I can see it now... your first season was a break-out success as far as mid-season replacements are concerned. Everybody is expecting an excellent second season, but - GASP! - YOU WROTE IT AS A SINGLE SEASON ARC! There's no place else for this story to go! WHAT TO DO?!?!? And then you remember my post. That's it! During the off-season, your back story is that the main character had a kid! Sure, why not? And through the magic of Television, it's already her first day of kindergarten!

(I'm in a very Speculatively-Writey mood today)