A number of emotions ran through her all in the span of a couple seconds: elation at the pregnancy, sadness that she couldn't tell Clark, then fear that it might somehow be Oliver's though it didn't make sense. But nothing about anything made sense anymore.

"You didn't know you were pregnant?"

"Does it sound like I knew?" Her mood going from bad to worse.

"I recommend you get an exam right away." He must have been used to grumpy patients or moody pregnant women or both because he didn't seem that affected by her temper. "In fact, I can you get an appointment right away probably if I call upstairs. I'm dating one of the obstetricians."

"How nice for you," she said dryly.

He made the call. "Good news," he said after he hung up. "They can take you right now if you go straight up."

"I suppose I might as well get it over with."

Despite wanting her to rush right up, she was left sitting in another stark white room.

"How are you?" The technician was entirely too chipper, her black ponytail bouncing as she moved.

"Just fine. I'd be even more fine if this was over with."

"It doesn't hurt a bit. I'm just going to rub this jelly over your stomach. It might be a little cold. Then we'll put this little transducer against it, and we'll get an image on the screen. It's as simple as that."

This was going to sound like she was a loose woman, but there was really no help for it. "How soon can I get a test done to tell me who the father is?"

"At nine weeks. You seem like you might still be under that or approaching that. Do you know the day you might have gotten pregnant?"

"No." There were any number of nights she might have conceived.

"Well, no worries. That's what the sonogram is for." The woman didn't register surprise to any of it, but she must have seen everything in her work though she bet if she told her the full set of circumstance she might manage to astonish her but then again if she'd been working in Smallville for any length of time, she'd probably seen her fair share of the paranormal as well.

It took about thirty minutes. Lois couldn't even look at the screen, and Miss Chipper thankfully didn't ask her to. She just wiped the gel off, still smiling. Everything looks good. You're due sometime in December. I think you can get that test you want in a couple weeks. Might as well get some blood work now while we're at it."

"Might as well."

She didn't even feel her stick the needle in as she drew the blood. She was too lost in thought.

The technician's voice brought her back. "Well, Dr. Spears will call with the full results. I'm just going to ask her to step in to answer any questions you might have about anything. She'll recommend or prescribe some prenatal vitamins to start you off with, and you can be on your way."

"Thank goodness for small mercies."

"You're not on any pain medication, are you? For your hand."

"Not yet."

"She'll let you know what's safe to take."

Lois got out of the hospital gown and back into her regular clothes and opened the door partway to let the doctor know she was ready for her.

While sat there who should happen to walk by but Martha Kent. She popped her head in.

"Lois, what happened to your hand?"

"I was practicing my karate on the wrong material," she said, looking a little sheepish. Despite her red hair, she bet Mrs. Kent had never had such temper tantrums.

But Martha was too shrewd to miss their location. "Are you-"

She could lie, but what was the point? She would assume it was Oliver's and maybe it was.

She nodded though she couldn't quite swallow the lump in her throat

"Congra-" she began, but she stopped when she saw her distress. "What's wrong?" She came all the way into the room and sat down on the chair by the table. She took her hand in such a motherly fashion that she could almost believe she did remember, but that was just her way. She remembered the motherless teen who blew into her life and under her care for a time and so treated her fondly, not the daughter-in-law.

"Have you ever woke up and discovered your reality isn't reality?"

"I guess so. Or at least moments where I ask myself how did I get here to this point in time and certainly times where I wish things had turned out differently."

She could almost believe that if she confessed everything Martha would believe her. On the other hand, what if she told Clark she was a loon and to stay away from her completely?

"How is Lana's pregnancy progressing?" Lois asked, wanting to shift the attention away from her.

"Uh, it's been good. It seems to agree with her. She's due any day now."

"Nothing unusual?"

A long moment passed as Martha studied her. It wasn't that weird a question was it? Women had complications all the time. She wouldn't know that she knew why it might be unusual.

"No. Everything's been fine and normal. Lois-"

She was saved by the doctor. Mrs. Kent excused herself, and Lois got samples of her vitamins and safe pain pills along with prescriptions to get more.

With a new renewed vigor that had nothing to do with the vitamins, she left the hospital feeling just a tiny bit lighter. Martha had realized there was something off though she might not know what. Why not Clark? There was still hope. She shopped for all the things she needed and went back to her hotel.

She dropped her bags when she detected movement in the room.

"I have a weapon," she declared loudly.

"What a coincidence. So do I. Except mine's a bow and arrow."