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The sun had just begun to peek through the curtains of my room, casting a soft golden glow over the room. I was still tucked beneath the covers, blissfully unaware of the surprise unfolding in the kitchen.

Suddenly, Matt's voice, filled with warmth and excitement, called from the hallway.

"Rise and shine, birthday girl!"

My eyes snapped open, the call waking me up with a start. I sat up, stretching my arms out, muscles sore. But then I froze for a moment as I caught a strong scent wafting through the air—something that made my stomach rumble. I inhaled deeply. Waffles. And bacon. My mouth watered instantly.

I didn't need my enhanced senses to know what my dad was up to, but they certainly gave me an extra nudge to get out of bed. The scent was mouthwatering, and it was the exact breakfast I had loved since I was a kid. No way I could stay in bed with that calling my name.

I was already slipping out from under the covers and racing for the door. The hallway outside my bedroom was alive with the sounds of Matt moving around the kitchen. I could hear the sizzle of bacon in the pan, the soft hum of the waffle maker, the clinking of plates and utensils. I was grinning as I moved through the hallway, my excitement growing with every step.

"I knew that would get you out of bed." Matt teased, turning to the fridge to get the orange juice.

I could already feel the warmth of the food calling to me, the crispy bacon making my mouth water. "Well, I can't say no to my favorite breakfast."

He set the orange juice down on the table and gestured to my seat before dishing out his own plate. A steaming plate of golden waffles, topped with fresh berries and syrup, sat next to a mound of perfectly crisp bacon on our kitchen table. "I thought I'd treat you to your favorite breakfast since it's your special day."

I slid into the chair, my senses igniting as the smell of the waffles and bacon enveloped me. I poured a little syrup over the waffles, my eyes closing for a moment as I took a bite. The flavor was incredible.

"This is... this is amazing," I said, my words muffled by the food. "How did you manage this?"

Matt grinned, setting down his cup of coffee. "I may be blind, but I'm still a pro in the kitchen. And I knew it would wake you up faster."

I raised an eyebrow, taking another bite of the waffles. "You're not a pro. Karen had to spend a whole year teaching you how to cook because I refused to eat your food."

"So, I was thinking..." Matt switched the subject. "Foggy and I could take you out to lunch, Sophie too. We'll pick you up from school for a bit and go get pizza at that place you like."

I paused mid-bite, my eyes lighting up. "You're going to let me skip school?"

"No, we're taking you out for lunch and bringing you right back." He explained, not letting me run wild with the idea.

"Pizza with you and Foggy?" I took a sip from my orange juice, pondering the idea. "Best birthday ever."

Matt chuckled, reaching for a strip of bacon. "Don't get too used to it."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't hide my smile. "Yeah, yeah. I'll enjoy it while I can."

The bell rang sharply, signaling the start of another school day. I walked into the bustling hallway of Midtown High, carrying my backpack over my shoulder. I had hoped to slip into school unnoticed, keeping the celebration of my birthday low-key, at least for a while.

But the universe clearly had other plans.

As soon as I rounded the corner near the lockers, I was suddenly tackled by a whirlwind of energy.

"Maggie! Maggie! It's your birthday!" Sophie practically squealed, wrapping me in an overenthusiastic bear hug that almost knocked me off balance. I stumbled but caught myself, laughing at the bubbly girls antics.

"Whoa! Sophie, I—" I began, but Sophie pulled back just enough to gaze at me with a wide, bright grin on her face, her hands clasped together in excitement.

"I can't believe it's finally here!" Sophie continued, bouncing on her feet. "You're officially seventeen!"

I raised an eyebrow, though the amusement was clear in my voice. "And officially one year closer to being an old lady," I joked, earning a dramatic gasp from Sophie.

"You're only as old as you feel, and you are definitely still in your prime," Sophie said with a wink, before pulling a small, neatly wrapped gift from her backpack. "Here! I got you something! Open it right now!"

I glanced down at the gift, my curiosity piqued. The wrapping paper was shiny, purple with a hint of sparkles. "Sophie, you really didn't have to—"

"I insisted," Sophie cut in, practically shoving it into my hands. "It's not much, but it's special. Trust me, open it!"

I cracked a smile and carefully peeled back the wrapping, revealing a small, delicate silver necklace with a charm shaped like a crescent moon. It was simple but beautiful. My heart warmed at the thoughtfulness behind the gift.

"See? You're the moon to my sun." She held out her own necklace already clasped around her neck.

"It's perfect, Sophie. Thank you," I said, pulling my hair over my shoulder to clip the necklace in place.

Sophie beamed, pleased with herself. "I knew you'd like it!"

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I instantly tensed. Slowly looking around I found the culprit who had been watching us from a distance. Peter quickly turned his head, trying to act casual as if he wasn't staring a moment ago. I brushed it off, turning my attention back to Sophie.

The small pizzeria on the corner was as cozy as ever. The smell of freshly baked pizza and garlic filled the air as Matt, Foggy, Sophie and I slid into a booth by the window.

"Okay, okay," Sophie said, practically bouncing in her seat, "I don't know about you guys, but I've been dreaming of a slice of pizza all morning."

Matt chuckled, sitting down across from us with a relaxed grin. "You came to the right place. This place has legendary pizza."

Foggy, ever the skeptic, raised an eyebrow. "Legendary? It's even better than legendary, I've been taking Maggie here since she began eating solid foods." He leaned back in his seat, casting a glance around the small pizzeria. "Not sure about the ambiance, though. Feels like it could use a few more... plants. Maybe some low lighting."

I snorted, catching everyone's attention. "Who cares about ambiance? We're here for pizza, not a spa day. And pizza sounds perfect right now."

Matt grinned, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "I think it's the perfect choice for a birthday lunch."

After a quick debate on which toppings would reign supreme on our shared pizza, the waitress came over to take our orders. Our group chatted animatedly as we placed our orders, laughing at jokes and teasing each other over small things. The atmosphere was light and easy, the kind of lunchtime you could only enjoy when you were with family.

As the pizza arrived, fresh from the oven, Foggy couldn't help but let out a dramatic sigh of relief. "This, my friends, is what we've been waiting for." He grabbed the first slice and held it up triumphantly, as if he'd just been awarded a medal. "The pizza gods have smiled upon us."

Sophie grabbed a slice almost instantly, holding it up for everyone to see. "This... this is a thing of beauty. How's your slice, Maggie?"

I took a bite, savoring the perfect balance of cheese, sauce, and crisp crust. I let out a satisfied hum. "It's perfect. Thank you, guys."

Matt, who had been quietly enjoying his pizza, me her a teasing look. "You didn't think we'd let you celebrate without pizza, did you?"

The laughter and chatter continued, and for me, it was the perfect birthday—full of simple moments, with the people who made me feel truly special.

When I returned to school Sophie and I split off to go to our lockers. She was heading off to English class while I was going to math. I put in the combination to my locker, pulling it open and catching the piece of paper that drifted out.

Happy Birthday

—your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man

I glanced over my shoulder, not seeing Peter anywhere in sight and I shook my head. A small smile formed on my face as I folded the paper up and tucked it into my bag.

The late afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows of the FEAST center, casting long shadows across the floor. It was a typical, quiet afternoon at the community service organization, but today there was a sense of anticipation hanging in the air—though I wasn't quite aware of the reason.

I was stacking boxes in the storage room, my hands busy with the familiar task of organizing donations. The shelves were cluttered with supplies—canned goods, toiletries, and blankets—all things that would help the people who came to FEAST get through their day. I was focused, stacking the boxes with practiced precision, moving effortlessly from one box to the next.

Peter stood next to me, also lifting and stacking the boxes of donations. His gaze however kept drifting over my way.

"What's your deal, Parker?" I shot him a glance.

"You make it look so easy."

"I guess I'm just stronger than I look," I said, shrugging my shoulders casually.

Peter blinked and turned to me, his mouth slightly agape. "So... you're just gonna toss boxes like that?"

I shrugged, stacking another box as if it weighed nothing. "Yep. What, you've never seen someone do this before?"

Peter just stared at me, his mind scrambling to make sense of what he was witnessing. It wasn't like he hadn't known I had superhuman abilities, he'd just never noticed my strength before.

Peter's eyes narrowed. "Okay, wait a second... are you showing off right now?" He let out a short, incredulous laugh. "Because, I mean, I get it—strong girl, birthday, you want to impress me, but..." His voice trailed off as he paused and looked over at me with a grin.

I paused, rolling my eyes and leaning back to talk to him face to face. "Impress you? Oh no, Parker. I barely even noticed you were here." I shrugged, clearly having fun destroying his ego.

"Oh."

"Im messing with you. It's kinda hard not to notice your gawking." I teased again, his face tinting pink.

Before he could stutter out a reply a soft voice called out from the door.

"Maggie, can I get a hand with the inventory?" Andrea asked, peeking her head into the storage room.

I turned and gave a small nod, "Sure thing. I'll be there in a second." I waited for Andrea to leave before addressing Peter once again. "Are you gonna be able to manage sorting boxes without me?" I teased one last time.

"Yeah, yeah. Get out of here, strong girl." Peter waved me off.

The Murdock apartment was about to get a makeover. Well, not the entire apartment, but certainly the living room, where Matt, Foggy, Karen, and Sophie were busy transforming the space into the perfect birthday surprise.

Karen set down a decent sized cake box on the kitchen counter, carefully opening it to reveal a beautiful cake decorated in rich purple frosting—My favorite color. The cake was adorned with the writing "Happy Birthday Maggie!" in elegant script across the middle.

Karen smiled to herself as she looked at the cake, making sure everything was just right. "I think she'll love this," she murmured.

Across the room, Matt stood with his arms crossed, observing the scene. Streamers and balloons hung from the ceiling in various shades of purple, and a "Happy Birthday" banner had been carefully draped over the sofa. A small pile of presents sat off to the side, all wrapped in sparkly purple paper from Matt, Foggy and Karen.

Foggy, sitting on the couch and fiddling with a balloon, grinned as he took in the work they'd done. "I mean, this is looking pretty great, don't you think?" he asked, adjusting a cluster of purple balloons that were hovering in the air.

Sophie was hanging a garland of purple flowers across the wall, humming as she worked. "Oh, totally. Maggie's going to love it. I'm pretty proud of us," she said with a satisfied smile, stepping back to admire her work.

Matt smiled softly but tilted his head to listen. "Okay, but how does it look from your perspective?" he asked, turning to Foggy and Sophie. "Is the purple theme over the top, or is it... just the right amount?"

Foggy looked around the room with a thoughtful expression. "Honestly? I think we nailed it. I mean, it's purple, but it's not too much purple, y'know? It's like... a tasteful purple. We did good."

Sophie laughed. "Foggy, what is 'tasteful purple'? But I agree with you. It's totally Maggie. Just without less boxing and fighting and violence."

Matt nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Good. Because I know she'll love it. She deserves a great birthday, and this is the least we can do."

Sophie walked over and gave Matt a playful nudge. "You're a softie, Mr Murdock. But hey, I'm not complaining."

Matt chuckled softly. "What's wrong with being a softie?"

"Nothing, nothing." Sophie grinned, clearly enjoying messing with him, before she turned her attention back to the decorations. "Anyway, I think we're pretty much done here. Now we just need Maggie to walk through that door and see it all."

Matt took a deep breath, then listened intently, turning his head toward the sound of the front door. "And I think she's close. Let's make sure we're all ready."

At that moment, Karen moved the cake to the coffee table, stepping back to admire it. "It's perfect, right?" she asked, glancing at Matt.

Matt smiled with quiet approval. "It's perfect, Karen. Thanks for handling the cake. Maggie's going to love this."

I pulled out my keys, unlocking the door and stepping inside to find a surprise awaiting. Streamers, balloons and lots of purple decorated the apartment, my eyes widening in shock. I slowly slipped my headphones down around my neck as my family greeted me.

"Surprise!" they all cheered in unison.

"Oh my god..." I breathed, eyes racing around the room taking it all in. "You guys... you didn't have to do all this."

Karen stepped forward, smiling warmly. "Of course we did. You deserve to feel special today, Maggie."

My smile softened, and I turned to my dad who was already pulling me in for a quick hug. "You planned all of this?"

Matt's smile was sincere as he looked at his daughter. "I didn't do it all on my own. It was a team effort. But yes, I wanted you to have the best birthday."

Sophie, grinning from ear to ear, added, "And I'm really proud of my purple masterpiece." She gestured grandly to the decorations.

I laughed, shaking my head in disbelief as I looked around at all of them—my friends and family, who had gone out of their way to make me feel loved and appreciated. "This is... this is amazing," I said. I moved toward the cake, the smell pulling me closer "And this cake is... incredible."

Karen smiled. "I thought you'd like it. I went with purple, too. Everything's purple."

I laughed. "I love it. All of it. Thank you."

Foggy, ever the joker, stepped forward and threw an arm around my shoulder. "Hey, we're just getting started. Now, let's eat cake and start the real celebration!"

"Best birthday ever," I said, watching as Sophie, Karen and Foggy took the cake over to the kitchen to serve it out.

Matt smiled, nudging me with his elbow. "That's the idea."

As we finished eating the cake, Foggy busied himself setting up the TV in secret. While Karen, Sophie and I were chatting about the school musical the familiar riff of a song drifted through the air and I sat up straighter.

"Come on, Birthday Girl, let's get this party started!" Foggy held out a microphone to me, stepping to the side, revealing the karaoke on the TV of my favourite song.

"You're not gonna let me get away without singing, are you?" I asked, already smiling.

"Oh, absolutely not," Foggy said with a mischievous grin. "I've been practicing my rock 'n' roll moves. You better bring it, devil girl."

With a dramatic sigh, I stood up, accepting the microphone. "I suppose I can't let you all have all the fun."

"That's the spirit!" Foggy pulled me over to the TV.

"Go, Maggie!" Sophie cheered out as I stood up, accepting the microphone.

"I saw him dancin' there by the record machine. I knew he must've been about 17. The beat was goin' strong. Playin' my favorite song." Foggy sang loudly, voice out of tune but full of energy.

"And I could tell it wouldn't be long. 'Til he was with me, yeah, me." I joined in, singing beside Foggy with a smile.

"And I could tell it wouldn't be long. 'Til he was with me, yeah, me, singin'." Foggy continued.

"I love rock 'n roll, so put another dime in the jukebox, baby. I love rock 'n roll, so come and take your time and dance with me" The two of us cheered out together, smiles on our faces and worries forgotten.

"Ow!" Foggy cheered, now playing the air guitar dramatically. Sophie cheered and clapped for us from the couch, practically buzzing in her seat, Karen beside her watched fondly, chuckling lightly at our antics. Matt leaned back, a smile gracing his face and he listened to us let loose and have fun, something we hadn't done in a long time.

"He smiled, so I got up and asked for his name. That don't matter, he said, 'Cause it's all the same. Said, Can I take you home where we can be alone? And next, we were movin' on, he was with me, yeah, me." Foggy belted out, dancing around his living room, microphone in hand, pointing a finger to the younger girl with her hair swinging around.

"Next, we were movin' on, he was with me, yeah, me, singin'." I sang along with him, standing on top of the coffee table dancing around as the music blasted loudly.

"I love rock 'n roll, so put another dime in the jukebox, baby. I love rock 'n roll, so come and take your time and dance with me" The two of us sang as I jumped off the coffee table into Foggys arms.

"Ow!" Foggy cheered, teaching me how to play the air guitar.

I may have only been six at the time, but when my dad would drop me off at uncle Foggys for a sleepover I knew I was about to have the time of my life.

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Question of the day: What is your favorite song?

It's Maggie's birthday! Or at least it was her birthday November 14th. I am back and ready to share some more of this story so be ready for a large chapter dump over the next few days as I catch up with the story timeline.

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