i

He doesn’t know when it began.  He only remembers the adrenaline from the fight, the rush he felt through his veins, and the hunger.

Fuck , the hunger.

It was insatiable, an emptiness begging to be filled.

But it wasn’t like anything he’s ever felt before.

This was another type of hunger.

One that couldn’t be sated simply by eating people and crunching on their bones.

It was a hunger burning deep below his belly, pooling underneath his skin.

It was a hunger he didn’t understand, neither of them did.

Yet somehow, they knew.

They both knew what to do and he was suddenly on autopilot. 

He’s suddenly running on instinct.

Thin tendrils trail over his body, cold hands pushing his thighs apart, and spindly fingers working inside of him.

He moans, back arching as he’s pressed against the cold brick wall of a dark alleyway building, too hungry to make it home.

Too hungry to wait.

He writhes, whimpering when the fingers inside him brush against those bundles of nerves he’s heard about.

He can’t help but moan the only name on his mind, the only name that matters, “ Venom .“

It’s choked out and broken with desperation, but it’s enough to prompt the symbiote to replace their fingers with something larger.

Slow.

Easy.

For a split moment, the alien rips themself from the human’s trembling form.  They watch mesmerized as the human pants breathlessly, canting his hips to get more.

More .

Expressionless eyes fall to the small little pink hole stretched around the head of their cock.

They’re more than mesmerized.

And without warning, without hesitation, they thrust inside the begging body in one fluid motion.

Eddie throws his head back, eyes screwed shut, chest heaving for breath, and mouth gaped open in a silent scream.

Venom focuses on keeping their host upright and pinned against the wall, large hands splaying over supple flesh.  Thick thighs trembling with effort as they’re held open and inviting for the alien.

They piston their hips, driving their heavy cock inside, rubbing against Eddie’s prostate again and again and again.

Eddie can’t take the abuse.

His cock aching between them, erect against his stomach.

And Venom slithers a tendril into Eddie’s erection, through his narrow urethra.

It burns almost to the point of hurting, preventing him from coming, from tipping over the edge.

He whines, moans, and gasps.

Hands scrambling to find purchase on Venom’s broad shoulders, nails digging into the black goo.

“V,” He chokes.

Venom’s grin is deadly, anything but kind.

They’re enjoying this, enjoying torturing their host.

Eddie whines again.

Sweat beading on his exposed body, thighs cramping from the position Venom has them in.

And he’s aching.

He’s so close.

He wants to come.

He’s so close!

Tears gather in his eyes.

He gasps a litany of curses, whimpering moans falling from his dry lips.

“Please,” he begs, so close, “please V.  please fuck me, please let me cum, wanna cum, please.”

Venom grins, lowering their face closer to the crook of Eddie’s neck.

Their hot breath brushes against Eddie’s ear and Eddie tenses.

Just before sharp teeth sink deep into his neck, as that teasing painful tendril is ripped out of him, Venom whispers huskily, “ You are

mine.

“

And he orgasms, spots dancing in front of his vision until he blacks out.

“

Mine.

“

Is the last word he hears.

ii

Eddie doesn’t know how they got home.  All he knows is that he’s tired, exhausted.  His mind is numb and he tries to think for a moment, tries to remember what happened.

He huffs, eyes falling shut as he tries to breathe through the ache and pain wracking his body.  Fuck, he’s sore.  

And he stops, his breath hitching as realization hits him like a punch to the stomach. 

A white hot flare of pain radiates from his lower back when he tries to sit up, black tendrils wrapping around his aching body and pulling him down.

He struggles.

The touch is too familiar, too confusing.

He stops breathing and it forces them to manifest.

What?

Eddie stares wide eyed at the symbiote, choking on a quiet, “What?” Of his own.

Venom doesn’t look amused, eyes narrowed.

“What happened?” Eddie finally asks, “What… what…”

It feels like his brain is short-circuiting.

We do not know.  We do not reproduce as distastefully as you humans do, there has never been urgency to do s

uch vulgarities.  But this hunger was more than us.

Eddie whimpers, Venom getting closer and closer to his ear until all Eddie can think about is that moment.  That moment when Venom devoured him so completely. 

He shudders.

This does not mean anything, Venom hisses , w

e do not understand why we became so hungry, but this will not become anything you humans may misinterpret.  We do not do feelings, we do not do

love

.

And the way Venom spits it out like something disgusting and repulsive, makes Eddie cower before his jaw ticks.

His heart does not skip a beat with each breath they share.

And his heart certainly does not shatter with those words they said.

iii

Venom notices it three weeks after their first… coupling .

It’s an odd looking organ attached to the lining of the abdomen, pulsing lightly and flowing with oxygenated and nutritional blood.  Looks delicious .

They definitely find it odd, but they don’t know human biology well enough and simply assume it’s an organ that grows later in adult life.  After all, it’s not harming their host.  Eddie hasn’t even felt it.  And if, for some reason the tumor-like organ is no longer benign, they can simply eat it like they’ve eaten other out of place cells and growths.

For now, they don’t pay much attention to it.  It’s not an immediate concern and they don’t think they should mention it to Eddie.  It’s harmless.

So, they ignore it, just as they try to ignore the hunger.

But Venom is weak.

And after another fight, another heavy but delicious meal of rogue criminals, they pin Eddie to the bed.

This time they made it home.

This time they’re merciless.

“Fuck!” Eddie curses, whimpering when Venom slithers inside him without warning.

At this point, Eddie doesn’t even need to be prepared.  His body easily opening up for the symbiote and their large cock pulsing and throbbing.

His back arches.

Tears gather in the corners of his eyes, but he holds on.

He’s on his hands and knees, the force of Venom’s thrusting too much to bear.  And he collapses, face smooshed against the bedding as the bed rocks with their pounding.

A shiver crawls up Eddie’s spine, little moans falling from kiss-swollen bitten lips.

“Ve-Venom,” Eddie gasps.

Venom growls, clawed hands manifesting and grasping thin hips until they bruise.

Eddie’s hands twist in the sheets, knuckles turning white as he chokes back a sob of intense pleasure.

This is torture.

On his body.

On his heart.

“ Venom ,“ he whimpers.

Close, Venom groans, long slithering tongue licking up Eddie’s spine.

Eddie tenses, his stretched little slick hole clenching down on Venom’s thick cock.  The sensation pushing over the edge without warning.

With a shuddering gasp and broken moan, he spills on the bed sheets as Venom stills behind him.  They bury them-self deeper still until they’re spilling inside Eddie’s hungry little ass.

Soon enough Venom manifests, clawed hands kneading the supple flesh before them.

Eddie moans sleepily.

So good, so good for us,  Venom praises huskily.

Eddie hums, breathing slowing down and becoming deeper, even.

Sleep , Venom coos,  we’ll take care of you .

With a devilish grin, they clean their host with their tongue, relishing in the small sleepy sounds of pleasure falling from Eddie’s lips.

Their hunger finally sated.

iv

After days and weeks of having unadulterated sex, Eddie finds himself a bit lost.

He hasn’t been feeling well, nausea bubbling in the pit of his stomach and heartburn crawling up his chest. He gets dizzying spells, but nothing that he can’t breathe through and power through.

He knows Venom has noticed, but the symbiote hasn’t said anything, hasn’t found anything unusual.

So, he had chalked it up to his new and strange eating habits after agreeing to become a part of Venom, but it’s more than that.

He knows.

And it’s probably that unshakable gut feeling that led him to sneak in the pink little box without Venom’s knowledge.

With Venom finally sleeping, well something akin to what it feels like sleeping, he slips out of bed quietly. Unnecessarily tip-toeing around their shitty apartment until he’s digging through his bag and pulling out the bright pink box.

He feels ridiculous, especially so when he’s in the bathroom pissing on the stick.

It’s then that Venom stirs and Eddie feels his heart stop.

What are you doing? The symbiote asks drowsily.

“Peeing,” Eddie whispers, “go back to sleep”

Venom settles and he manages to finish soon after.

Then, it’s just the waiting game and he slips down the wall until he’s curled up by the tub.

He closes his eyes and counts the seconds in his head, completely forgetting about Venom and their habits of intruding on his thoughts.

Finally, the timer runs out, his phone vibrating until he shuts it off before it can wake up Venom. Failing to realize that Venom is wide awake.

His palms are sweaty and his heart is racing.

This is stupid, he’s so stupid.

He should know better.

Cis male humans can’t get… absolutely cannot get pregnant.

But the doubt niggling in the back of his mind had pushed him into buying the test, had pushed him into pissing on a stick .

He reaches for it until it’s not his hand grasping the test, but Venom’s.

He panics.

“No,” Eddie gasps, “No, Venom don’t!”

But they’re both staring at the little test in Venom’s hand.

Both reading the same result.

Positive.

Positive .

Eddie thinks he’s going to be sick and he gains control over his body again, falling onto his knees in front of the toilet bowl and puking his guts out until his eyes water and he can’t breathe.

He’s panicking, borderline hyperventilating.

He didn’t want Venom to know.

He didn’t–

Get rid of it, Venom orders.

“No,” Eddie argues weakly, spitting into the bowl one last time and flushing.

“ Get. Rid. Of. It. “

“No!” Eddie shouts, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead and soaking his hair.

“ It will kill you, “ Venom says as they face their host in anger, “ your organs are already overtaxed. “

“No,” Eddie whispers, “I won’t get rid of it.”

“ Why not? “ Venom demands.

Why?

Why not?

Eddie stares wide eyed at Venom.

He knows why.

Because he can still hope it’s a baby.

Because it’s half him and half… half Venom .

The person he loves.

The one who made it clear what they were because they “don’t do love”.

And Eddie already fell for them.

Was already in love with them.

And now he’s pregnant and selfish.

“Just… just no.”

v

Venom tsks, hovering and glaring at the developing embryo curling inside Eddie’s womb . The only word that makes sense for the organ now nourishing the little monster.

They growl in anger but they won’t do anything against it, won’t go against Eddie’s wishes for fear of upsetting their host.

They watch it grow until it’s six weeks along, a small fluttering heartbeat whooshing about.

They want to hate it, they really do.

However, they find that they can’t and it’s almost infuriating.

They take it out on the latest criminals, some low-grade gangsters trying to terrorize store owners with pathetic toy guns.

Eddie tries to hold back, tries to stop them.

Venom , Eddie struggles.

Venom growls, crushing someone’s skull.

Venom stop! Eddie orders.

Venom doesn’t stop, not until they’ve devoured the leader.

They roar at the remaining gang members, yelling at them to scram.

They’re left panting.

“Venom, I-”

Venom shuts down.

They slowly expose Eddie before disappearing into their host’s chest.  Eddie stands in the middle of the street, people staring at him in shock and making him quickly run from the scene of destruction.

He hides in an alley, peering over the edge of the building and breathing in relief before tentatively placing a hand on his chest.

“We-We need to talk,” Eddie says.

Venom settles deeper into Eddie’s chest, recoiling at his touch.

“You can’t-  we can’t do this anymore.  You need to talk to me, we need to-”

“ To

what

! “ Venom roars.

Eddie flinches, cowering at the symbiote’s anger.

“I-”

“ You chose that thing, now bear with the consequences because I refuse to accept an- an

abomination.

“

Eddie sees red, hand closing tightly into a fist, “it’s not an abomination, it’s a part of you and me.  It can’t be that bad, you’re not bad.”

“Naive,” Venom huffs.

And they leave it at that, lapsing into the silent treatment again.

Eddie sighs, trying to coax Venom one last time but getting ignored, abandoned.

He looks at his belly, flat but quickly gaining a soft pudgy roundness.  He places his hand over it and wishes Venom weren’t so… so stubborn, so cold.

He wishes Venom would l-

No , as if that’ll ever happen.

But still…

This is theirs, something that could be so good.

So them.

vi

In case nobody has read the comics or seen the 2018 movie Venom (yet), here’s the trailer to get an idea of what/who Venom is.

•●•●•

Eddie stops fighting.

Well, he tries to stop fighting.

He tries really hard not to budge, to the point where he angers Venom enough to make them appear.

“ What are you doing? “  They demand.

“I’m not gonna fight,” Eddie answers, struggling to contain them.

“ Why not? “

Eddie frowns, “because I need to be careful.”

“ I protect us, always have, “ Venom growls.

“I need to protect myself.”

“ I protect you. “

The symbiote still doesn’t get it and Eddie’s surprised how slow they’ve gotten.

“I need to protect myself and foremost, our baby.”

Venom curls around his neck, whispering angrily, “ I

protect us, “ before completely engulfing Eddie.

Eddie is helpless as Venom takes control.

Except this isn’t just anyone they’re up against.

With Carlton Drake gone, new idiotic scientists have decided to take on Venom, to capture them and study them in a facility.

To contain them.

Trap them.

Maybe even separate them.

It frightens Eddie what would happen if they managed to actually stop them.  After months of being with Venom, of getting his shit together, he’s terrified of losing them.

Even if there’s not enough of those maniac scientists, there are still a few that are persistent and that have the means and the power to try.

And Venom– stubborn, reckless Venom– doesn’t say no to a good meal.

They know just how to provoke them.

Venom stop!

No!

Eddie panics when he sees the heavy artillery pointed at them, men surrounding them.  They brought the big guns in.

No, no, no.

The only thing he can hear is the shout of FIRE! as they begin shooting at them.

Eddie should have more faith in Venom.

It’s not the first time they’ve gone up against soldiers and crazy scientists.

But it’s the first time they have something to think about, something to protect at all costs, even if Venom refuses to acknowledge it.

There’s something inside of them that Eddie will die for.

And when the first bullet penetrates Venom’s thick skin, nearly reaching Eddie himself, Eddie shouts inside their mind.

He knows how to provoke Venom as well.

You childish parasite!

Venom stops.

They’ve always detested that word.  Parasite .

They are not a parasite!

The indignation rolling off of Venom’s shoulders makes Eddie cower.

But it’s enough that Venom retreats.

Venom stretches their arm until it’s hooked to the highest building possible and they ditch the plaza they were surrounded in.

And when they get home, Venom slams Eddie against the wall of the entrance hall and rips away from the stupid human until they’re face-to-face.

Deadly sharp teeth gently scratching at Eddie’s neck, making him flinch.

Maybe he took it too far.

“ I.  Am.  Not.  A.  Parasite. “

And just as suddenly as he was pinned against the wall, Venom lets him go.

Eddie crumples to the floor, breathing harshly as the fear and adrenaline drains from his aching body.

He curls in on himself, around his belly protectively.

He closes his eyes, at least he stopped them.

He thinks he’s going to be sick again.

He doesn’t make it to the bathroom.

He hates morning sickness.

vii

trigger warning: read with caution

It hurts.

Oh fuck it hurts.

Eddie’s curled up in bed, sweat soaked hair clinging to his warm forehead. Skin flushed and clammy.

It hurts, hurts so much.

He wakes up to the feeling of something slick and sticky on his thighs, the pain making bile claw up his throat until he throws up over the side of the bed.

He’s breathing harshly and he lets out a small muffled sob when he finally peels back the blanket. His thighs are stained, sheets quickly turning an inky red and a harsh wave of pain clutches at his belly again.

Tears well up in his eyes.

No, no, no!

He can’t breathe.

His baby, fuck his baby!

Venom jolts awake.

They don’t know what wakes them up until they assess their surroundings and something heavy sinks to the pit of their stomach.

The baby’s heartbeat.

No.

Shit, no, no, no!

Their eyes are wide, going back and forth between Eddie’s bloody thighs and soaked blanket.

Eddie’s trembling, breathing erratic.

“Baby,” Eddie whimpers weakly, hand cupping his empty belly, “baby.”

Venom’s heart breaks.

The pain in their chest can’t even begin to compare to what Eddie feels.

They had refused to accept the little life and now that it’s gone, slipping through their fingers, they are filled with regret.

They were so used to the little rapid sound of butterfly wings.

But it’s gone.

Their baby.

Gone.

And they’re losing Eddie.

Eddie, who’s pale, who’s losing too much blood.

They need help.

They need to save Eddie, need to-to call someone, anyone.

Stay with me, Venom orders, throat growing tight, Eddie

, stay with me.

Baby, my baby, Eddie shudders, tears rolling down his stubbled cheeks.

Venom reaches for the phone as Eddie’s vision swims with darkness. They’re losing him.

They’re losing their better half.

They can’t.

No!

“

Eddie!

“

viii

Eddie’s brow furrows when he feels something cold against his lower belly followed by Venom arguing with someone.

“ You’re killing him!  You have to get out of him, separate !“

“ If we separate, then Eddie will die .“

“ Is that a threat? “

“ No, it is a fact.  Eddie is too weak.  He needs us or his body won’t resist.   His body is overtaxed and

I am

the one controlling the hemorrhaging. “

It seems like Venom won the argument because a door is soon slammed and footsteps quickly fade.

Venom huffs a quick sigh, their hot breath bathing Eddie’s cheek in warmth.

It’s then that Eddie slowly, sluggishly, opens his eyes, staring up blearily at the dim hospital lights. 

Soon enough, he becomes aware of his cold surroundings.  The smell of antiseptic filling his nose as his other senses kick in.  All he can hear is the heart monitor beside his bed and suddenly all the aches and pains return.  All those memories.  The blood.  The loss.

“

Eddie

,“ Venom breathes in relief.

Eddie doesn’t react, though his eyes sting as they tear up.  He can’t help but turn away from the symbiote, curl in on himself as he wraps his arms around his abdomen.  The sudden and horrifying realization crashing into him that’s they’re gone.

They’re

gone.  Their baby is gone.

He’s empty, broken.

Venom bites their tongue, heart heavy in their chest.

Carefully, they nudge at Eddie’s chest, but the human only shuts them out.

“ Eddie, I- “

“Shut up,” he croaks, weakly reaching up and covering his ears with his hands.

He doesn’t even feel the IV tugging at his skim, so desperate to just not talk, to not remember his loss.

He doesn’t want to talk to Venom.

He doesn’t want to see the symbiote.

“ Please, “ Venom begs helpless.

“Stop.  Leave me alone.”

Venom sighs, “ Eddie- “

Shut up.  Shut up, shut up, shut up!

Venom flinches.

Eddie has never pushed them away, but it’s only fair.  After all, Venom had pushed him away after finding out about… about their

baby .

Their baby that’s gone.

They were selfish.

So selfish, so cruel to Eddie.

And maybe Eddie didn’t die, but Venom already lost him.

They can see it in the way Eddie coils away from their tentative touch, from the way those beautiful eyes fill with pain filled tears.

Venom lost Eddie, just as they lost their baby.

The baby they should’ve protected, accepted, and loved.

They don’t talk.

And it’s only when Dan returns to check his vitals and give Eddie something for the pain, that Eddie falls asleep.

Venom watches over him, hand reaching out and settling on Eddie’s belly where their baby should be.

He stops Dan before the man can leave with a single word, a single question.

“ Why? “

Dan sighs as he pauses at the door.

“Many things could’ve been the cause,” he begins honestly, “Maybe the fetus was not been compatible with Eddie.  Or it could’ve been stress.  Anything could have been the cause.  You have to remember as much as you probably don’t want to, that humans are weak.  We’re not resilient, Eddie is not resilient.  I’m surprised he managed to carry until nine weeks.”

Venom’s stare is vacant as they try to process the words.  They could have been the cause of this.  Them and their cruelty.

“You could always try again,” Dan offers, “but that’s something you can discussed with Eddie when he’s healed, when he’s better.”

Venom nods, finally letting Dan go.

They don’t think they’ll ever be ready after their loss.

Venom closes their eyes and presses their front against Eddie’s back before resting their head on a thin shoulder.

With a hoarse voice, they mumble a soft, “ I’m sorry. “

But it’s a little too late.

ix

Eddie becomes a shell of a man.  He barely eats and doesn’t talk, not to Venom, not to Anne or Dan.  He simply stares into space, going as far as to sleep on the rickety couch falling apart just so he doesn’t relive that night in their bed.

And even though he does everything to avoid those painful memories, a week later finds him waking up in a cold sweat.

Venom doesn’t sleep anymore, so when Eddie jolts awake, they’re there.

Eddie’s misty eyes though, are directed to his lap.  Venom watches as he shuts his eyes tightly, a pang going through their chest when a tear manages to escape anyway.

Venom can’t keep away anymore.

They reach out and wipe away the stray tear.

Eddie’s eyes open slowly and he turns away.

Neither speak.

Neither need to say a word.

But Venom does so anyway, because they were wrong and they need to fix this.  They need to stop this incapacitating pain.

“ We…

I

am sorry, “ they whisper.

Eddie nods.

It’s not so much an acceptance, it’s more of an acknowledgment.  Eddie doesn’t know if he can ever forgive Venom.  If there’s anything to forgive.

He and Venom had their differences.

Venom had told him from the beginning.  They don’t do love, they [Venom] made that very clear.

And their baby… It wasn’t meant to be.

They’re too different, always have been and he realizes they always will be.

And with that, he finally utters what’s been plaguing his mind.

“Maybe we should separate,” he says softly.

Venom stops, heart seizing.

Eddie looks so… so broken , so done and hurt and torn.

Venom doesn’t think they can take it.

But…

“ If you wish, “ Venom agrees, “ then maybe we should. “

Wide eyes finally look up at them, eyes filled with hurt and surprise.

Eddie didn’t expect Venom to agree.

He expected a fight.

He expected a match, a-a- just anything .

He didn’t expect resignation.

And the shock must course through him because Venom sighs.

“ I am done hurting you, “ they explain, “ I am

done

.  I want you back,

I

want you happy.  And if separating will

make

you forget

about

what

I’ve

done, will bring back the old Eddie, then so be it. “

Eddie watches in abject horror as the symbiote slowly begins to tear itself away from him and Eddie screams until his voice is hoarse, screams at Venom to stop.

Panting, Eddie stares at the symbiote slithering on the floor before his trembling form, tears running down his cheeks freely.

He chokes out a pained sob, “I’m sorry, Venom, I’m sorry.  Please don’t go, I’m sorry.  Didn’t mean it, please Venom.  Can’t lose you, not you too. I-”

He can’t breathe.

Eddie can’t breathe.

He’s going into panic.

He can’t lose Venom, not them too.

Can’t-

He can’t!

Venom is quick to return to Eddie, to slither inside and nestle in their host’s chest.

Eddie curls up, hands clutching at his heart, “please don’t go, didn’t think it through.  Need you.”

Deep breaths,

Eddie, Venom coaches, deep

breaths.

It takes a while, but Venom manages to get Eddie to breathe properly again, just until Eddie is left limp from sheer exhaustion.

Slowly, Venom forms from thin tendrils and carefully picks up their small host in their arms to walk toward their room.

They know Eddie hates it in there despite everything done to erase those memories.

After… After the miscarriage Anne tried to clean up the blood and the bile.

The sheets had to be burned, but the blood stained the mattress and they had to buy a new bed.

Despite all that, the memories still remain.

Everything still looks the same.

Eddie peers over the blanket Venom wrapped him in before burying his face in the symbiote’s chest when he catches a glimpse of the bed.

Venom swallows thickly, “ I’m

sorry that we lost our child. “

“Our?”

“ Yes,

I’m

sorry that it took their loss to realize that what we

could’ve

had,

would’ve

been so good. “

“I should resent you,” Eddie admits quietly, “but I can’t.  I can’t…”

Venom’s hold around him tightens.

“Because I love you, I love you like you’ll never love me and it hurts because the piece of you I had, I lost.”

“ You

still

have me,

Eddie

.  I will

not

go anywhere unless you tell me to. “

“Why?” Eddie asks, knowing that Venom could just leave whenever they want.

Is it because he’s the “perfect host”.

Or-

“ Because

I’m

finding that

I

love you as well. “

x

Eddie heals.

Slowly, but surely, he heals.

They don’t do anything strenuous and they stop fighting.  Despite being more than capable of fighting mad scientists and stalker soldiers, Venom has chosen to keep it low, to keep Eddie safe while they recover physically, mentally, and emotionally.

The loss of their baby had really taken a toll on them, on both of them.

But they’re working on it, on talking to each other instead of hiding their feelings and fears.

So, with that comes compromise.

Eddie begins eating healthier, going so far as creating a Pinterest account and trying different kinds of foods.

Everything seems to work out.  Both finding more free time, especially considering that as editor, Eddie gets to work from home with rare visits to the office.  He gets to rest and learn more about Venom.

And as Eddie gets better, Venom does too.

They become more understanding, become more in tune with Eddie’s body and its needs.

So while Eddie sticks to healthy foods, Venom includes raw meat to their diet.  Eddie doesn’t appreciate the red globs of protein, but he realizes that it’s necessary now that eating people is out of the question for a while.

It’s good.

They’re good.

They talk late at night, Venom soothing Eddie’s mind from his fears.  And when he wakes up from a nightmare of reliving the worst night of their life, of blood covered thighs, Venom is there to hold him.

•●•●•

Four months later of quiet and peace and routine, finds them with a concerned Anne and Dan at their door.

“Come in,” Eddie greets, brow furrowed.

Venom huffs.

They don’t like when others invade their nest.

“How are you?” Anne asks as she takes a seat on the couch.

Eddie offers them water before answering with a small shrug, “good, I guess.”

Dan offers him a small smile, “that’s good to hear.”

“Is… is something wrong?”  Eddie asks after a pause of silence.

“What?” Anne asks, “no, no, just… we were worried.”

Worried, Venom scoffs.

“Shut up,” Eddie mutters under his breath.

“Eddie?”

“Huh? Oh, worried? About?”

“About you, bud,” Dan says, “there’s been a lack of news on Venom and well… After everything that happened…”

Eddie ignores the pang in his heart, yeah, after everything that happened.. .

“We’re okay,” Eddie assures, “we’re working through things, but we’re better.”

And just to make sure, he curls his hand inside Venom’s, neither Anne nor Dan noticing the small motion.

Venom squeezes his hand tightly.

“That’s good to hear.. And Venom?”  Anne asks curiously.

Venom appears then, “ better. “

Anne bites her lip.

Despite knowing Venom for months and having experience with the symbiote first-hand, it still freaks her out when they appear out of thin air, seemingly ripping itself away from Eddie.

She inquires, voice just on the edge of demanding, “Are you taking care of him?”

“They’re taking care of me,” Eddie nods.

But her gaze is focused on the symbiote.  She loved Eddie, still does, and she won’t stand for the symbiote to repeatedly hurt him.

“ Of course

I

am, “ they reply.

And that settles her, “okay, good.”

They have a pleasant talk, Eddie offering them to stay for dinner.

They do.

They eat and chat, Venom refusing to make another appearance with them in their home.

It’s not that they don’t like them, they’re Eddie’s friends after all.  They’d just rather be with Eddie, with the person they love, alone.

Venom curls inside Eddie’s chest, the small movement bringing a smile to Eddie’s weary face.  He’d rather be alone with Venom too.  But he’ll admit that he missed his friends, he missed this.

And for a moment he forgets about everything, everything that hurt and nearly destroyed them.

Still, when they leave with a promise of a weekly dinner, he can’t help but breathe in relief.

The door closes behind them and he presses his back against the slab of wood.  His eyes flutter shut for a brief moment.

Are you okay?

Yes.

Venom waits.  They know there’s more.

Eddie breathes softly.  He feels the heat in the pit of his stomach, a need deep inside that needs to be satisfied.  Almost like that insatiable hunger both he and Venom experienced four months ago.  This time, though, it’s not dictated by instinct.  It’s dictated by feeling, by choice.

“I think I’m ready,” he whispers softly.

Venom freezes.

Eddie?

I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to have a baby, I don’t know how this works between us.  But I’m ready, I’m ready to be swallowed whole.  I want you Venom, want you so much.

Venom nods, gulping before slowly forming into a figure resembling a human.  They’re tall, much taller than Eddie, and they’re broad (filling out with muscle and strength).  Fully manifested, they lean down and press a heated kiss to Eddie’s lips, deepening it and stealing his breath away.

It’s slow.

So torturously slow.

They take Eddie at the entrance before bending him over the couch, and lastly, making sweet sweet love to Eddie on their bed.

Even if they never create something so good, so them, it’s okay because they have each other.  And Venom realizes they would do anything for Eddie, just as Eddie would do anything for them.

Eddie cries out, the pleasure too much, Venom’s thick cock buried deep inside him and pushing him over the edge for the fourth time that night.

He’s left panting and dizzy from the heat, from the oversensitivity, small bruises marring his flushed skin.

“I love you,” he whimpers, “I love you.”

“ I love you too,

Eddie

. “

xi

Venom doesn’t say anything at first.

But it’s there.

A small steady and rapid heartbeat hidden beneath Eddie’s.  It’s still small and weak, but most importantly, it’s there .

Eddie should’ve noticed, he really should’ve.

Especially when he feels Venom curl up in his stomach, where as he used to wrap around his cerebellum and spinal cord or nestle inside his chest, around his heart.

He supposes that maybe he didn’t want it to be true, that he’s still a bit scared.  He still has nightmares and no matter what, that fear will always be there.

But reality soon wakes him up when he stumbles out of bed in the middle of the night to throw up, heaving until there’s nothing there, until it hurts.

A warm hand rubs his lower back, tendrils slithering through his hair, and he moans at the soothing touch.

He answers the unasked question, “’m okay, we’re okay.”

Venom hums, still continuing their ministrations.

The wave of nausea returns and forces Eddie to lean over the toilet bowl one last time before he can flush.

Better? Venom asks.

“Yeah,” Eddie breathes, briefly closing his eyes when dark spots swim through his vision.

He feels empty until a cool glass of water is pressed into his hands and Venom is slithering back inside him.

“Thank you,” he manages weakly, giving the symbiote a small smile.

“ Hmm, you’re welcome ,“ Venom replies close to his ear.

•●•●•

Eddie had wanted to swipe that incident (and the following ones) under the rug.

But he realizes that he can’t hide the vertigo, can’t pretend nothing is wrong when he’s shopping in Mrs. Chen’s mini mart and faints .  The jar he had been looking over falling from his weak grip and shattering.

Venom reacts quickly, managing to cushion Eddie’s fall.

Mrs. Chen rushes over, worry creasing her brow at the sight.  She approaches Eddie, flinching when Venom appears and hisses in her face.

“I need to look at him, he could be hurt,” she placates.

Venom is still on high alert, but lets the older woman approach them.  Eddie trusts her.  They trust whoever Eddie does.

Eddie comes around to Mrs. Chen hovering over him and muttering a litany of curses in Mandarin underneath her breath.

He’s confused and disoriented before he takes a deep breath and pushes off the floor, wincing when a shard of glass digs into his palm.  He bites his lip until Venom heals his hand.

“Are you okay, Eddie?” Mrs. Chen asks.

“Yeah,” Eddie lies, “Yeah, I’m good.  Sorry about the mess, I’ll uh, I’ll pay for it and-”

“No need,” she assures, “it’s okay, you should go on home and rest.  You look a little pale.”

Eddie nods numbly and lets Venom take over, lets Venom take them home.

Are you okay? Venom asks when the door finally closes behind them.

Eddie feels them itching underneath his skin, feels them nestling in his stomach.

He places a tentative hand on his stomach, on the rounding softness.

“Venom,” he croaks, tears spilling down his cheeks.

He can’t pretend it isn’t real anymore.

“ Yes, Eddie ,“ Venom confirms softly, a clawed hand resting over Eddie’s, “ they’re there.  We’re pregnant. “

Eddie takes a shuddering breath, “okay, okay… I… We’re…”

He looks down, looks at their joined hands on his belly, “there’s a baby in there.”

Eddie feels a small wave of happiness, “ Yes.  Our baby. “

He nods, breathing softly, “how long?”

“ Seven weeks ,“ Venom answers.

Finally, Eddie whispers, “We’re having a baby.”

“ Ours ,“ the symbiote agrees.

xii

Eddie wakes up to tears and phantom pain wracking through his body.

He wakes up to the haunting memories of slick blood on his thighs.  The nightmares too real and he curls around his defenseless baby, barely noticeable but still there, still safe.

Venom appears slowly so as not to startle their host.  They wrap around Eddie’s neck like a scarf, lips pressing sweet kisses to his neck and jaw as they mumur reassurances and sweet nothing’s.  They know that Eddie is scared, so scared of losing this spawn too.  He’s nine weeks and it’s around the same time they lost their little one.

But it’s different.

They have a second chance.

“ It’s alright, “ they coo, “ you’re

alright. “

Eddie shakes his head, trembling hand holding onto his belly.  Venom can’t help the way their jaw clenches.  They know that Eddie isn’t in physical pain, but Eddie is still suffering.  It still hurt s.

Venom is starting to understand and feel his emotions.  They’re starting to understand how to be huma n.

“ Would

you

like

to see? “ Venom asks.

Eddie immediately shakes his head, hands coming to cover his head and eyes shut tightly.  He’s too afraid to see what they find.  But Venom doesn’t listen to him and slowly peels back the blankets from Eddie’s trembling body to reveal… nothing.

There’s nothing, no blood, no anything.

“ You

are safe,

both

of

you

are, “ Venom reassures.

Eddie’s eyes are still filled with tears and his breathing is still slightly erratic.  Despite their exhaustion, Venom takes care of him.  They soothe Eddie until the hurt is better.  Not gone, but better.

Eddie is dozing off when he mumbles sleepily, “would’ve been six months.”

Venom nods, swallowing thickly, “ we know. “

They’re about to tuck in Eddie when their host stops them and gently kicks off the blankets to the floor.  Venom frowns.  They know Eddie will be cold, but they understand what Eddie is doing, what Eddie needs.

“ Baby’s

okay, “ Venom whispers.

“You sure?” Eddie asks softly.

Venom slinks deep into his skin and Eddie can feel them move through his body.

Yes, heart beat is strong, is

there

, Venom replies.

Eddie can’t help but breathe in relief.  Venom appears again, this time resting against his stomach, spindly fingers gently tapping against his belly.  Eddie belatedly realizes that Venom is tapping to the beat of their baby’s heart.

He falls asleep with a small smile and drying tears on his flushed cheeks.

Venom, however, stays awake.

They’ll never admit their own fears, admit that they relive that night as well.  The memories of Eddie’s pain, of all the blood… it turns their stomach with the reminder that they almost lost Eddie too.  That they couldn’t save their baby, couldn’t save Eddie themselves.

They sigh and wrap around Eddie’s middle just a bit tighter.

xiii

They make an effort to talk about what they feel.  Venom surprising Eddie when they hug the human close, tight, as if afraid to let go.  Eddie, though, simply melts into their touch without question, without hesitation.

They’re good.  They’re getting there.

A few weeks later, Eddie bites his lip when he catches sight of his reflection, the pause making Venom appear out of curiosity.

They find Eddie staring at his belly, round and full with their baby.  It makes a surge of pride fill Venom as they catch a glimpse of Eddie’s warm hands cradling the swell.

“I’m showing,” he breathes softly, still in utter awe.

“ We are thirteen weeks now ,“ Venom reminds.

That only seems to make Eddie’s breath hitch in happiness.  That means they’re safe, well… safer .  The risk of a miscarriage has significantly dropped .  And they’re showing .

Eddie practically feels Venom purr.

Beautiful

, the symbiote praises.

Eddie’s cheeks flush at that and as cliché as it sounds, he’s glowing.

But with his belly growing, Eddie realizes they have to tell their friends.

At that, Venom’s mood sours.

They’d rather keep their child a secret, something so good between them and Eddie, just a little longer.

“We need to tell them,” Eddie whispers, eyes still glued to his baby bump.

Indeed, Venom agrees.

So, they make an effort to meet Anne and Dan, they still have those weekly dinners they agreed to and everything.

Eddie just needs to build up the courage to tell them what’s going on.

“So… is Venom still on vacation?” Dan asks casually as he places a large portion of lasagna on Eddie’s plate.

Eddie’s belly growls in hunger and he blushes just a bit before clearing his throat, “we’re still working through some things.”

Venom appears when a plate of tater tots is placed in front of them.

“Is everything alright?” Anne asks.

“What?  Yeah, yeah, we’re good,” he assures, his hand resting on his belly underneath the table “just… we don’t want to draw attention to ourselves.”

“I think that’s good,” she smiles, “life has been a bit hectic and slowing down isn’t always a bad idea.”

Venom doesn’t say anything, simply tosses a tater tot into their mouth.

Eddie bites his lip, his eyes drawn to Venom’s plate.

Venom pauses when they feel Eddie practically salivate.

“Hey, uh Anne,” Eddie begins, “do you, um have any chocolate?”

Anne raises a brow and if Venom had any, he’s sure they would too.

“Yeah, it’s in the cupboard,” she nods.

“Do you mind if I melt some?”

“Not at all.”

They all watch as Eddie melts some chocolate, baby bump hidden by a large hoodie but even Venom notices the way his hips sway with the newly added weight.

He soon returns with a small bowl of gooey goodness and immediately pops a tater tot smoothered in chocolate into his mouth.  He hums in delight, moaning at the taste, savory and sweet.

His eyes flutter open and he comes face to face with curious and questioning gazes making him flustered.

“I um, sorry,” he apologizes.

“Are you okay Eddie?”

“Yeah,” he nods, shrugging, “just… just a little pregnant.”

Dan, who had taken a sip of water, splutters at that.

Anne pounds her hand on his back until he’s no longer choking.

Once they’re more or less composed, they both exclaim in shock, “pregnant?!”

Eddie nods, cheeks pinking. 

Venom grins, “ yes.   We’re… how do you humans say,

expecting

. “

“O-Oh!”

“Almost fourteen weeks,” Eddie adds.

Dan smiles at them, giving Venom a knowing look, “congratulations are in order then.”

It takes Anne a little longer to come out of her shock but she stands up and hugs Eddie tightly, “congrats, Eddie.”

Eddie smiles, “thank you.”

“Fourteen weeks,” Dan repeats, a little crinkle between his brows, “if you want, you can come in for a check up.  I’m not well versed in pregnancy and I don’t know how this will work considering the fetus is half symbiote and half human, but we could do a routine checkup, maybe an ultrasound, and I can prescribe some prenatal vitamins.  That is, if Venom agrees.”

Venom gives Dan a nod.

They trust Dan, they saved Eddie before.

“So long as no MRIs are involved,” Eddie agrees as well.

“The ultrasound shouldn’t hurt either of you, so we’ll stay away from any and all MRI machines,” Dan assures.

And that’s a heavy weight off of Eddie’s shoulders.  They’ll get to see their baby, see their little one growing and hopefully, healthy.

“Thank you,” he smiles, “thank you so much!”

Anne grins, “so, is this why you fainted at Mrs. Chen’s?”

Eddie squawks in indignation, “What?  How? I… okay maybe…”

She laughs, “Mrs. Chen called us pulling at her hair, completely worried about you, but I think she knows.”

Eddie nods, at least it’ll be easy to tell her next time they see her.

They continue dinner and no one asks about Eddie’s weird cravings.

xiv

Eddie discreetly curls his hand inside Venom’s warm hold as they walk through town.  Dan had recommended light exercise, so that’s what they were doing.

And of course, Eddie stops when he spots a baby shop.  His eyes immediately going to the tiny little outfits on display and the giant teddy bear right beside them.

“Our baby,” he begins in a hushed voice, “will they be… will they be symbiote or human?”

Venom doesn’t respond right away, instead they shift under his skin and curl around in his belly.  It almost makes Eddie antsy to wait so long for an answer, but he trusts Venom.

They seem to have a

vertebrae

, Venom finally says, “ we can confirm it with

baby’s

first ultrasound next week. “

“Okay, but… does that mean… will they ever need a host?”

No.

“So human?”

More or less.

“ What does that mean?“

“ It means that our child will need no host, but will still have the abilities you and

I

possess in a complete symbiotic relationship. “

“So they’ll be able to-”

“ Do this, yes, “ Venom answers, stretching a tentacle over the top of the building and taking Eddie to safety as a solid red figure crashes into the display window of the baby store, effectively shattering it.

Eddie’s heart begins to race in panic as he looks over the edge, his hand cupping his 15 week baby bump when he finds nothing but glass and destruction.

Venom appears beside him immediately, “ deep breaths

Eddie

. “

“Who, what-what was that?”

For the second time that day, Venom stalls, the answer stuck in their throat with hesitation.

“V?” Eddie calls.

“ I’ll explain later, “ Venom promises, “ but

I

must get

you

both to

safety

, away from here. “

Away from that,

Venom thinks to themselves.

Within minutes they arrive home nearly breathless, but thankfully, without any more mishaps.

Eddie takes off his hoodie, feeling overwhelmed and hot and still panicky.

He paces the length of their small shitty living room with a hand supporting his lower back and another on his belly.  Venom likes the picture, the image of Eddie waddling.  They do not like how his heart is racing though.

“Are you going to tell me what that was?”

A few seconds tick by but as the silence drags on, so does Eddie’s panic and sudden surge of fear.

Venom sends a wave of reassurance and love, the bitter neurchemicals of Eddie’s fear slowly shifting to something sweeter.

Still, that doesn’t stop his voice from growing small, “Venom?”

The symbiote sighs.

Eddie frowns and carefully sits down on the couch, “V?  Are you okay? What… what was that?  Darling?”

They snort at that.  Have they worried their love so much as to make him ask if they’re okay?  Since when did the script flip?

N

ot

what

, Venom corrects gently, but

who

.

Eddie’s breath hitches, “who?”

Venom appears and they have a guilty look in their eyes as they kneel in front of Eddie.

And with a deep breath, they begin to explain, “ Symbiotes reproduce

asexually

, we

typically

spawn.  Just another fancy form of saying we have children without the aid of a partner.  It

makes

great for the survival of our species.  But

because

of

the

lack of connection we have with one another, our kind lacks empathy

and

feelings that are not linked to killing and devouring.  In terms of emotional and mental stabilty, we’re not what

you

define as

being

human

.

 

We’re

even considered evil. “

Eddie bites his lip, he knows this.  The first time he and Venom merged he was overwhelmed by feelings he never felt before.  Feelings of hurt, hate, and need.  A hunger to destroy and take over.  But they are not evil.  He realizes now that those are instincts, the instincts of a predator .

But what does that say about them?  About now?  About their baby?

“ When we met you, we were confused. 

You

were so strong, so stubborn, but your heart was one of kindness and love.  And like us, you were also hurt, also lost.  We simply fit.  Still even knowing this, we tried to stop

feeling

because feeling meant attachment to our host (and in many cases, meals).  Feeling meant weakness.  But then your body became used to us, slowly changed

for

us.  We should have realized we were about to spawn, but we never experienced what we did with you.  We never experienced that insatiable hunger, that need

to

fill you so completely, to become one, “ they pause, their warm hands cupping Eddie’s baby bump, “ and with you w

e made something so good, so

us

.  But unfortunately, this

wasn’t

the case for us before meeting you.  Symbiotic reproduction is like clockwork and without

you

we spawned.  And our spawn

don’t

understand humans, don’t understand feelings.  What we

don’t

understand, we

eradicate

.  After all,

you’re

our meal. “

Eddie’s lower lip wobbles as he sniffles, god he feels like a wreck.  But it’s the most open they’ve been with one another, the most open Venom has been with him.

“ I’ve come to realize that y

ou are not our meal, you are not simply our host.  You,

Eddie

Brock, are so much more.  You complete us. 

You’ve

taught

us right from wrong, have had patience and endured our stupidity, our lack of

understanding

.  Despite all the hurt

we’ve

don

e

to you, you still love us.  Because of you,

we’ve

learned to

love

, to

feel

.  We love you

Eddie

. 

I

love you. “

“I love you too,” Eddie chokes, his hands covering Venom’s.

Venom reaches out to wipe away a stray tear.

“ And this is why you must know that the one who attacked us, “ Venom continues, hints of sadness under their voice, “ that nearly hurt you… their name is

Carnage

and like Riot,

Carnage

is our spawn. “

xv

Many things happen at once, Eddie’s mind seems to flood with more questions than answer.

Thinking about everything he’s learned, about Ri

ot, about Carnage… everything is suddenly too much.

The overwhelming sadness from Venom turns his stomach.  And he has to breathe through a bout of nausea that seems to threaten him.

Everything Venom had to do, everything they’ve done to keep them safe… It’s unfair.

Venom falls silent, eyes downcast and glued to the floor, as if they’re ashamed.  But Eddie knows better.  They’re hurting.

“Why is Carnage after us?” He asks softly.

Venom sighs, unlike Riot, Carnage is

not

here specifically to take over Earth. 

They’re

here to hurt us.

“But why?  You… you’re their progenitor, why do they want to hurt you?”

“ Not me, “ Venom admits, “

us

.  We don’t hold any of their respect.  We were a loser.  We were never capable of forming a symbiotic relationship before you.  We were weak.  Pathetic.  Riot, Carnage, and the others were…

ashamed

to have someone like us as their progenitor.  We were an

embarrassment

while they were much stronger.  As

I

said when we

first

met,  we were a

loser .  Riot’s motive was simple.  To take over Earth and feast, to become supreme.  To Riot, we were a traitor, we were lower than scum. But thankfully their

plans

fell

through, because of you. 

Because

we met you and you were so good.  Carnage…

We

can’t

imagine their motive.  But perhaps learning of us, of our child…

It

pushed them over the

edge

of anger.  No body from

our

kind has ever heard of a sexually reproduced

child

, of a child created from a host and a symbiote.  We are a threat. 

Carnage

detests threats. “

“Riot… You killed them to protect us,” Eddie frowns.

“ Did what we had

to

do.  To keep you safe. 

Keep

us

safe. “

Eddie swallows, “And Carnage… they know about our baby?”

Venom nods.

Of course they know.

They’re angry.

But Venom would kill anyone who would so much as touch Eddie and their child.  They’d kill another spawn without a second thought, even if it kills them inside a little more.

Without thinking Eddie cups his hands and waits for Venom to liquify, to turn into a small puddle of slime.  He holds the little ball close to his chest until Venom slips inside his heart like they did months ago.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers softly, “I’m sorry about… about everything.  About losing Riot despite your differences… about the hurt you’ve been through and the hurt that still haunts you.  I’m so sorry, V.”

Venom nuzzles inside of him and Eddie can’t help but feel warmth.

“I don’t know what our future will be like,” he continues a bit breathless as their baby stirs in his womb, “but I do know that I love you, that our spawn-”

“ Our baby, “ Venom corrects.

Eddie smiles, “that our baby loves you.  We love you and we always will.”

xvi

Eddie feels cold when they arrive at the hospital.  His steps are too loud in his ears and it feels as if everyones eyes are on him.

Venom feels them too.

Those curious gazes that can’t mind their own business.

But they make it, Eddie ducks into the room and immediately beelines for Anne.  He hugs her tightly and gives Dan a small nervous smile.

“Are you ready?”

Eddie nods, rubbing his clammy hands on his jeans, “as we’ll ever be.”

Dan does the usual.  He takes Eddie’s vitals, his weight, and measures the circumference of his belly.

Eddie won’t lie, he’s nervous and just a bit terrified.  What if

something

is wrong with

their

baby?

Nothing is wrong with them, Venom answers, our baby is healthy.

With Venom’s help, Eddie takes a deep breath and gets onto the examination table.  Upon seeing the ultrasound machine, even Venom begins to feel nervous.

Dan notices, “It shouldn’t hurt you, but I’m going to turn it on first to make sure.  If it does begin to hurt you, we’ll shut it off.”

Venom appears and gives Dan a go-ahead nod.

The machine whirs to life and to everyone’s relief, it doesn’t hurt.

With gloved hands, Dan carefully pushes up Eddie’s shirt up and tugs down on his jeans just a bit.  Venom tries not to get jealous, to get possessive, but Eddie feels it anyway.

He reaches out and takes Venom’s hand in his, sending them a small wave of reassurance and love.

“Okay Eddie, I’m going to put some gel on your stomach and it’s going to be a little cold,” Dan warns.

Eddie sucks in a sharp breath when he feels the icy gel land on the underside of his bulging belly, his bottom lip quivering with the sudden cold.

But soon enough Dan is pressing the probe to his stomach and begins clicking away on the machine.

They hold their breath.

Soon the room is filled with a whooshing sound that can only be described as butterfly wings.  It’s a sound Venom has heard many times before, but will never stop seizing to amazing them.  It’s a sound Eddie has yearned to hear after the loss of their first baby.

“It’s,” he chokes up, “they’re really there.”

Anne gives his shoulder a light reassuring squeeze and soon all eyes are on the screen.  Eddie’s breath hitches at the sight.  There, on the screen, they can see a little figure curled up and sucking their thumb, turning and wriggling about.

“Holy shit,” Eddie gasps wide eyed.

“That’s amazing, Eddie,” Anne says just as awed.

Venom doesn’t say anything, they don’t need to say anything.  Eddie can feel how elated Venom is, how happy and relieved they are.

But with that happiness comes that crippling sadness.

They finish up quickly and soon enough, Eddie is in the back of a cab taking them home.  His eyes are stuck on the ultrasound picture Dan printed for them.

He’s still in awe.

But Venom hasn’t said anything and Eddie knows something is bothering them.

What’s

wrong?

Nothing.

You’re

a terrible lia r.

Venom sighs, they’ve been doing that a lot lately, it means something’s stuck on their mind, something not good, when we separated, after fighting Riot, it took so long for us to come back to you, to come back home.

Eddie nods, he remembers.  He remembers reliving those memories in the form of a nightmare.  He remembers losing Venom all over again, remembers how empty he felt without the symbiote.

There’s

so much

I

haven’t

told

you yet, Venom admits, so much

I

should’ve told you.

You can still tell me,

you

know

I

don’t

judge.  Is this about Riot? Abo-

This is about the others.

Eddie stops talking.

He knows that Venom has more children, more than just Riot and Carnage.  But Venom never opened up about the others.  He didn’t probe.  It’s a touchy subject, he knows.

So why now?

Are they here?

Are they all as intent in hurting them as Carnage?

When we separated,

things

happened all at once.  Too many

things

.  You must understand that although spawning is

like

clock work,

it

can also be triggered.

Oh.

Wait.

V?

Inside of you, when we

first

met, we were already beginning to spawn.

Eddie’s frown deepens, he would’ve known… wouldn’t he?  He would’ve felt it.

His hand goes to his belly.

No, that spawn

didn’t

take root in you. 

Didn’t

really have to.

What do you mean?

We

couldn’t

return to you while spawning.  For many reasons.  We

didn’t

want to hurt you and it

would’ve

been too dangerous, especially if we had remained inside of you in

symbiosis

.  But that spawn was different regardless and thinking about our child…

It’s

brought

them into our mind and we

can’t

seem to stop

thinking

about

them

.

What happened to them?

They were so little, but they needed a host.  Young spawned symbiotes need a host to continue growing and developing, to feed and survive and

thrive. 

That’s one thing I’m glad about, that our child

won’t

have to go

through

that

,

won’t

need a host or be separated from us.

So you had to give them away?

He can feel Venom nod.

They were special.  Without the need to take root in

you

, they learned from you.  They learned just as

I

learned how it feels to be good, to be wanted.  But they needed a host

Eddie

.

Eddie can feel Venom’s desperation and suddenly the cab is too small for them, there’s not enough air.

“St-Stop!  Stop the car!”

The driver slams on the breaks and Eddie struggles to get out.  He doesn’t even know how much money he gives the driver, but knows it’s more than what he needed to pay.

Once outside, in fresh crisp air, he hurries down an alley and just… just breathes .

“V,” Eddie gasps, “V, please.”

It’s like toxic, how strong Venom’s regret and sadness is.  And Eddie understands, more than Venom could ever begin to comprehend.

“You want to see them, want them back,” he states.

Venom nods.  They feel guilty.  What more can they ask of Eddie?  He’s giving them a child for fuck’s sake.

But Eddie has always been too kind to them, too understanding.

“Do you… do you know where they are?”

Saying it seems to twist the knife of guilt inside Venom a little more, “ orphanage. “

Orphanage?  Venom’s spawn is in an orphanage ?

They’re

barely a year,

Eddie

.  Needed a host, needed someone who was alone, who needed someone

just

as we needed each other.

A host, someone who didn’t have anything or anyone.  Someone who was lonely.  Someone abandoned, someone like a little kid.

Eddie’s sight is clouded by tears, W

hat’s

their

name?

Their name…

His

name is Sleeper.

xvii

Eddie stands at the edge of the yard, clothes pressed and presentable, entirely uncomfortable and too tight around his waist.  But he’s not worried about that.  He can’t think about his discomfort when his eyes stray to the figure across the small playground.

His heart aches and throbs at the sight.

He can feel Venom’s restlessness.  Anxious and itching to reach out.

He doesn’t even need to ask them, he just knows .

“Him,” he breathes.

The social worker pauses in her rambling, stopping mid-sentence and eyes following Eddie’s line of sight.

She clears her throat, “there are many more eligible candidates, children who are more social and interactive, with bright personalities and eager to find a home.”

“I’m sure,” Eddie nods, “but I’m not interested.  He… he’s the one.  What… what’s his name?”

The social worker is at a loss for words.

She tries as delicately as she can to explain, “his name is Mason, he… he’s a special child.  He has a hard time socializing and prefers to spend time alone.  He’s bright, but he’s distant, has trouble listening to instructions, and his speech development is lacking.”

“He’s mute?” Eddie asks surprised.

The woman nods, “yes, you understand that it’s a bit off-putting to have a difficult chi-”

Venom growls and Eddie tries to calm them down.

“No child is easy,” he interrupts, “there’s no such thing.  Children, regardless of disabilies require attention and love.  Clearly your staff is lacking in providing him with what he needs.”

She turns red at that, “we assure you that we provide our utmost care for each and every child.”

“I’m sure,” Eddie says, “but I’m not here to write an article about you or your facility, I’m not interested in your front.  I’m looking to provide him a home.  A real home.”

That shuts her up real quickly.

“Now, where can we sign?”

Eddie knows she can’t refuse him.  He had Anne go over everything, over his paperwork and history.  He’s cleaned up.  He’s working hard.  He’s trying and most importantly, he’s better .

Reluctantly she leads them to her office and pulls up the documents.  Eddie signs with a flourish, giddiness building inside him as the baby turns and twists inside of his belly.

That’s

him, Venom says softly inside their mind, that’s

Sleeper.

It takes forever.

It takes too long.

But when they step outside again, out into the yard and carefully approach the playground, they feel relief.

Sleeper is still safe, still bonded to their host.

The little boy stops in his tracks and peers up at them with wide gray eyes.  Light curls bouncing as he climbs onto the last step toward the slide.

His head tilts to the side, his little brows scrunch up, as if he’s listening to something, to someone.

Sleeper, Eddie thinks, he’s

listening to Sleeper.

Reluctantly, Mason stumbles back down the steps and approaches them shyly.

He doesn’t say a word, but he does take Eddie’s outstretched hand.

And both Eddie and venom finally feel whole, complete.

It’s

probably

too

late

to ask, and

it’s

probably

ridiculous considering

everything

you’ve

done, but will you,

Eddie

Brock

, help us raise our child, our son?

Eddie smiles, yes.

He crouches down to the baby’s eye level and says “Hi Mason, my name is Eddie Brock.”

Again he doesn’t talk, doesn’t respond, but he squeezes Eddie’s hand.

Baby Mason (Sleeper) Brock.

xviii

Eddie is nervous to take Mason home. He has almost every thing he needs, but the car ride is silent. Anne thankfully picked them up. And while Mason is strapped into the new toddler seat, Eddie slides into the passenger seat.

Do you think

he’ll

like me?

Venom scoffs because it’s a ridiculous worry, of course they like you.

Mason’s doe eyes stare out the window in wonder, with excitement clear in his eyes.

And finally, the car stops.

The building isn’t much to look at. It’s still the same complex, still near all the stores he needs to go to. The difference is inside.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Anne asks.

“Huh? Yeah, yes,” Eddie nods, “thanks Anne.”

She watches as he struggles to unclip the seatbelt, mostly because of gravity and the added weight.

But he manages and he carefully helps Mason out of the car.

Eddie should really consider moving out. The one thing that kills him are the steps and therefore, the lack of elevator.

He also notices Mason’s legs are short and stubby and he’ll definitely have a hard time climbing by himself.

So, without thinking, Eddie picks him up. He’s light for a toddler his age, but still too heavy for him now. Immediately his back starts aching and he has to breathe through a flare of pain in his belly.

Reckless, Venom scolds.

Didn’t

want to freak

him

out and Sleeper seems too shy to do anything.

Eddie won’t lie. He feels instant relief when Venom engulfs his arm. They arrange Mason in such a way that the baby is facing forward, resting on Eddie’s hip, and not looking at the black arm supporting him.

It works out.

They make it to their floor and Eddie has to jiggle the key into the door knob before he can hear the click.

Venom sets Mason down and sinks back into Eddie’s skin.

The door creaks open and reveals a well decorated living room, with a rug under the coffee table and a new couch. Like hell they were keeping the rickety and stained monstrosity.

Mason seems to take everything in. His eyes straying to a bin in the corner of the room filled with a few new toys, some still in their packages and wrapped up neatly.

“Are you hungry?” Eddie asks.

The little boy nods.

“What do you want to eat?”

Mason simply blinks up at him and Eddie realizes that he won’t answer.

“Okay, um do you want chicken nuggets?”

His little face twists into a scrunch, ringlets bouncing as he shakes his head.

“Do you like fries? Maybe a cheeseburger?”

Another shake.

Offer them

tator

tots, Venom suggests.

“Tator tots?”

At that, the little boy’s eyes light up as he nods.

Eddie breathes in relief, guiding the three year old to the kitchen table with crayons and paper before helping him sit in the chair. He immediately heats up some tator tots and melts some chocolate.

He really is your son , Eddie sighs as he watches the little boy coloring.

Venom snickers, and so is this one.

Eddie jolts, the chocolate covered spoon he was planning on licking falls to the tiled floor with a clatter. His hand automatically goes to his swollen belly, his other uses the counter for support as he breathes.

What was that?

Even Venom stops moving under his skin. They both wait with bated breath before… again!

Holy shit!

Is that… is our baby kicking?

Venom’s arms wrap around Eddie’s waist with their hands on his belly, eyes widening when they feel a small nudge.

Eddie feels his throat close up and he finds it difficult to breathe properly because that’s their baby . Kicking and moving.

He flinches when a small hand tugs at his pants, puppy eyes filling with tears of concern.

“Oh, oh no, baby don’t cry,” Eddie coos.

Venom should disappear.

They should give them time to adjust. But they don’t. They can’t.

Even as Eddie manages to get on his knees and hug the little boy, they don’t faze back.

When they part, Mason’s eyes are drawn to the gooey substance wrapped around Eddie’s middle, outlining his heavy belly.

Eddie holds his breath when he notices. He should yell and scold Venom, but the little boy reaches out.

His little hand turns into a yellowish-green slime and meets Venom’s hand half-way.

Mason doesn’t look scared.

In fact, he looks excited. He looks happy. His eyes find Eddie and he flings himself toward the pregnant man into a hug, a single wobbly word falling from his lips, “daddy!”

xix

Mason and Sleeper fall asleep on the couch, both snoring soundly and curled up around one another.

Eddie waddles toward them and tucks them in, Sleeper snuggling into the warmth and covering Mason.

He takes a moment to breathe as he watches the kids.  He should probably take them to their redecorated room, but he can’t pick them up without hurting his back and waking them up.

We could do it, Venom offers.

Eddie shakes his head, let them sleep,

they’ll

wake up

otherwise

and

I’m

tired.

Venom doesn’t argue, they know how tired Eddie feels.  His feet are swollen and his back is still aching and now the baby won’t stop kicking.

He goes to the room and with Venom’s help, takes off his shoes.  Without question Venom begins massaging his feet and calfs, making Eddie’s eyes close in delight with little moans escaping his lips.

Venom grins.

It’s been a while and they keep climbing up higher underneath Eddie’s clothes until they wrap around Eddie’s half-hard on.

Eddie’s breath hitches, hips canting in desperation, trying to find relief.  He’s been so tired lately that the thought of sex hadn’t even entered his mind.  And fuck he wants more .

“V-V,” he chokes out.

Small tendrils appear and help tear off his clothes, sweat pants and boxers falling as tatters to the floor.

But when he feels Venom start to peel off his shirt, Eddie puts a stop to it.

“N-No,” he gasps.

“

No

? “ Venom repeats incredulously.

They keep pumping Eddie’s erection and Eddie loses his mind to the pleasure.

“V-V, don’t,” he whimpers.

“ Why? “

Eddie’s cheeks turn pink.

And it clicks.  He’s insecure.

Venom laughs a bit throatily, We

know your body, Eddie.  We know every change it has gone through, every detail hidden beneath your clothes.  And you still look gorgeous, still beautiful.  Be proud of the marks and changes we’ve done, Eddie.  They’re good, so good. 

You’re

good enough to eat.  Now let us take care of you.

Venom slashes the shirt off of Eddie’s body and helps Eddie onto his side, too big to be on his back without feeling breathless.  They even tuck a pillow under his belly before sliding inside their host in one fluid motion.

Eddie whimpers.  His eyes are screwed shut and his breathing stutters.  It’s been too long.

And to Venom, it’s like coming home.

Beautiful

.

Eddie moans, hips rocking with Venom’s lead.  The pleasure is so good and it’s somehow more intense.

He buries his face into the pillow under his head, trying to muffle his moans and cries of pleasure.

Choking out a weak, “more, harder.”

Venom complies, thrusting harder and deeper.  The bruising grip on Eddie’s hips loosen as they come to rest on his swollen belly, feeling a small kick in return.

Venom chuckles, pace becoming ragged.

Close, so close.

Eddie tenses, spilling at the full feeling of Venom inside him, of their baby kicking.  It’s all so much as cum splatters onto the underside of his belly.

Venom thrusts one last time before burying themself to the hilt and biting down onto Eddie’s neck, re-opening the scarring mark they left months ago.  Their claim, their vow.

Eddie huffs, wriggling away from the mess on the bed and pressing back against Venom’s warmth.

“You woke them up,” he accuses sleepily, trying and failing to sound angry.

“ Sleep, my loves, “ Venom coos, “ rest.  I’ll take care of the mess. “

Without another word, Eddie closes his eyes and falls into a heavy sleep.

For the first time, a sleep without dreams or nightmares.

xx

trigger warning: read with caution

Eddie is humming softly to himself as he makes some pancakes for dinner.  What?  He knows he’s weird, but he’s cravings breakfast for dinner. 

He already has a pile of small warm goodness on a colorful rainbow plate Anne had gotten for him in a set.

He waddles toward the table and places two smaller plates in front of Sleeper and Mason.

“Do you want syrup?” He asks, rubbing his belly thoughtfully.

“Yes pwease,” Mason answers as Sleeper nods eagerly.

Eddie smiles at the pair, ruffling Mason’s soft hair and letting Sleeper slither up his arm before settling back down.

He walks to the kitchen and opens the cabinets in search of the syrup.  He has a pinched look of concentration as his eyes flitter through the unorganized mess.

He finally spots the bottle of syrup all the way at the top of the shelf and he climbs onto a chair.

At 23 weeks the task feels too difficult and leaves him breathless.

What are you doing? Venom demands.

Eddie flinches before steadying himself, “getting the syrup?”

You

could’ve

told me, the symbiote growls, we would’ve gotten it for you.

Eddie bites his lip, “it’s okay, I can do it.”

His hand wraps around the neck of the bottle, but when he looks down to see where he’s stepping, he’s assaulted by a wave of dizziness.

“Oh god,” he gasps, eyes closing fast.

He hasn’t had problems with height since last year, but he’s felt more vulnerable lately and all his fears are rushing back to him.

“V-V?”

Venom appears beside him, gentle hands carefully guiding him down the chair.

Reckless, stupid,

could

have

gotten

hurt,

Eddie

, Venom reprimands.

“I know, I’m sorry, V,” Eddie frowns, “wanted to be useful.”

You are useful, always providing for us, for our

children

. 

You’re

so good, love.

Eddie smiles at Venom, the symbiote making sure he understands as they stare into his watery gaze.

“Thank you, V.”

Without another word, they return to the kids and Eddie hides a grimace when he leans forward and drenches their pancakes in sticky sweetness.

He holds back a groan of pain when he sits in his chair.  He’s been hurting lately.  On and off since morning but he hasn’t said anything, doesn’t want to worry Venom unnecessarily.  Plus, if something were wrong Venom would have told them.

He’s about to tuck into his food when the pain grips him again.  A pain so harsh and cruel that it leaves him breathless.  Beads of sweat form on his brow as he rides out the painful wave.  It’s almost as if he can’t breathe.

Eddie?

He doesn’t respond, can’t open his mouth without risking to scream in agony.

He doesnt want to scare the children, both boys busy eating.

Eddie? Venom repeats.

Eddie barely gets his bearings when he feels something wet soak his sweats.

His eyes widen and heart stops.

The pain returns.

Breathe, Eddie.

Eddie takes a shuddering breath.

He needs to be strong.

He waits in silent agony, hands wrapped around the edge of the table until his knuckles turn white.

But finally, Mason and Sleeper finish eating and he ushers them to bed after brushing their teeth.

It’s only in the comfort of their bedroom that Eddie breaks down.

He peels down his wet sweats with trembling hands, his skin damp with a pink tinged fluid.

“V,” he cries weakly.

Venom is twisting in nerves, but they remain as calm as can be.

“ It’s okay,

Eddie

.  Deep breaths. “

Eddie knows Venom is just as shaken, but he follows the symbiote’s calm instructions, no matter how fake that calmness is.

He whimpers at another contraction, belly seizing in that constricting pain again.

“Baby,” Eddie chokes out.

You’re okay,

Eddie

.

Eddie sobs, the urge to push overwhelming him.

“Whe-Where? Where are they going to come out from?” Eddie asks.

Your body knows what to do, trust it, trust us.

Venom follows their instincts.  They wrap around Eddie’s phallus as the fetus moves down, helping it stretch around the baby.  Eddie holds his breath as he bears down, the small body moving lower and lower.

Breathe!

Eddie gasps, the baby bulging in the narrow canal.

Burns!  Fuck it

burns

!

Eddie cries when he pushes again, the stretch too much, “I can’t.”

Yes you can, one more push!

It takes hours of pushing and before they know it, it’s three in the morning.

The bedroom is dimly lit with only the moonlight filtering through the sheer curtains.

Eddie is covered in sweat, clothes strewn around him as he squats and pushes.

He’s tired, so damned tired.

His body aches and everything hurts.

The baby isn’t moving any lower and he feels stuck, like everything he does is wrong.

He wants to give up.

Venom growls as they order Eddie to push again.

He’s bleeding.

Too much blood.

“I can’t,” Eddie whimpers, voice gone from the strain of holding back his screams.

“ One more. “

Eddie shakes his head.

He’s tired, face pale, ashen, with dark circles under teary eyes and dry lips.

Venom urges him one more time, begs softly, please.

Eddie’s hands twist the sheets and he pushes.

He pushes and pushes until his urethra expands around the slippery mound and finally finally is freed with a rush of amniotic fluid and blood.

Eddie cries.

He’s weak and shivering as he scoops up the small body covered in slime and fluid.

They’re not moving and Venom wraps around the small body, trying to stimulate the heart and lungs but failing.

Eddie brings the small body to his chest, blood covering both of them and salty tears rolling down his cheeks.

He’s hurting, but the pain in his heart is worse.

xxi

A small, weak cry draws Eddie’s attention to the little bundle in his arms.

His breath hitches and through blurry vision he can see the tiniest of tiny fists waving in anger, the little cry growing stronger and stronger even if it’s watery.

He looks up at Venom, relief filling him despite the dizziness due to the blood loss.

It’s then that a shattering sound fills their apartment, their home.

Venom hisses at the door, smelling another through the thick scent of blood, sweat, and tears.

“V?” Eddie asks hoarsely.

He flinches, body curling around their shivering baby as the door splinters open.

Carnage.

“ Well,

well

, what do we have here? “ Carnage asks, eyes landing on Eddie and the baby, grin large and deadly, “ did you really think you could hide forever? “

“ Carnage! “

The red symbiote turns to glare at Venom.  Anger fills them at the sight of the symbiote and they launch themselves toward the little family.

Venom steps in front of Eddie and takes the brunt of the attack, still keeping their roots inside Eddie, refusing to let him bleed out but trying to keep them safe.

“ What do you want? “ Venom demands.

“ We want them gone! “

Venom spares their baby a glance.  Eddie looks back at them terrified.

“ I want both of them

gone

. “

Carnage tries again, but Venom blocks them.  It’s a losing battle.  Venom can’t fight Carnage like this.  If they separate, Eddie will bleed out.  They’ll lose Eddie.  Can’t, won’t , lose Eddie.

But if they don’t separate, if they don’t… they’ll lose against Carnage and their jealous rage.

“Daddy? Fafa?”

Eddie stops breathing.

At the broken door stands Mason with his baby blanket wrapped around his little body.  Carnage sets their eyes on him and flings their tentacle at the boy in an attempt to hurt him.

The action rips a scream of fear out of Eddie, but Sleeper reacts fast as he blocks the hit.

Carnage’s eyes grow wide and Venom takes the opportunity to tackle Carnage down.

“Daddy!” Mason cries, running toward Eddie and falling beside him.

Eddie, despite being covered in blood, holds the little boy close.

“You have to go,” Eddie whispers hoarsely, “need you to go outside and take the phone, call for help, call aunt Anne and uncle Dan.”

Mason looks reluctant, but he takes the phone in small trembling hands and Sleeper gives him a push as they separate.

Sleeper presses the slab of wood to the door to buy his little host time.

“Father!” He yells.

Venom looks at Sleeper and nods.

They trust him.

“ You

think

you could

ever

beat me?  Riot was one

thing

,

but

I

am

the

oldest. “

“ At least

I’m

not a coward. 

You’ve

known all

these

months

where

we live, but

you’ve

waited until Eddie was weak, until our

child

was on

the

brink of death to make your move.  Weak,

pathetic

. 

Something

only a coward and a

loser

would do. “ Venom says.

Carnage growls, “ I

am not like you! “

“ No, “ Venom agrees, “ You

are worse. “

And Venom separates from Eddie as they rip Carnage from their own host.

The shift in balance makes them stumble back.  Eddie watches as they tumble, as the force makes them crash against the window and shatter it.  Glass flying everywhere.

Eddie’s heart stops.

He can’t lose Venom.

Sleeper quickly takes over as Eddie shivers.

Sleeper doesn’t say anything, but the bleeding gradually stops and Eddie’s vision swims with darkness.

He peers down at his baby’s red puffy face, eyes still swollen shut and little mouth open in a tiny wail.

He sobs, their little hand curling on his swollen chest.

Please be okay Venom.  Please, please, please.

Everything goes dark.

xxii

Eddie comes around to the annoying sound of a heart monitor.  He has a headache and everything feels bright despite his eyes being closed.  He tries to cover his face from the brightness, only to wince when something tugs at his arm.

He frowns.

Slowly, his eyes flutter open and he breathes.  Immediately the scent of antiseptic tickles his nose.  And it’s cold .

With a grimace, he uses the railings of the bed to sit up, moaning at the flare of pain.

“Eddie?”

He squints at the person sitting by his bedside, barely distinguishing Anne’s perfect hair.

“Anne?” He rasps weakly.

Her smile is bright, but he feels hollow.  Empty.

She presses something by his bed and he lets his head thump against the pillow, the headache intensifying.  It’s one of those aches where it almost feels as if his brain is bouncing inside his skull.  He groans.

“It’s okay,” she soothes, her hand slipping into his, “you’re okay.”

She feels warm, real.

“Dan is coming to check you over,” she adds softly.

And right on time, Dan appears with a light knock on the door.

“Hey Eddie,” he smiles.

“Hi,” Eddie croaks.

“The hemorrhage was pretty severe this time around, but Sleeper managed to stop the bleeding before it was too much.  He did a great job.”

Eddie smiles, of course he did,

he’s

his

father’s

son .

“Everything seems intact, but you will definitly feel sore for a few days, a few weeks even.  That’s just your body repairing itself.  If there’s any sign of bleeding, I want you to come in immediately, you need your strength to make a fully recovery.”

Eddie should probably care about himself and what Dan is saying, but there’s more pressing matters on his mind, “baby?”

That brings a genuine smile to Dan’s face, “baby’s safe, Eddie.”

“Was early, too early.”

“I know, Eddie.  Baby’s lungs weren’t completely developed, but surprisingly, everything else was.  We should’ve realized that the gestation period would be shorter, and that the baby would be on the small side, after all the baby is half symbiote.”

“So baby’s okay?”

“Yes, Eddie.  The baby is in an NICU and in an incubator to help with breathing but otherwise your baby is fine, she’s safe.”

“She?” Eddie asks, tears filling his eyes.

Anne steps in with a nod and a watery smile, “she’s safe and the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”

Eddie chokes up, he has a daughter, a little girl.

Dan pats his shoulder, “you did a great job, Eddie.”

He leaves then, and it’s just Anne and Eddie left in silence.

At least he thinks it’s just them until a little body stirs on the couch and sits up looking adorably disheveled.

“Daddy!” Mason shouts when he’s awake.

The little boy stumbles off of the couch and hurries to his bedside.  Eddie immediately wraps his arms around him, Sleeper joining in as the young symbiote hangs onto his arm.

“Mason, Sleeper,” Eddie breathes.

“Daddy,” Mason cries, little body wracking with his sobs.

“You did good, buddy.  You’re both so amazing and so strong.  I’m so proud of you,” Eddie chokes out.

That only seems to make him cry even more, with Sleeper’s teary eyes staring back up at him.

“They wouldn’t leave you for a second,” Anne says with her own sniffles.

“It’s okay,” Eddie coos, “I’m right here, we’re okay.  We’ll be okay.”

Eddie glances at Anne, a silent, but pleading question in his eyes.

She can’t bring herself to look at him and Eddie’s heart breaks a bit more.

Venom is gone.

xxiii

He’s glad Anne took the kids because despite doctor’s orders, Eddie stands up on wobbly legs and pulls his IV as he limps toward the foot of the bed.  He grabs his chart with shaky hands and scans the papers until he finds it.

He doesn’t hesitate to walk out the door of his hospital room.  Blanket wrapped around his shoulders as he drags the stupid IV with him.

His gait is slow and it hurts to move, but he has to see her.  He has to see his baby girl, make sure she’s alright.

He follows directions, getting lost once or twice, before he stands in front of the glass sliding doors of NICU ward two.

He raises a brow when he notices the red light denying just anyone access, but he has a few tricks up his sleeve.

He pulls out Dan’s ID, an old one he stole months ago, and swipes.

That blinking red light immediately turns green and the doors slide open for him.

He steps inside.

It’s colder here and the lights are dimmed.

There’s no movement, and if he didn’t know any better he’d think it were abandoned.  But there’s a soft sound of a heart monitor just ahead.  The beating just a bit faster and fainter than his.

He follows it and his heart breaks at the sight.

She’s there, hooked up to electrodes to monitor her heart and breathing.  She’s on her little belly with a big diaper wrapped around her tiny waist and a baby blue hat on her little head.  She’s tiny, so, so small.  Her feet barely the size of his thumb.

He chokes up.

She’s so tiny, so beautiful.

Venom would be proud.  They’d be in love just as he is.

His heart hurts with how much he loves her already.

He never thought it was possible to love someone so much.

And despite what Anne said, he knows Venom is still alive.  They’re still out there, still looking for a way to come back home.

He reaches into one of the holes and places his hand beside hers.  His finger gently rubs her delicate hand, skin soft and warm.

And her tiny hand stretches, curiously looking for his warmth as those impossibly little fingers wrap around his.

He chokes up.

“ What’s

her name? “

Eddie doesn’t look up at the question.

Instead he closes his eyes and prays it isn’t a trick.

And that voice he’s missed so much these past few days, says, “ She’s beautiful .“

When he gets the courage to open his eyes, Venom is there.  They’re really there, standing tall, firm, if only a bit bruised and scratched.

“ V ,“ he cries out.

Venom immediately wraps around Eddie in a tight embrace, a kiss pressed to Eddie’s head before they merge into one.

Eddie’s hand twists the front of his gown, his heart finally feeling complete.

“You’re safe,” he whispers hoarsely.

As are you, love.

Venom focuses on the baby, on their baby girl.

“You found us.”

“ Of course, “ Venom nods, manifesting beside Eddie.

“What about Carnage?”

“ Not now, later.  We’ll tell

you

everything later. “

Eddie nods, words still failing him.

But when he looks at their baby girl again, he knows.  Everything will be alright.

“Her name…” He chokes a little, “Her name is Curiosity.”

Venom smiles approvingly, nuzzling Eddie’s neck, Curiosity, innocent and pure.  Our new

beginning

.

Eddie’s nods, admiring their little Curiosity until his legs weaken and tremble.

Venom drags a chair over for Eddie when they realize that Eddie is about to collapse.

He smiles gratefully at his symbiote, at his mate, and takes a careful seat.

They spend hours and hours in the ward with their daughter.

Until the sun dips into the horizon and Eddie falls asleep, their baby’s tiny fingers still wrapped around his.

Baby Curiosity Symbiote-Brock

xxiv

Eddie is holding their baby girl in his arms, sitting calmly in a rocking chair.  He has a brow raised as he stares at the tightly closed jar filled with red slime.  A thin mouth and angry eyes staring back at them.

He tries to hold back his laughter, and the only thing that helps is that if he does laugh, he might dislodge Curiosity from feeding and make her cry.

They’re

on time-out, Venom snickers, a vague way of explaining.

“How did you even manage?”

“ Trickery, that is how, “ Carnage growls.

“What are we going to do now?” Eddie asks.

“ Let me fre

e. “

Venom hisses, “ You

are still a threat to

Eddie

and Curiosity, still a threat to

my

family

.“

“ We were your family! “ Carnage shouts, voice muffled from the glass.

“I’m sorry but family doesn’t do the type of bullshit you tried to do,” Eddie corrects.

The younger boy in the corner of the room nods along and Carnage snarls at him, making him coil back in fear.

“Stop that.  He provided you a home and a meal, you have no right to be mean to him,” Eddie scolds sternly.

It’s a sight to see.

Eddie, half naked with a blanket barely covering his dignity, face red and a baby in his arms putting a symbiote in their place.

It’s Carnage’s turn to shrink back.

“I tried to stop him,” the boy says, large brown eyes filled with tears, “I really did but I couldn’t get a handle when he got so angry, he wasn’t like that before and I-”

“ Shut up! “ Carnage yells, the jar shaking, “

weakling.

“

Venom reaches out and taps the top hard enough to shake Canrage to the core, “ If he were such a weakling, you

would’ve

searched for a better host.  But clearly he is your perfect match, he is the only one you

can

achieve complete symbiosis with, so

show

him respect.  He has dealt with

your

shit

for long enough. “

“Are you okay, Abel?” Eddie asks the teen.

Abel nods, “I’m okay, Mr. Brock.”

“Eddie, just call me Eddie,” he smiles.

Carnage glares at his host in anger.

“We won’t let you free if you even so much as think about hurting him,” Eddie says.

And his glare turns to Eddie and his new sibling .

His head feels hot with rage. 

Goddammit!

Abel collapses at that.  Despite being separated he can feel Carnage, can feel his emotions and thoughts.  They’re connected as much as Eddie’s heart is with Venom’s.

“ Control yourself, “ Venom hisses.

Abel takes a deep breath and gathers himself.

If Eddie wasn’t so preoccupied with their daughter he would’ve helped the boy up but Venom thankfully gets it.

“ Don’t

you dare touch him! “ Carnage rages.

Both Eddie and Venom share a look as a dark blush paints across Abel’s warm golden brown cheeks.

Oh!

“Okay, so this is how it’s going to go.  We can’t separate you from Abel, simply because Venom has already lost more than enough children and without a host you’ll wither away.  But we won’t trust you, ever.  You hurt us and you hurt your progenitor.  We trust Abel, though.  We trust him to handle you and we trust you’ll protect him because without him, you’re nothing but slime in a jar.”

Abel looks at Eddie in surprise.

“For now, as Venom said, you’re on time-out.”

Venom tosses the sealed jar to Abel, trusting the 17 year old to catch it.

“Dan is working on something that’ll help keep you in line.”

“ Your host has our sole permission to use it if he

ever

feels threatened by you or when he thinks you will do

something

stupid

again, “ Venom adds.

“And as for you,” Eddie looks at Abel.

Abel straightens out, staring at Eddie even as his lower lip quivers.

“I expect family dinners whenever possible,” he smiles, gaze softening, “you’re family now, especially after putting up with him.”

Abel sags in relief, thinking he would be reprimanded or get yelled at.  But instead he’s found acceptance.  He’s found a second family that actually cares .

“Thank you Mr. Br- thank you, Eddie,” Abel smiles back.

Eddie and Venom watch as Abel leaves their hospital room a few hours later with a glass jar in his hand and a collar in the other.

“Do you think he’ll be alright?” Eddie asks Venom when they’re finally alone, baby girl in her little cot fast asleep.

“ You managed with us ,“ Venom shrugs, “ we’re

sure

he’ll

be fine. “

Epilogue

A/N:   Hello everyone!  To be honest, I didn’t expect this to develop any sort of plot.  I didn’t even expect to get past chapter 10 (x) 😅, but this little ficlet got carried away and now we’re at the end.  I hope you enjoyed it and I know it was really angsty, but I promised a happy ending (in the tags).  So, here’s the epilogue.

●•●•●

Eddie can’t help but breathe in relief.  The boys are cleaned up and dressed and he’s finally able to concentrate on feeding Curiosity without any interruptions.

He turns to face the baby, who should be on the bed, but finds a lilac colored slime stuck to the soft baby blankets instead.  He sighs.  Of course she’d be difficult.

“Come on, pretty girl, we need to get ready and you need to eat.  Aunt Anne and uncle Dan are coming over.”

He scoops up the blanket, his fingers gently sinking into the slime.  The light purple swirls around his hand until his index finger is engulfed by a tiny mouth with sharp teeth.  He doesn’t flinch when those teeth sink into his skin and nibble at him, Venom takes care of that as they ease her off of him.

“Thanks parasite,” he smiles at his lover.

“ Not a parasite, “ Venom grumbles under their breath.

Eddie rolls his eyes and carefully leads Curiosity’s heart-shaped lips to his chest.  Despite the teeth, she doesn’t bite.  She suckles contently, gurgling as he paces the room.

He’s completely disheveled, still tired from having less than five hours of sleep.

They’ve been home for a little less than a month and although it was hard to adjust, it’s a nice change of pace.

“ Looks

delicious

,

Eddie

, “ Venom whispers huskily in his ear as they stare at the baby suckling.

Eddie’s cheeks burn bright, idiot, not in front of

our

baby.

She

doesn’t

understand yet.  Because

she’s

half

human

it’ll

take a while for her to

understand

us.  Her cognitive intelligence

developing

with time rather than being born with it as Sleeper was.

Doesn’t

matter,

she’s

still here

and

still

a baby, Eddie huffs.

Is it because… are you

embarrassed

?

V,

I

swear

to god if you

don’t

shut up I’ll-

The doorbell rings and Eddie cuts off.  He grabs the baby blanket and covers himself and Curiosity from sight as he reaches for the front door barefoot, Mason jumping excitedly behind them.

“Hi, Eddie,” Abel smiles, looking a bit shy.

“Hey, Abel, come on in,” Eddie smiles encouragingly.

The younger teen slips through the door and is immediately tackled by Mason and Sleeper.

Their laughter warms Eddie’s heart.

When Curiosity finishes eating, he goes in search for a decent shirt, one not stained or covered in baby spit.  He’s patting her back, trying to burp her, when Dan and Anne finally arrive.

“We brought food,” Anne grins, giving them a one-arm hug.

“Thanks Anne, you’re amazing,” Eddie says.

They eat dinner like family, even if Carnage still refuses to make an appearance.

And it’s only when Anne is cooing over Curiosity that Eddie manages to slip out.

He walks outside without any shoes on.  He doesn’t mind the biting cold.  It grounds him, reminds him that everything is okay.

Eddie?

“You’re right, you know.  I am self-conscious,” Eddie admits.

Venom waits for him to continue, waits until Eddie is finally able to open up to him.

“I still have baby fat, my chest always hurts despite how often she eats, and I feel disgusting.  I’m always covered in spit or-or something and I’m tired.  I love them, V.  I really do, but I’m happy to have these stolen moments with you.  Where it’s just you and me, just us.”

You look

gorgeous

regardless, even when

you’re

half asleep and drooling from exhaustion

you’re

beautiful.  And this, we can help with this, Venom says, long tongue swiping over Eddie’s sensitive nipple.

Eddie gasps, moans , at the feeling even through his shirt, “Do-Don’t.  Holy shit, V, don’t tease me like that.”

Venom grins, “ you’re

amazing, Eddie, and we are glad that

you are mine

. “

Eddie huffs a small laugh, nuzzling against Venom as they share a kiss, “I am yours.  Always.”

They kiss until they’re breathless, parting only when a loud fire alarm from across town draws their attention.

They share a look before glancing up toward the warmly lit window where they know their family is waiting for them.

“Think they can handle the kids for a little?” Eddie asks.

“ Yes, “ Venom says, immediately engulfing Eddie in their complete form.

They watch as smoke rises to the dark sky, the cloud quickly spreading and tearing screams from civilians.

Venom stretches an arm toward the top of the building.

Better late than never.

The End.

Update: Sequel is now up, it’s called Wrapped In You.