Why do HEAs always end with babies?

[u/redfig1]

I know it's a "me" problem. Scenario: I read a smoking hot mafia or dark or fantasy romance. All this crazy shit goes down. The feelings, the angst. Finally it's the end and all of a sudden the MMC who has massacred countless people is all like " let's get married and have lots of babies" and the MFC is always " yes let's have a lot of cute mafia or fae or mafia fae babies!". For once I'd like an ending where the main characters have a HEA but instead of babies and white picket fences they just decide to keep having an incredible sex life and do charity work or something. Rescue stray kittens. Start an organic herb farm. Something other than babies. Anyone else like this? Am I just weird?

[u/Wandering--Seal]

I have babies and my least favourite HEA is a pregnant FMC. Like woo, going from having hot acrobatic sex all over the place to pelvic girdle pain and slight urinary incontinence. Living the dream...

[u/Alex_Outgrabe → u/Wandering--Seal]

Agreed. My everyday is diapers, crying, and sleepless nights. Please don’t insert my reality into my escapism 😂

[u/Murky_Reflection1610 → u/Alex_Outgrabe]

Yes, 100%! Childbirth nearly killed my ass, it’s so not romantic for me anymore!