Margaret sat across from her son Daniel in her kitchen, her fingers tapping nervously on the table. At 52 years old, she knew that her age made it highly unlikely for her to carry a baby to term, let alone to be a surrogate for her own son. But she couldn't shake the idea from her mind, couldn't stop thinking about how much Daniel and his wife Emily wanted a child of their own.

"Mom, this is crazy," Daniel said, his eyes wide with disbelief. "How can you even consider this? You're way past the age where this is safe."

Margaret took a deep breath. "Actually, I've done my research, and with modern medicine, it's definitely possible. And I want to do it for you, Daniel. I want to help you and Emily have a child."

Daniel shook his head, looking both stunned and conflicted. "I don't know, Mom. It just feels... wrong. You're my mom. I can't ask you to do something like that."

Margaret reached across the table and took his hand. "You're not asking me, Daniel. I'm offering. And I've thought about this a lot. I know it won't be easy, but I want to do it for you. I want to help you and Emily have a family."

Daniel's eyes were brimming with tears as he looked at his mother. "Mom," he whispered. "You're amazing. I don't know what to say."

Margaret smiled through her own tears. "You don't have to say anything, sweetheart. Just let me do this for you."

Daniel stared at her for a long moment, then finally sighed. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but... let's talk to Emily. See what she thinks."

Margaret smiled, relief washing over her. That was one big hurdle cleared. But inside her feelings were far from simple. 

She knew that this surrogacy process was going to be difficult for her. She had already gone through menopause and had to undergo hormone treatments to prepare her body for the pregnancy. Despite her doctor's assurances, she couldn't help but worry that her age would make things harder on both herself and the baby.

After weeks of conversations with Daniel and Emily and her doctor, Margaret had the green light to start her hormone treatments. Margaret sighed, sitting on the edge of her bed, rubbing her still stomach absentmindedly. She was terrified of what could go wrong. She didn't want to let Daniel down or risk losing the baby. But she had made a promise to him, and she intended to keep it.

She stood up and went over to the dresser, picking up a picture of Daniel from when he was a child. He was grinning ear to ear, holding a trophy in his hand. Margaret smiled at the memory and then glanced at herself in the full length mirror.

Her smile lines and gray hair were a stark reminder of her age. She wondered if she was too old to be doing this. Her body had changed so much over the years, and she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be pregnant again after all this time.

Slowly she took off her clothes. Her body was pear-shaped, with wide hips and a small waist. Her breasts sagged a bit with age, but they were still full and round. She turned to the side and ran her hands over her stomach, which was soft and plump, the result of Daniel's birth and decades of good food and wine. The idea of carrying a child again, even as a surrogate, was daunting. Her skin was no longer as smooth and taut as it used to be, and there were wrinkles and stretch marks in places she never thought possible.

Margaret took a deep breath and closed her eyes, hands on either side of her navel, trying to imagine what it would be like to have a swollen belly once again. She could feel the weight of it, the pressure on her back and feet. The flutter of tiny kicks and the warmth of a growing life. It was a feeling she hadn't experienced in almost three decades, and the thought of it made her heart swell with emotion. Could her body handle it? Could she handle it emotionally? As she studied her figure, she couldn't help but feel excitement at the thought of carrying her son's child, and fear of the physical toll it would take on her aging body.

Margaret also worried about how her age would affect the pregnancy. She knew that pregnancy at her age came with increased risks and complications, but she pushed those thoughts aside, determined to make this work for her son.

As she ran her hands over her belly, she couldn't help but imagine what it would feel like to have a baby growing inside of her again. 

She looked back down at the picture and made up her mind. She couldn't let her fears get the best of her. She was going to be there for Daniel, no matter what.

Margaret's preparation for pregnancy began with a series of hormone treatments. She had to undergo extensive blood work and physical examinations to ensure she was healthy enough to carry a child. The treatments involved taking a combination of estrogen and progesterone, which caused her body to mimic the early stages of pregnancy.

The hormone treatments were physically and emotionally draining for Margaret. She experienced hot flashes, nausea, and mood swings. The treatment also caused her to gain weight, which made her feel self-conscious about her body.

As the treatments continued Daniel grew increasingly worried about the toll it was taking on his mother. Margaret was often emotional and physically drained, and Daniel struggled to see her go through such a difficult process.


During one particularly tough day, Margaret broke down in tears and expressed her doubts about whether she could go through with the pregnancy. Daniel immediately reassured her that she could call off the whole thing if she wanted to, and that her health and well-being were more important than anything else.

However, Margaret was determined to see the process through to the end, and with Daniel's continued support, she pressed on.


Finally, Margaret found herself on the examination table while a doctor inserted Daniel and Emily's embryos into her uterus.

The process was over quickly, and then Margaret had to wait. She was instructed to avoid any strenuous activity, as well as caffeine, alcohol, and any medication that hadn't been specifically approved by her doctor. It was a difficult time, as the hormones she had been taking continued to cause discomfort and mood swings. She prayed she would be able to give her son what he wanted. Margaret and Daniel and Emily kept their fingers crossed.

Weeks passed, and Margaret began to notice subtle changes in her body. She felt bloated and nauseous, and her breasts were tender. She had difficulty sleeping at night and was tired during the day. She couldn't tell for sure, but she hoped that these were early signs of pregnancy. She said nothing, not wanting to get her son's hopes up. But the memory of the early days of her pregnancy with Daniel came flooding back to her. It felt the same.

It was too early to take a test, but deep in Margaret's belly things were already happening. Almost thirty years since Daniel himself had been conceived, his own child was beginning to develop in his mother's womb.

This was a really nice read so far, definitely hoping for a part two to this!

Great story so far. Keep up the great work. Would like to see Margaret carry her son's children maybe twins or triplets.

Margaret woke up early on the first day she was able to take a pregnancy test, two weeks after her insemination. She felt queasy and bloated, like she had for weeks. The symptoms of her hormone treatments were so similar to pregnancy symptoms, it was hard to know if she felt any different. And she was exhausted. She wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep. But her bladder was aching, so she peeled back the sheets and went to the bathroom.

She had a box of pregnancy tests ready to go. What the hell, she thought, and opened one while she sat on the toilet. Taking it was easy enough. She set it on the counter and sat and waited. She couldn't look. She was afraid of disappointment or false hope. Surely she was too old for this to have worked. Surely her symptoms were just left over from the hormones, from her nausea to her tender breasts. She had gone through so much to get to this point, and the thought of it not working out was too much to bear.

After what felt like hours, she took a deep breath and picked up the test. Two pink lines. She checked and double checked the instructions to make sure she wasn't misunderstanding.

She was pregnant.

Margaret didn't have the reaction she expected. No happy tears, no frantic call to her son. Instead her stomach dropped and she felt numb. What had she gotten herself into? What laid ahead in her next nine months? In a daze, she tossed the test in the trash and went to brush her teeth. Her morning continued as normal. She took her vitamins and showered, avoiding looking down at the soft tummy where an embryo the size of a pinhead had implanted itself in her womb. She got dressed and filled her travel mug with coffee and drove to the school where she had taught fourth grade for more than twenty years.

Her students filed in, chattering excitedly and dropping their backpacks on the floor. Margaret put on a brave face and greeted each one with a smile, but inside, she was a mess. She felt like she was dreaming. Soon she would wake up and laugh that her unconscious mind had conjured up a scenario where old matronly Mrs. Jenkins, the widow, had become pregnant, with her son's baby no less. That thought comforted her as she taught fractions on autopilot. The school year had just started. There was no way she would be entering summer vacation with a big round belly.

At lunchtime, she sat in the teacher's lounge, nodding and smiling along, but she couldn't really focus on what they were saying. Her hand wandered to her soft stomach. She didn't feel much like eating. After class she graded papers until it was dark outside, then she went home. She ignored the calls and texts from Daniel, who knew she could take the test today.

Margaret was exhausted but still couldn't sleep, tossing and turning, filled with anxiety. When her eyes closed she had intense, vivid dreams. She had forgotten that symptom from when she was pregnant with Daniel. In a blink, she was standing in her classroom again. But something was different. She was pregnant, enormously pregnant, her belly stretching the fabric of her dress to the point of tearing. Her son Daniel was there too, but he was a child again, confused and scared by the sudden change in his mother.

Her students stared and laughed as she struggled with her new ungainly body. As if in slow motion, she began to feel her body giving way, her insides tearing apart as the baby in her belly tried to escape.

Margaret jolted awake, sweat coating her forehead and her heart racing in her chest. She reached for her stomach, still soft and squishy but more or less flat. It was four in the morning but she knew she wouldn't get back to sleep. Maybe if she let Daniel and Emily in on her news, it wouldn't be as much of a burden. But the thought of telling them made her stomach churn so badly she went and knelt in front of the toilet. Why did she feel so strange and guilty? This was a wonderful thing she was doing. Her son and his wife would be thrilled; it was the news they had been waiting for. But the sensation of the nightmare lingered, and Margaret felt cold and clammy and ill.

The clinic had implanted three embryos into Margaret's womb, in the hopes that one of them would catch. She wouldn't know for weeks, but two of them had actually attached and begun to divide at an incredible rate.

After the sleepless night, another day in a trance. Margaret at least felt up to calling her son at lunch and apologizing for ignoring his calls. She asked if she could come over for dinner that night, careful with her tone not to hint at anything. Of course her pregnancy was the unspoken question, but Daniel didn't press. He was just relieved his mother was OK.

She tried to make herself presentable before heading to her son's house. In front of the mirror, she again tried to imagine herself in nine months. It was difficult. She had dressed well and put on some makeup, trying to look younger and more vital, but to herself she still looked like an old woman who wasn't sleeping well. She looked like a grandmother. But, Margaret remembered, that was what she was becoming. The baby in her belly would be her first grandchild. She felt dizzy all over again.

As she stood at the front door of the sweet little three-bedroom home, which Daniel and Emily had bought to start their family in, Margaret had it all planned out. She would eat first; getting some food in her would give her strength. She would tell her son and his wife about what was going on at school, ask them about their jobs, save the announcement until everyone was settled and feeling good. She knew just how she would word it, a sweet and happy surprise for the people she loved most in the world. She wouldn't mention her fear and doubt and how sick she felt. The plan made her feel more like herself for the first time in a few days.

The second Emily opened the door and greeted her, Margaret caught a whiff of the roast chicken, a dish Emily made well and knew Margaret loved, and knew she was going to puke. She staggered past her daughter-in-law and just barely made it to the hallway bathroom before emptying her guts. There wasn't even time to close the door. By the time she was finished retching, Margaret found Daniel and Emily both standing over her. The careful plan evaporated. Margaret flushed the toilet, wiped her chin, and turned her pale face up to the bewildered couple.

"I'm pregnant," she croaked. When she only got silence in return, she started to laugh. What a mess she had gotten herself into.

Fantastic story. Looking forward to more. Would be great to see Margaret's journey pregnant with her grandchildren.

Love it!

When the shock wore off, Margaret got the happy teary moment she'd been hoping for. Once they knew she was OK, Daniel and Emily were over the moon. All three of them chattered all evening about what this meant, how their world was going to change, daydreaming about the miracle they'd be welcoming before the year was out. The second Margaret saw her son's face light up when he understood the news, she knew the whole thing would be worth it. She would do anything for Daniel. She was going to give him the thing he and his wife wanted most in the world, and that was worth any pain and fear. When she went home that night, after what felt like hundred of hugs and thank you's, Margaret was elated. The strange dizzy numbness faded away and she dove into the practical measures of preparing for the baby.

Her family doctor confirmed the pregnancy with a blood test and set her up with a whole list of supplements and vitamins. He also gave her a due date, May 28. Just around the time school would be letting out. Margaret smiled as she imagined having the whole summer to recover from giving birth and help Daniel and Emily with the baby. The information the doctor gave her about symptoms and precautions all felt familiar. Margaret gained confidence. She had done this before, and she was happy to do it again. She started to remember the things she loved most about being pregnant with Daniel. At night she stroked her soft tummy and imagined sweet little kicks inside. She remembered the happiness and excitement she had had every day of her pregnancy with her first child. No matter the difficulty, every day would bring her closer to meeting her new baby.

That optimism didn't last for long. Not long after the blood test, Margaret felt like her body had simply crashed. She had no energy. Forcing her eyes open every morning was a struggle, and that got complicated by the fact that her morning sickness came on hard and wasn't confined to just the morning. Margaret started each day in front of the toilet, retching until there was nothing left in her stomach. The idea of most food repulsed her. She had to stop going into the teacher's lounge because the smell of coffee turned her stomach. Other times the sickness would come out of nowhere, unprompted. More than once she had to dash out of her classroom, leaving her students unattended, to run to the bathroom. Another time, one of the kids puked after coming back from recess, and that made Margaret so sick she had to puke in her trash can. She stayed on her feet all day, worried that she'd fall asleep at her desk.

Daniel and Emily's joy was infectious, but as Margaret got sicker and weaker, the whole family turned into a mess of anxiety. The calls and texts were constant. When they spent time together, Daniel seemed to flinch any time Margaret frowned or made a sudden move. Some of it Margaret appreciated. Some days she was just too weak to stand at the stove, and no food sounded good to her anyway. It was nice to put her feet up and wait for Emily to bring her some broth or some plain toast. But they tiptoed around her, as if she was made of glass. They spoke in hushed tones, as if afraid of waking the baby inside her. Margaret understood that they were trying to be considerate, but it felt patronizing. She missed being treated like a person, not like a delicate incubator. She snapped at Daniel and Emily and then felt horribly guilty after. She would explain that the pregnancy was just wearing on her nerves, but that would make them baby her even more.

She had decided not to tell anyone at work, at least not until she was out of the first trimester. Her pregnancy was so unusual and high-risk that she kept her news to herself. Twelve weeks didn't sound like a long time, but each day crawled by, a haze of nausea and brain fog and the fight to stay awake. In October, Margaret sat miserably in the teacher's lounge at lunch, only braving the coffee smell because one of her coworkers had gathered everyone around. Margaret daydreamed about getting home and crawling back into bed, and maybe staying there until the school year was over.

Margaret couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance as she watched Zoe, the beloved music teacher, stand in the middle of the room. Zoe was 26, very pretty, and effortlessly perky, and Margaret's dislike of her made her feel like a cranky grandma.

"Hey guys, I have some news to share," Zoe smirked. "I don't know about you all, but I had a busy summer..." She moved her hands to her stomach, and people started to gasp. "That's right! I'm due in April!" she confirmed, her smile growing even wider. She shrugged off her sweater and revealed her skinny little body in a tight t-shirt, the tiniest little bump visible.

Margaret forced a smile as the other teachers mobbed Zoe, erupting into cheers and congratulations. She wished she could feel that same joy and excitement, but all she felt was jealousy and frustration. She felt like a freak, a science experiment gone wrong. Pregnant at 52, with her own son's baby no less. When the time came to share her news, people wouldn't be so excited for her, would they? Margaret tried to tune out Zoe's chatter about how easy it had been so far, and how she had only gained a few pounds, and how loving and supportive her husband was, not letting her lift a finger at home. Margaret felt taunted by her, and by her own memories of her pregnancy with Daniel, which had been just as easy in retrospect, when she'd had her own husband by her side. Now Margaret felt old and gross and alone, and hugely embarrassed about what she was doing. She muttered something congratulatory to Zoe and slipped out of the room.

Out in the hallway, Margaret rubbed her own belly, which hadn't begun to grow yet. She was back to dreading the rest of her pregnancy. She was shocked by the changes her body was undergoing already. Her boobs had grown overnight and to her they felt embarrassingly huge. And they felt like they were on fire, hot and tight and painful to the slightest touch. Stuffing them into her bra was torture. Besides the nausea she had horrible heartburn, her skin was breaking out, her insomnia was getting worse, and when she did sleep her nightmares had come back.

The night after Zoe's announcement, Margaret dreamt she showed up to Daniel and Emily's home for dinner, but Zoe was in her place at the table. All three of them were talking to her about Margaret's pregnancy, but their voices were distorted, and Margaret couldn't make out what they were saying. Zoe kept showing off her growing belly for Daniel and Emily to ooh and ahh over. Margaret felt an overwhelming sense of jealousy and resentment.

Suddenly, Daniel's voice became clear, and he started to criticize Margaret for not taking care of herself properly. Emily and Zoe joined in, telling Margaret that she needed to be more careful and stop doing so much. Margaret felt trapped and overwhelmed, unable to defend herself, and the dream ended with Zoe announcing that she was taking over as the surrogate, leaving Margaret to deal with her pregnancy and baby alone.

Margaret woke up so sweaty and sick that she went straight to the shower after she puked, even though it wasn't yet dawn. The warm water helped, and she was shaking off the dream as she got dressed. But when she tried to button her jeans, they wouldn't fasten. She sucked in her stomach and tried again, but to no avail. Her belly had grown noticeably overnight.

Margaret went to the mirror and stared. She had a bump. That was impossible. She had only been pregnant for six weeks, and it felt like she hadn't eaten a thing the whole time. When had she started to show with Daniel? Four months? Five? She poked and prodded at her tummy, which all of a sudden wasn't soft and pliable. It was swollen and tight, hot to the touch, just like her poor breasts. Her heart pounded in her chest as she examined herself from every angle. Her belly would be hidden under clothes for a while yet, but there was no denying what was happening as she stood half-naked in her bedroom, in just the stupid jeans that wouldn't button.

Her face looked gaunt and afraid, her hair grayer than ever. She felt like a stranger in her own body, overwhelmed by the speed and intensity of the changes taking place. Again she asked herself what she had done. Why had she gotten herself into this? How could she survive the next eight months? Margaret was a fool to imagine being pregnant at 52 would be anywhere near comparable to her first time. And it was only going to get worse.

The waist... Sorry, plot, thickens!
It's a bit slow burn for my tastes, but it's good to see it at a more a realistic pace. I am looking forward to seeing more of this and wish you all the best with your writing

I'm beyond invested in this story. Please please please say you plan to finish!!!

A few days later, Margaret was deep into an after-work nap when there was a knock at the door. She came downstairs, dazed and disoriented, to find Daniel waiting on her porch. Margaret hadn't been expecting him. She tried to wake herself up as she opened the door. Daniel greeted her carefully, trying not to sound too concerned over the fact that she was still clearly having a rough time. He was midway through explaining that he was there to drop off some prenatal supplements Emily had bought when he froze.

"What, honey?" Margaret asked. Did she look like that much of a zombie?

Daniel blinked. His eyes weren't meeting hers. Instead he was looking down.

Margaret had been sleeping in a t-shirt that had already been a little snug a few months ago. Now the outline of her bump was clearly visible, just beginning to stretch the fabric. "Mom, when did that happen?"

She shifted uncomfortably on her feet, feeling exposed and vulnerable in front of her son. Her hands went to her tummy as if to hide it. "Six weeks," she groaned. "I'm showing already, Daniel."

"Is that... is that normal?" Her son asked, his eyes still glued to the subtle new curve.

Margaret shook her head. "It probably just means my stomach muscles aren't what they used to be. I've got an appointment scheduled to get it checked out."

"Wow," Daniel breathed. He walked past his mother and sat down.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"Yeah." He took a moment to try to compose himself. He had known this was coming, of course. But as he continued to stare at his mother's protruding stomach, he felt disoriented. It was all happening so fast. There was visible proof now. Any man would have a lot of feelings at the proof that he was going to be a father soon, and Daniel had to deal with the fact that his baby was growing inside his mother. Inside the belly he had grown in. It didn't seem possible. "It's just crazy. I wasn't expecting that."

"Me neither, sweetie," said Margaret, coming closer, standing with her tummy near Daniel's eye level. Why did she feel like apologizing? She was doing this for him. She was sacrificing her body for his happiness. But she still felt guilty somehow. "I'll be able to hide it at work for a while, but I think I'm gonna get big." Her hands were on her stomach, now rubbing it protectively. Lovingly. Following the new round shape. That made Daniel smile. It was a little disturbing seeing his 52-year-old mother with a pregnant belly, with his baby inside no less, but now that the shock was wearing off he was full of love for her.

"It's amazing, Mom," he said, looking up at her. "You're really doing this."

"I'm really doing this," she replied with a weak smile. "We're really doing this."

Daniel got back on his feet. Suddenly he felt embarrassed, shy. "Can I touch it?"

"Of course! It's your baby!" Margaret said. She took his hand and pressed it to her belly. Daniel couldn't remember ever touching his mother's stomach, but he knew something felt different. It was firm under his hand. Swollen. He felt the warmth and weight of it and his heart filled with gratitude. He wanted to thank his mother, and he wanted to take care of her and protect her. He wanted to be there for her.

He had imagined a moment like this with Emily, all that time they spent trying to conceive. He had told his wife over and over that she would be a beautiful pregnant woman, and he would be honored to have her carry their baby. He had thought that moment would never come. And now here it was, with his mother instead. He felt lightheaded but not in a bad way.

"Thank you, Mom," he said softly, looking up at her with tears in his eyes. "I can't believe you're doing this for us."

Margaret's eyes filled with tears too as she looked down at her son's hand resting on her belly. She was relieved that he wasn't repulsed by her changing body, but his emotional reaction caught her off guard. She had expected him to be happy, but seeing the tears in his eyes made her realize just how much this pregnancy meant to him.

"I love you, Daniel," she said, reaching out to hug him tightly. "I'll do anything for you and your family."

Daniel hugged her back, feeling a mix of emotions that he couldn't quite put into words. He was grateful, amazed, and a little overwhelmed, but above all, he felt a deep love for his mother. They were bonded together closer than ever now. The depth of the connection made him kind of dizzy. As widowed mom and only child, they had always been very close, the two of them against the world. But this was something new. They stood like that for a long moment, holding each other close and cherishing the bond between them.

Margaret had felt so lonely in the agonizing first weeks of this strange pregnancy, despite the closeness of her son and his wife. Family was one thing, but having a man, the father of your child, loving and supporting you, that was different. She couldn't help but think of how close she had felt with Michael, Daniel's father, all through her first pregnancy. Many nights she had wished to have him back by her side as she embarked on this difficult new journey. But she had Daniel now. As she held him close, her little belly inbetween their bodies, she momentarily felt like kissing him. Not on the cheek like a mother. That unusual thought made her break the embrace.

Tears rolled down the cheeks of both mother and son as they pulled away and looked at each other. A moment passed that was hard to read. Daniel shook it off. "Just wait until Emily sees," he said.

That night, Margaret dreamt she was in a bright white hospital room. The same one, in fact, that Daniel had been born in. Now Daniel was standing at her side, holding her hand. She was hooked up to beeping machines. She was in labor, and she was scared. But Daniel was there to help. In this dream, he wasn't her son anymore; he was her husband. She could feel the love between them, the bond that had grown over the months as her belly grew and grew.

As she took deep breaths, Margaret could feel the babies moving inside her. Yes, babies. In her dream she was carrying twin girls, and that explained the sheer size of her belly, like a ripe watermelon laying in her lap.Daniel held her hand tightly, his face etched with concern and love, and with his other hand he rubbed that massive baby bump. Telling his children silently that everything would be alright.

"It's okay, baby," he whispered to Margaret, his voice full of tenderness. "You can do this. I'm here for you."

She nodded, feeling a sense of calm wash over her. She looked up and Daniel kissed her lips gently. Then helped her into a comfortable position and wiped the sweat from her forehead as she pushed.

Margaret opened her eyes. She was alone in bed. Her belly was growing, but it wasn't the size of a watermelon. And as far as she knew there was only one baby inside. Often her pregnancy dreams were disturbing, but she felt a sense of peace. For a moment, she stayed still, savoring the feeling of warmth and love that lingered. It took a few moments for her to realize how strange it had been, how different the love between her and her son was in the dream. She felt nauseous recalling that sensual kiss. But, thank God, she didn't puke. She just rolled over and tried to get back to sleep.

Meanwhile, across town, Daniel was also awake. As Emily slept next to him, he couldn't shake the image of his mother's growing belly from his mind. It was a surreal experience, one that he never thought he would have. He and Emily had celebrated that night, the indicator that their long-awaited baby was finally on its way, even in this unusual method. But instead of feeling closer to Emily, he felt more distant than ever. They had been trying for a baby for years, and the struggle had taken a toll on their relationship. They didn't talk as much, and the intimacy between them had dwindled. He had thought this solution with his mom would fix things up, but Emily seemed uncomfortable with it now that it was really happening.

Daniel stared at the ceiling, his mind filled with thoughts of what the future might hold for him and his wife. He hoped that they could find a way to bridge the gap that had formed between them, and that the life growing inside of Margaret would bring them all closer together.