."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFd3IKULnZ
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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?"99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PUup3mzYW
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhnRx3cu6z
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxw2Ke89Dvx
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPAygaMyGa
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6RHD9HbTU
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBMPznT45e
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobAr5yN67Z
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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?"99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxl1faE7HaZ
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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..."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bcIy57k9q
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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."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICFylpMteJ
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5wQHRtkEe
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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.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡay4UEktwSN
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4T13b0Jsv
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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."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtoDc4BRmz
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tt52xYfLY
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡims2YmSJzW
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CGZhOZz1H
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVneDkGPXbd
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLTi8PBWp3
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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."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4Q1jmVG4Y
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCW09rG0anO
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQ5Y2ZqY1v
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPREEUTlVaR
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihrddfB82V
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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."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7XBRonuu0
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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.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DiWDt4KhH
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNejveuBpeC
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIniaX29da
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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.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2ONXqIWts
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