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.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXTzgP35BU
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLxgSelkAt
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOP7368n0K3
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxx6hf6jjv
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRM66Jv8j2
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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.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKRJAanTup
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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?"103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXYDXjWY0o
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOnTXVtFtv
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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.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGQhbShLw1
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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."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjFjX9M6UT
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlczgxhcGxM
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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.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXYNi0oai3
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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."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyzxMsAeiX
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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.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjm8Br2fLKA
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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.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLaEWerJ15
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FKNYhHI5o
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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."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyUHmi4zyf
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeJNEKuJxH
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvyUhWY3ZR
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUEzoP9kBE
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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.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIlDGLq4UG
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfiZZjmlj7
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkW5jm2npp
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsU7nbHrdx4
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRSp5qtz9s
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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?"103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDquJ1knlj
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7d1bCsFoO
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTAWUNTY6U
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVOk9wXN0S
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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."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwerYFN8SZ
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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?"103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuTmZ0tYgR
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wkvBncTuS
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkycD80ZdYH
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocyLXOCAK3
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdqZ2bRwvD
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUu038L0JcF
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0E82aEzVXC
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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?"103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQRwWye5xC
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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..."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXzEzclx4Y
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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."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQl2vcmuD5b
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Hv5rkgHZa
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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.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGI4vTNdls
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhMNh6FI5G
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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."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyNP4cgKKp
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiV7GL92ur0
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0FtqIwe8L
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWWWL1hpSl
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUJS7GxkUe
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ya7ei53GD
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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."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHRVraZYjs
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHficCEL5mb
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1KufCgGWA
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WX2vEaxAV
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAngadF7KU
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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."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUdYz1cYna
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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.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDUUBNeEhF
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgpPSKsQqf
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSR2j5uISj
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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.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpn2viO0duH
Penana
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