Karen paced back and forth in her large bathroom, wringing her hands together in nerves. This was different than last time. She only had to wait two minutes, but God help her if this wasn't the longest two minutes of her life.

The ding! echoed in her ears and she stopped in her tracks, staring at the white stick resting upon the counter. Slowly, she stalked over to it and with shaking hands, raised it to her eye level.

'Pregnant'

Karen dropped the stick and felt a wave of nausea come over her, barely making it to the toilet before she released the contents of her stomach.

Jack strolled happily into the manse, a skip in his step and a smile on his face. He took the stairs two at a time and practically hopped his way down the hallway towards Karen's bedroom. He slowed as he approached and knocked lightly before opening the door wide and bouncing in.

"Karen!" he exclaimed, seeing the lump underneath the covers. "It's the afternoon, why aren't you awake?" He kicked off his shoes and jumped onto the bed, wrestling with the covers and pulling them away from Karen's face. "I haven't seen you in days. We were supposed to go shopping- oh my God, Karen."

She was deathly pale and her eyes were bloodshot from her tears. Every few seconds her body would shake and Jack noticed the sheen of sweat covering her. She had a look of desperation on her face and she was clutching the sheets to her chest for dear life.

"Mr. Jack!" Rosario exclaimed from the doorway of the room. "You shouldn't be here."

Jack stood up and made his way to Rosie, still keeping his eye on Karen. "Is Karen sick? Why didn't she call me?"

"Uhh, yes, Miss Karen is sick, very sick. You better go before you catch it." She tried ushering him out of the room, but Jack wouldn't budge.

"Karen never gets sick," he commented, stepping towards the bed again. "Karebear, I-"

"Get out!" Karen screamed, curling further into herself and clutching her stomach.

Jack, shocked at her outburst, turned and headed for the door. Rosario stayed in the room for a few moments, fussing around Karen and forcing her to sit up to drink some water. He watched from the hallway and then looked away again when Rosario made her way out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

"Rosie," he addressed the maid, concern written all over his features. "What's going on?"

Rosario turned her head back towards the door and then looked down the hallway as if making sure no one was listening in on their conversation. "Miss Karen is having withdrawals."

Jack scrunched his face up in confusion. "I don't understand."

"She's detoxing her body," Rosario elaborated. "She quit drinking and popping pills a few days ago."

Jack's jaw dropped in astonishment, a hand placed over his chest dramatically. "Oh my God, why?"

Shaking her head, Rosario pushed away at him. "It's not my place to tell. When she's better, you must ask her yourself."

"But Rosie-"

"No!" Rosario shouted. "Now, I must go."

She rushed off before Jack had a chance to grill her for more answers.

Two weeks later...

Karen slowly emerged from the elevators as they opened on the 9th floor. She stepped out into the hall, glancing at 9C before turning and knocking lightly on 9A. She felt like throwing up again, but she forced the feeling down. Her body had been through enough the past two weeks, this should be the easy part.

The door opened wide and Jack stood there in his cowboy pajamas, his sleep mask askew on his face and his hair flat on one side from where it was place on the pillow. "Karen?" he asked groggily.

"Hi Poodle." She faked a smile and invited herself in, tossing her handbag on the ground by the couch. "How ya been?"

Jack closed the door and frowned at her, anoyance suddenly waking him up. "How have I been?" he scoffed. "Karen, no one has seen or talked to you for weeks. Rosario said you quit drinking and taking your pills." He grabbed her hand and turned her to look at him. "What is going on?"

Karen bit her lip and smoothed a hand absently over her stomach before quickly dropping it, hoping he didn't notice. "W-well, I..." she cleared her throat, not sure how to say what she needed to say. "I had to quit drinking and all that..."

"Had to?" he raised an eyebrow at her. "Are you sick?"

Karen shook her head and finally lifted her eyes to him. "I... I'm pregnant, Jackie."

Once again, Jack was shocked to the core, his jaw practically hitting the floor at her news. "What?"

Karen sighed and walked around to the couch, taking Jack by his hand and sitting them both down. She could really use a drink right now.

"I wasn't feeling well the past few weeks and I was... well I was late. I didn't think much of it because you know, I'm older and I've been late before, but then I couldn't keep anything down and I just... It dawned on me that I might be pregnant." She laced her fingers through his and held his hand in her lap. "Three at home tests and a trip to the doctor's office later and bippity boppity boom, I'm two months along."

Jack sat stunned in silence, not even sure which questions to ask first. "So, you're keeping it?"

Karen was surprised he asked, but nodded slowly. "I may never have the chance again. And I've wanted a baby for years."

"Really?"

She nodded at him, rubbing her thumb over the back of his hand. "Ever since I thought I was pregnant not too long after we met."

"Wow, Kare," he whispered. He suddenly perked up, a smile gracing his face. "So, who's the daddy?"

Karen stared at him. She gulped loudly and moved her free hand to stroke his arm tenderly. "Well, honey," she began, her nerves twisting her stomach even more than before. "You're the father."

Jack's grin dropped off his face immediately and Karen felt tears began to fill her eyes. This was the part she was dreading. She was terrified he was going to leave her, never speak to her again, force her to raise the baby on her own. It's not that she couldn't do it, but after everything they had been through together, she wanted him there more than anything.

"I'm... I'm what?"

Karen took in a shaky breath and squeezed his hand. "I did the math and with how far along I am, it matches up perfectly with when you and I... well, you know..."

"And you're positive it isn't anyone else's?"

Karen rolled her eyes, getting frustrated. "No, Jack. It's definitely yours."

A huge smile broke out over her best friend's face and Karen felt a sense of relief wash over her. "I'm gonna be a daddy?" he whispered.

She nodded at him and took his hand from her lap, placing it over her stomach. "Yeah, honey. You're gonna be a daddy."

Jack jumped up from the couch and began clapping and cheering in excitement. Karen giggled with glee at the sight, ecstatic herself that he took the news so well. "Karen! This is amazing!" He leaned down and kissed her square on the mouth. "We're having a baby!"