Samantha hadn’t planned on crying that night. She was supposed to be folding laundry, sipping lukewarm tea, and binge-watching something forgettable to quiet the noise in her head. But one innocent scroll through Instagram and there it was—her younger sister’s glowing face, hands cradling a perfect baby bump. *Baby Girl arriving in July,* the caption read, dotted with pink hearts and tiny footprints.

That was all it took. The ache she'd been ignoring for weeks turned into a full-on sob fest, her tears falling hot and fast into the basket of mismatched socks.

She didn’t even hear Garrett come in until he knelt beside her, his tall frame casting a shadow over the mountain of laundry. “Mom?” His voice was soft, cautious. “What happened?”

She laughed through a sniffle, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her old college hoodie. “Oh, honey. I’m okay. I’m just—God, I’m being ridiculous.”

Garrett didn’t move. He just waited, patient as always, his dark eyes watching her with that calm intensity he’d had since he was little. “You’re crying into socks,” he pointed out. “That’s a little concerning.”

She cracked a smile, even as more tears welled up. “I know. I just…” She took a shaky breath and looked up at him. Her boy. Her *baby*. Taller than her now, with broad shoulders and scruffy hair and that same dimple in his right cheek that used to appear when he’d giggle in his high chair.

“I saw the post. Your Aunt Jess is having a baby.”

Garrett nodded slowly. “Yeah, I saw. It’s exciting.”

“It is,” she agreed, her voice quivering. “It’s so exciting. And I’m happy for her. I really am. But…” Her voice broke, and she covered her face with both hands, muffling a raw, painful sob. “I think I want another baby, and it’s too late.”

Garrett blinked, stunned into silence for a beat. “Whoa. Okay. Um. That was not what I thought you were gonna say.”

She let out a half-laugh, half-sob and dropped her hands, her face blotchy and red. “I know. I told myself I was fine. That you were all I ever needed. You *are*, Garrett. You’re my whole world. But I just—I didn’t know I’d feel this way. Not until now.”

He sat beside her, legs crossed, and reached for her hand. “You’re allowed to change your mind, Mom.”

“I made peace with it,” she whispered, staring at a tiny blue onesie tucked between towels. “Your dad got a vasectomy five years ago. We agreed one child was perfect. And you are. But now Jess is picking out names and decorating nurseries and complaining about swollen ankles, and suddenly I feel like my body is running out of time and I’m mourning something I never thought I wanted.”

Garrett squeezed her hand. “Is this like...baby fever? Like, real baby fever?”

She gave him a teary, sheepish nod. “Bad. Like, googling ‘miracle vasectomy reversals’ at two a.m. bad.”

“Mom,” he groaned. “Please tell me you did *not* Google vasectomy porn.”

“What? *No!*” she gasped, horrified, then smacked his arm with a dish towel. “You brat.”

He grinned, that dimple flashing. “Just checking. Trying to lighten the mood.”

She laughed again, wiping her cheeks. “Thanks, smartass. I needed that.”

They sat in silence for a moment, the room quiet except for the soft hum of the dryer and the rhythmic tick of the clock on the wall.

“I don’t know what to do with all these feelings,” she said finally, her voice small. “I feel selfish for even wanting more. You’re grown. You’re amazing. And I should be looking forward to empty-nesting and finding myself again. Not...crying over Instagram posts and baby booties.”

Garrett leaned his head on her shoulder. “You’re not selfish. You’re human. And maybe this is just a moment, or maybe it’s something bigger. Either way, I’ll be here. I’ve got your back.”

Samantha pressed a kiss to his forehead, heart full and aching all at once. “I love you so much, Garrett.”

“I love you too, Mom. Even if you’re a hormonal mess right now.”

She smirked through her tears. “I deserve that.”

He stood up, pulling her gently to her feet. “C’mon. Let’s put the socks away and order something unhealthy. And maybe after that, we’ll talk about babies. Or not. We’ll figure it out.”

She looked at him—her only child, her heart walking outside her body—and felt the sting of time sharper than ever. But in that moment, with his arms around her and her tears finally slowing, she also felt something else.

Hope.

Maybe her story wasn’t quite finished yet.

Garrett set the pizza box down on the coffee table and patted the cushion next to him. Samantha sank into it, feeling the warmth of his body next to hers, a comfort she hadn’t realized she’d been craving.

“So, you want another baby?” Garrett’s voice was gentle, probing.

Samantha nodded, her eyes glued to the TV. She couldn’t bear to look at him, afraid she’d see judgment in his gaze. “I think so, yeah. It’s like something switched on inside me when Jess told us she was pregnant. And now, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m missing out on something huge. Something that’s part of me.”

Garrett paused the TV show with a click of the remote, his thumb hovering over the button. He turned to her, “What about volunteering with kids or do you just really have your heart set on wanting another baby?”

Samantha took a deep breath, her eyes meeting his. “I don’t just want a baby, Garrett. I want another part of us. Another little person who has your dad’s smile, or your Uncle Mike’s stubbornness, or even your Aunt Taylor’s love for cooking. Someone who’s connected to us in a way that no one else ever could be.”

Garrett’s eyes searched hers, understanding dawning in his gaze. “You want a sibling for me. Someone with the same DNA, so it’s like we’re not the only ones left of our family line.”

“Yeah,” she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. “It’s selfish, I know. But the thought of you being all alone in this world without a piece of me, without a sibling to share this weird, wonderful life with—it just feels wrong somehow. And your dad—his snoring and his terrible dad jokes—I want that to live on in another little person, you know?”

Garrett nodded slowly, his expression contemplative. He picked at the corner of the pizza box. “What about adoption?”

“I thought about that. I mean, it’s a beautiful option, but it’s not what I'm looking for.”

Garrett leaned back, his eyes searching the ceiling as he considered her words.

"So, you've talked to Dad?"

Samantha nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I have, sweetheart. And it's complicated. His sperm count was always a little low, even before the vasectomy. That's why you were such a surprise, remember?"

Garrett's expression softened at the mention of his conception. "Yeah, I know. But reversals can still work sometimes, right?"

Samantha sighed, her hand moving to her stomach almost instinctively. "They can, but with your dad's numbers, it's pretty much a miracle we got you. After the vasectomy, the chances dropped to almost zero. I checked with the doctor. A reversal just isn't in the cards for us."

Garrett leaned back, his mind racing. "But what about...you know, other options?" He stumbled over the words, not quite sure how to say what he was thinking.

Samantha frowned, glancing at him. "Other options? Like what, Garrett?"

He swallowed hard, trying to keep his voice steady. "Well, you know...sperm donors. Or...or even, like, me."

Samantha's heart skipped a beat. "Garrett, What do you mean?"

Garrett took a deep breath. "Well, I know you want a baby with our family's DNA, and I know how much it means to you. And...I'm right here. And I'm healthy. And..." He trailed off, his cheeks reddening.

Samantha's eyes widened. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Garrett, you don't mean..."

He nodded, his gaze never leaving hers. "I do, Mom. I know it's weird, but think about it. I could help you have another baby, and it would be like a part of both of us, right? And if it's a boy, he'd have some of Dad in him too, even if the snoring is all my fault."

The room was silent, the only sound the ticking of the clock echoing through the air. Samantha felt as if the world had stopped spinning. Her thoughts were a tornado of shock, confusion, and something...else. Something that felt surprisingly right.

Her eyes searched Garrett's face, looking for any sign of doubt or jest, but she found only sincerity. He was her rock, always had been, and she could see he'd given this serious consideration. "Garrett," she whispered, "are you sure about this? It's a huge decision. And it's...complicated."

"I know it is," he said, his voice steady. "But I want you to be happy, Mom. And if this is what you want, I want to help."

Samantha felt a mix of emotions, the most prominent being love. Love for her son, who was willing to give her something so profound and life-changing. But she knew her husband, Jack. This wasn't a conversation they could just waltz into.

Samantha's eyes searched his, reading the determination there. "But Garrett, your dad—"

"Mom," he cut her off, his voice firm but gentle, "let's just say it's a miracle. You know, like you got pregnant with me. A happy little accident." He offered a small, hopeful smile.

The weight of his words hung in the air, the gravity of his offer pressing down on her. Samantha felt her chest tighten. The ache inside her grew stronger by the minute, and she couldn't ignore the possibility that Garrett had just placed in front of her.

"How would this work?" she managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper.

Garrett's cheeks reddened even more, but he held her gaze. "Well, Dad's away on his business trip this weekend. It's just you and me here."

Samantha felt the color drain from her face. "This weekend?" Her voice was hoarse, the room suddenly feeling much too warm.

Garrett nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Yeah, Mom. Dad's not going to be back until Sunday night. We'd have some time."

Samantha's mind raced with questions and fears, but she couldn't shake the warmth spreading through her body at the thought of holding a new baby in her arms. She took a deep breath and tried to steady her voice. "ok."

Garrett's eyes searched hers for any sign of hesitation, but she offered him a small, trembling smile.

The decision had been made, and the gravity of it settled over them like a warm, heavy blanket. They both knew what was happening was unconventional, but the love between a mother and son had never felt so strong.

Samantha excused herself, her legs wobbly as she walked down the hallway to the bathroom. She turned the shower on, letting the hot water wash away her doubts and fears. The steam filled the room, wrapping around her like a comforting embrace. She took her time, shaving every inch of her body. The scent of the lavender body wash filled her nose, grounding her as she lathered herself in the sweet-smelling foam.

Her hands trembled as she toweled off, the reality of what she was about to do hitting her full force. She stepped out of the shower and reached for the soft, plush towel, patting her skin dry before slathering on a generous amount of her favorite lotion. The silky smoothness of her skin felt like a promise of a new beginning.

Samantha took a deep breath and opened her dresser drawer, her eyes landing on the silk nightie she hadn’t worn in ages. It was a gift from Jack on their tenth wedding anniversary, a playful nod to the passionate nights of their youth. She’d always loved the way it clung to her curves and the way Jack’s eyes would light up when she’d put it on. She slid it over her head, the cool fabric caressing her body, and she felt a shiver of anticipation.

Garrett waited for her in his room, his heart pounding in his chest. He'd been so sure of his decision, but now that the moment was here, doubt began to creep in. What if she didn’t want this? What if she thought he was crazy? He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.