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.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPDrCNs5k7
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"Could we talk for a minute?" Hanna asked politely.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEf6HXxfhB
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"Sure." Ethan sat down at the table, sitting across from her.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡias9DgterY
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Hanna quickly added an elastic to finish her braid. "I was thinking about what you said earlier, about pheromones."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHsvbORX8W
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"Okay," Ethan said, slightly nervous about the topic of conversation.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuAjBoVyAr
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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.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFCBIlUQpk
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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?"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRn09pu1DJ
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Hanna shrugged, she had zero expertise in this area. "From what you told me, it seems like it might."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogCGrvOw02
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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.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Fw0xrYBUO
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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."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKNqTBfg8o
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Hanna stopped talking, allowing the room to settle into an awkward silence.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EWpAKOAYm
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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.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5BPRvkY4D
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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."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWsiLh5HYT
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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.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHLvTBOase
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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.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPa0CPIycdJ
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"What did you tell her?" Ethan asked.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7orzJURGGj
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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."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXjvgPySwX
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Ethan shifted nervously. "Is this just a cover story or..."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPGKrObfif
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Hanna chewed her lower lip nervously. "That's up to you. But make your decision later."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabfbyszUzc
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Ethan frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "I don't need time to decide that."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2C8fObcen
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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.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyi0Nwf0yr
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"Wait until after the heat to make your decision," Hanna repeated firmly.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiuL8VrSLl
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"It won't change how I feel," Ethan protested mildly.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZjRBVCXqk
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Hanna took another sip of coffee. "Then there's no harm in waiting. Boyfriend seemed like a good Terran term."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeVG4Xn8Sh
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Ethan shrugged. "Okay, I'm not up to date on inter-species relationship milestones."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqVP41TFKI
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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?"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnukqHDGQo9
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Ethan smiled. "I think they're still debating it."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UPFRqj2Iw
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"And they probably will be for the next hundred years or so," Hanna added jokingly.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd32cOnqZow
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"...and what do you think?" Ethan asked tentatively.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmX7bJYiFso
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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."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uusSJNK8P
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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?"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94ecVjQAbu
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"The same one as before? Vacation?" Hanna suggested.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOThEgpS4g4
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"Is that believable? Out in the middle of the woods in the off season?" Ethan commented skeptically.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkELfGjmQ1
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"It was cheap?" Hanna suggested dubiously. "Alright, do you have any better ideas?"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIugzq7GIaG
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Ethan opened his mouth, then shut it again.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8UBNKoW8E
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"I thought so," Hanna said smugly.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqdGyZ7pvr
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"Renovations," Ethan suggested cockily.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXzdRN3wuI
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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?"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHIZQI32sc
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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..."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKa3URZLop9
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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."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzlxhMbxJp
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"You like the outdoors?" Ethan asked suspiciously.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZY9ETZ5OUu
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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.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mENWwH7xi
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"Really?" Ethan asked skeptically.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWX3S5xFBPV
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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."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfMe9j0J9t
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"I don't like hunting," Ethan said honestly.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiBtqmOx9w
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"Perfect, you already know your lines," Hanna said, laughing lightly.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xYkOm1ThL
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Ethan smiled slightly. "So, given we aren't hunting, what are we doing out here?"183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvGCGF107d
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"Hiking? Fishing? Sexy picnics? Getting bitten by millions of tiny blood sucking insects?" Hanna suggested jokingly.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7lahQrzGs
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Ethan scowled. "The fourth option is at least true."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxnEMH8d5d
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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."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3ksaHzaWh
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Ethan shrugged. "You know her best, pick whatever you think will work."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIaBHq9Kiz
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Hanna finished off her coffee. "Okay, I'll think of something... better. Later."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzbYL4gPPj
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Ethan smiled slightly. "Good luck with that."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡna1HGRPnj5
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"Hey! Have some faith in my ability to come up with a believable excuse," Hanna protested jokingly.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2uxsdsHyw
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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."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBzf1NfbIF
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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.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AaUtXmUrU
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"But, all joking aside, I don't want my cover blown if this doesn't work," Ethan said seriously.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTINRa6TFE
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"It won't be," Hanna promised. "Penelope isn't the brightest bulb in the shed."183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqToo3HoPIn
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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.183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDGnwfZrpn
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