Disclaimer: Same as always, I don't own anything, and I take no credit for it. Everything, except Tess' soon to be baby, is owned by their respective owners.

Chapter One:

"Congratulation Ms. Mercer," the Doctor said, flipping through his charts quietly before giving her a small smile, "You're pregnant."

Damn.

"I'm aware," she stated quietly, looking down at the floor, her ankles crossed and her hands ghost white as she clenched her fists together tightly behind the scope of the hospital gown, out of the view of the doctor.

"How far along?"

He flipped through his charts, "About 5 weeks."

She nodded, feeling a pang of anger and guilt rushing through her body. She was going to kill him.

"Everything looks good though. You're a very healthy woman, and as far as I'm concerned, I believe you are all set. Here's a card to an OB doctor; she's one of the best Metropolis has."

"I do have your complete assurance that this will all remain…private?"

"Of course; Patient confidentiality is of the utmost importance here."

Tess took the card, flicking it in her fingers as she managed to give the man a smirk and a quick handshake, "Thank you Doctor Johnson."

"Not a problem; and congratulations again, I'm sure whoever the lucky man is will be extremely excited back home."

Wishful thinking.

Tess said nothing until he left. She quickly redressed and exited the hospital from a private back entrance that they'd arranged for her to use. Her driver picked her up without questions, letting her in, as she continued to flick the card between her fingertips.

"Where to ma'am?"

"LuthorCorp."

"Right away."

She pushed the button to give her privacy and quiet from the prying eyes and ears of the driver. A final resolution had come to mind. Karma was coming back to get her. She never was a firm believer of 'what goes around, comes around' but considering everything she'd had to do in the past few months since coming to Metropolis, and now with this, she was slowly finding it might have been the truth. Someone up there wanted her to suffer.

Her eyes returned the card before she crushed it in her hands, groaning angrily as the car slowed. Today was going to be the start of one long day, and the start of a very, very long 35 weeks.