redheadspy:

Natasha greeted her birthday like she spent every morning for the past few months, in the bathroom with morning sickness. Another few weeks and it should abate, but for now it was pure hell. She crawled back into bed and pulled the covers over her head for another hour or two before getting up for the day.

There was a beeline for coffee, two cups since it was her birthday after all, and a light breakfast. Afterward she caught up on email. There was an email from Fury wishing her a happy birthday and ones from the kids as well. Misha and Anya were off in Tahiti, James was in school and Eliza was in New Orleans. It was weird not having all of them around on her birthday, but right now she could use the quiet instead of the fuss. Tomorrow Misha and Anya would be home from their vacation and Natasha had made reservations for the family for dinner tomorrow night.

Today she was going to take it easy. Which of course meant a trip to the spa and some shopping. It was her gift to herself and a way to prepare herself for whatever surprise her husband was going to spring on her. Life with Tony was never dull. She showered and headed out for some pampering and some shopping.

nextgen_misc:

With the speed of the Blackbird, the six X-Men were able to reach the island, located in an otherwise empty stretch of the Pacific Ocean, in almost no time at all. The island looked as though it had been untouched by man for centuries. Thick jungle had grown without limits and a towering volcano could be seen rising from the center. A thick swampland dotted one end. There was no sign of life, no sign of the Blackbird that had brought the other team.

There was an almost sinister feel about the whole thing.