Kate woke to the soft sounds of Grayson stirring in his crib. She rolled onto her side, seeing Grayson's tiny hands reaching toward the mobile above his crib. A smile tugged at her lips. No matter how exhausted she was, seeing Grayson's sweet face always made it worth it.

Stretching, she swung her legs over the bed and padded toward the crib. Grayson let out a happy squeal, his little feet kicking in excitement.

"Good morning, sweet boy," Kate cooed as she lifted him into her arms. He nestled his face against her shoulder, his warm little body melting into hers. "Did you sleep well?"

Grayson let out a babbling response, patting her face. Kate chuckled and kissed his temple. "Okay, let's get you changed and fed."

She carried him to the changing table, expertly handling the process despite his tiny attempts to squirm away. Once he was dressed, they made their way to the kitchen, where Rick was already busy blending a nutrient-packed protein shake for Sara. The dietician had recommended something with lots of calories and essential vitamins to keep her strength up.

"Good morning, you two," Rick greeted, pouring the thick shake into a glass. "I made her the 'super boost' version today. Think she'll like it?"

Kate smirked. "She might, as long as you didn't sneak coffee into it."

Rick gasped in mock offense. "I would never—okay, maybe once. But only because she really wanted it."

Kate laughed as she placed Grayson in his high chair. "Thanks for doing this. It means a lot."

Rick softened, handing her a coffee and a kiss on her nose. "It's my pleasure."

Meanwhile, Jim sat across from Sara in the quiet living room, a stack of neatly typed legal documents on the table between them.

"I know this isn't easy," Jim said gently, his reading glasses perched on his nose. "But having everything in order will give you peace of mind. And more importantly, it'll ensure Grayson is taken care of the way you want."

Sara let out a shaky breath, nodding. "I know. I just—" She swallowed. "It feels too final."

Jim reached across the table, squeezing her hand. "It's not about endings, honey. It's about making sure your wishes are followed. Kate will always do right by Grayson, but this makes it official."

She glanced toward the kitchen, where Kate was feeding Grayson bits of soft fruit, smiling and laughing with him. Her throat tightened. "I trust her with my whole heart."

Jim nodded. "Then let's put it in writing."

Slowly, they went through the details—legal guardianship, financial plans, and letters of intent for Grayson's upbringing. Sara's hands trembled as she signed each document, but a weight seemed to lift with every stroke of the pen.

"Thank you, Jim," she whispered when they finished. "For being here. For helping me."

Jim's voice was thick with emotion. "Always, sweetheart."

Later that day, Sara retreated to her bedroom, closing the door behind her. She settled on the bed, her laptop in front of her, hands trembling slightly as she pressed record.

She smiled, though her eyes glistened. "Hi, my sweet Grayson. If you're watching this, it's your first birthday without me. But I want you to know that I'm always with you, every single day."

She took a breath, steeling herself. "I made this video to wish you a happy birthday. I hope you have the best day and that you're surrounded by people who love you. I know Kate, Rick, and Grandpa Jim will make sure of that."

Sara continued recording a birthday wish for Grayson until he turned 18, pouring every ounce of love into each message—telling stories, offering advice, reassuring her son that even if she wasn't physically present, she'd always be watching over him.

Finally, she recorded a separate video—one just for Kate.

She hesitated before speaking, her voice raw. "Kate… I don't even know where to begin. You have given me more peace than I thought possible. Knowing that Grayson will have you as his mother… it's the one thing that makes leaving a little easier."

Her voice cracked, but she pushed through. "You are the strongest, most selfless person I know. And I need you to promise me something. Promise me you'll let yourself be happy, too. That you won't carry guilt or sadness for too long. That you'll let Rick love you the way he already does."

She exhaled, wiping at her eyes. "Thank you for loving my son. And thank you for being my sister."

Sara hit stop, letting out a shuddering breath. She saved the files, backing them up onto an external drive, before closing the laptop. Then she curled into herself, silent tears slipping onto the pillow.

That night, Kate slipped into Sara's room, carrying a tray with tea and small plates of food. She set it down on the nightstand before climbing into bed beside her sister. The TV flickered with a show neither of them was really paying attention to.

"You okay?" Kate asked softly.

Sara nodded, though her eyes were still rimmed with exhaustion. "Yeah. Just… a long day."

Kate exhaled, lying back against the pillows. "I can imagine."

They sat in companionable silence for a while before Sara glanced over, studying her. "So… you and Rick."

Kate smirked. "What about us?"

Sara raised an eyebrow. "Oh, please. You're basically living in a romantic novel, and you expect me not to comment?"

Kate laughed, shaking her head. "It's still… new. But I know one thing—I see a future with him. One that's real."

Sara smiled. "Good. Because if anyone deserves happiness, it's you."

Kate swallowed past the lump in her throat. "I just want Grayson to have the best life. And I want you to feel at peace knowing that."

Sara's hand found Kate's, squeezing tight. "I do. Because he has you."

Kate blinked back tears, squeezing back. "Always."

As they sat there, the sound of their quiet breathing filled the space. Kate felt the depth of what was happening—of holding onto each other while they still could. And though her heart ached for what was coming, she also knew they had this moment. And for now, that had to be enough.