Chapter Four

Morning broke and Eddie was already up. Even before he was brought to Arendale he had a routine of working out every morning. Once he settled into the castle he was able to get his hands on some weights that he found in the market place downtown and he utilized them well. He also happened to have an Mp3 player with him that he kept in his jeans pocket in his human form. Also thanks to his powers he was able to charge his Mp3 player without electricity and so it would literally last forever!

As he lifted his weights his heavy metal music blasted from his ear phones further motivating him. Due to his superhuman strength he was benching 800 pounds and not even breaking a sweat!

"Ninety-nine- one hundred!" He then sensed someone was knocking on the door and sat up in time to see Elsa walk in. He quickly jumped up and yanked his earphones out and greeted her, "Good morning." To which Elsa smiled and returned the greeting, "Good morning, Eddie. I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Eddie then shook his head and assured her saying,

"Not at all I just finished up. What can I do for you, your highness- oh crap I mean Elsa?" She walked further into the room and sat on the edge of his bed and began to speak. "Well we were going to go to town this afternoon and I was wondering if you wanted to come with us." Eddie instantly replied, "Nothing would make me happier than to go with you." When he said that, Elsa blushed and smiled.

"Great we were going to leave in an hour "She then stood up and walked to the door. As she was leaving Eddie quickly spoke up, "Elsa." She turned around as he spoke,

"Um I was wondering if maybe at one point if… uh. You and I could go and do our own thing? You know- just you and me I mean?" He asked her.

Elsa could tell he was nervous when he asked her that. She really could tell he liked her, maybe more than like and she loved how nervous he got. She always thought it was cute when he tried to play it cool but his nervousness was too evident. She was sure her next answer made his day, "That sounds great to me." It was then she smiled and took her leave. Once she was gone Eddie got ready for the day, either this is going to be a very good day or a crappy one. Either way Elsa needs to and will learn the truth. As far as he's concerned she deserves to know.

Not too long after that he made his way down and saw that the group was all there. Looking up and noticing him Kristoff said, "Oh good you made it!" To which Eddie replied, "Of course, I wouldn't miss it for the world." The group then left the castle and made their way into town. They eventually made it down to the market place and began to look around. Eventually Elsa and Anna went to some shop that in Kristoff's words 'was too girly for his taste' and so he, Eddie, Olaf, and Sven waited outside and hung around for a few minutes.

Eventually Eddie managed to excuse himself to wonder into a nearby shop. Little did everyone know; Eddie had been planning on getting Elsa a nice gift. Since it was around Christmas time; that gave him the perfect opportunity and so he took his chance to break away from the group for a few minutes to find something. As he walked into the shop he heard the sound of a woman's voice yelling, "It's you!"

Meanwhile Elsa and Anna were still looking around in the same store. As they grazed through items on one of the shelves Anna worked up the courage and asked, "So what's the deal with you and Eddie?" A couple of seconds went by before Elsa answered. "I don't know." She smiled and added, "I love hanging out with him, and he truly is a wonderful guy." Anna giggled and teased, "Just say it! You're in love aren't you?" As soon as she said that, Elsa blushed and shushed her sister playfully so she wouldn't attract any attention.

"I really care about him… maybe more than care." She then sighed and said, "I just can sense there's more to him under the surface then what meets the eye. I just wish I knew what he is hiding."

It was then Eddie's words echoed in her head from the night they first met,

"I'm really no hero- One good deed can't redeem somebody like me…"

Eddie Brock was at a loss for words as he saw who it was. The woman he rescued last night was the store owner and she recognized him! "It's really you!" She jumped over the counter and hugged him. Eddie Brock really couldn't believe what was happening; this woman was a stranger and she saw his true form- yet here she was grateful and hugging him! The woman's words were coming out rapidly like a floodgate. "I knew you'd be back, I knew it! Thank you for everything you've done for me last night!" She then let go and backed up a few feet and continued, "It's tough enough for a single mother like me without an abusive drunk like Barry ruining mine and my son's lives."

Eddie then replied, "Yeah no problem. I just kinda snapped when I saw him doing all that crap. What are you doing with a loser like that anyway?"

The mother quickly corrected, "Was doing. After you saved me last night I went inside and threw all of his stuff into the street and washed my hands of him for good." She then added,

"Like I said it's tough out there for a single mother. A couple of months ago he came into my life and was really nice to me; promising he'd take care of me." She gave a bleak smile and then continued, "Out of sheer stupidity and loneliness I let him live with me and at first he was nice. But as time went on he showed his true colors. Any feelings I had for him died not too long after that, but him being the way he was I was just too scared to break it off with him."

When she finished speaking a small boy around the age of eight walked into the room. "Mommy, can I go play outside?"

She then wrapped her arms around the little boy and pulled him into an embrace and then said, "Sure just stay where I can see you, okay?" She then kissed him on the forehead and the little boy went on his way.

When he was gone Eddie said, "I presume that's the son you were talking about." She nodded and said, "Yes, having him as a son is one of the few things I've done right in this life." She then went back behind the counter and motioned him to come closer. "Look I really appreciate everything you've done and to show my gratitude; whatever you want in my store is free. I just don't mean this once either, from now on if you want something- it's yours."

Upon hearing this Eddie grinned and said, "Well now that you bring it up-"He then pointed at something under the glass counter; a beautiful silver necklace complete with an amazing sapphire jewel at the center of it. It matched Elsa's personality perfectly.

A few minutes later he bid the single mother good day and left with Elsa's gift. As he saw that Elsa and Anna had rejoined the group he quickly stuffed her gift into his pocket. Seeing that he was back, Elsa's eyes lit up. "There you are, Eddie. We were beginning to worry you weren't coming back." Eddie then quickly replied, "I'd have to be crazy to ditch ya'll"

They then went to the food court and ate lunch, about half an hour later Eddie made his move. "Hey Elsa, do you wanna go take a walk with me?" When he asked her that; Elsa's heart skipped a beat. This is it. She had been looking forward to this moment all day and it was finally here. She quickly stood up and said, "Yes I would love to." As the two left the table Anna and Kristoff looked at each other and smiled for they knew what was happening.

Eddie offered Elsa his arm to escort her to which she accepted. They walked a block and rounded a corner and sat on a bench overlooking the bay. The sea breeze gently blew through Elsa's hair which in Eddie's eyes made her look even more gorgeous. It was then Eddie reached for her hand and gently grabbed it. Everything felt so right he never wanted the moment to end-

TELL HER THE TRUTH A voice in his head screamed.

Eddie's smile disappeared which of course Elsa noticed. "Eddie, what's wrong? Was it something I've done?" To which Eddie quickly assured her, "Oh no not at all. It's not you at all- in fact you're perfect." He then gently rested his palm on the side of her face causing his smile to return. He quickly snapped back into reality and said, "Elsa, there's something you need to know. Look I understand there's things you want to know about me, and you have a right to know, especially now. I wanted to tell you so bad from the beginning but I'm afraid that you- umm, you-"

"I would what? Eddie please I want to know and whatever it is we can work through it. I see you really care about me and I feel the same about you."

Using her free hand she grabbed Eddie's other one showing her sincerity. It was then Eddie Brock attempted to tell her the truth. "Everything I've told you about myself is true, it's just that-"

Before he could finish his sentence his sixth sense picked up on an incoming object flying towards him and Elsa which caused him to spring into action. He managed to leap up with supernatural speed and catch an incoming sleigh that was literally flying towards them. Using his superhuman strength he threw the sleigh out of the way. Eddie Brock knew exactly who was responsible, Carnage."

"She's a little out of your league don't ya think, Eddie boy?" Carnage mocked as he jumped down a few feet in front of Eddie.

"Leave her alone, Carnage. Our fight doesn't concern her!" Eddie sternly said which caused Carnage to laugh and reply, "I'm afraid it does, Eddie- or should I say; Venom.

Carnage looked over and saw the fear and confusion on Elsa's face. "What's the matter, your highness? Did lover boy here not tell you the truth about who he really is?" He then let out a high pitched evil laugh and exclaimed, "Well I'll show you then!" He then formed his arm into a blade and lunged at Eddie with it. Eddie then grabbed his arm and used Carnage's momentum to slam him to the ground with a loud BOOM!

Meanwhile all the commotion had drawn a huge crowd of people, including; Kristoff, Anna, Olaf, and Sven. Eddie looked over at Elsa who was in a state of complete shock at what she'd seen and heard. He then looked into her eyes with an apologetic expression and then took a step towards Carnage who was getting back up on his feet to make his next move. It was then Eddie Brock knew what he had to do. He had to become the monster that he was afraid Elsa would hate…. He turned into his true form; Venom.