Eddie opens the door, their head is down so the first thing they see are shoes. There are one pair of red sneakers, two pairs of red and black heels and behind that one pair of dress shoes and another pair of sneakers. Eddie feels Venom forcing their head up, looking at several familiar faces. Their eyes widen in surprise and Eddie feels their heart pass a beat. 'Anne?' Is the first thing Eddie says, the confusion clear in his words. Next, he sees Peter's face, glowing hopeful, together with a small nervous smile plastered on his face in his hands two large plastic bags. Next to Peter stands May, or Peter's aunt May, she laughs and says 'Well someone is looking a bit pale. Who were you expecting, the cops?' May winked and said in a teasing singsong tone. She holds up a big covered plate.
Eddie, tatertots! Venom interrupts his thoughts, causing Eddie to shake his head, which quickly dissolved in a shake of disbelieve. They looked up again and said: 'Dan? Marc? What are you all doing here? Anne shouldn't you be in New York? And Peter what...' Peter quickly cuts Eddie of, dumping the bags and jumping at the man, throwing his arms around him. Eddie stumbled back a little as he caught Peter, he then felt Venom push back against his skin, as if trying to hug Peter back too. 'Merry Christmas Eddie!' Peter yells on top of his lungs, drawing back a little to look at Eddie's face. Peter was still unsure about how Eddie felt, or why they stopped talking. 'It's good to see you again Eddie.' Dan says in his warm voice, filling Eddie with a warmth, which he didn't even know he was missing. 'You weren't answering back any of my voicemails Eddie, I got worried sick.' Anne said worried, 'Besides I always wanted to see New York at Christmas.' She tried, to cheer Eddie up, looking at his face which went from surprised to tired, but still smiling. Eddie clapped Peter on his back, the kid was still clinging to him, and said embarrassed. 'Well come in, but uhm... don't mind the mess?' Eddie mumbled the last part, letting go of Peter, his mind immediately going to the pieces of glass on the bathroom floor. Venom moved restlessly through him, but tried sending a soothing emotion through his mind to help him calm down.
Eddie gestured to the other to come in. The small group of people Eddie considered family, stepped inside. Marc looked around a little nervous, as if waiting for Eddie to explode, his shoulders hunched, in his hands a small plastic bag which he kept piking at. Anne and Dan to were carrying big bags and also two small suitcases. The group deposited their stuff on Eddie's couch and then aunt May's eyes swept through the mess, Eddie called Livingroom, she quickly turned to the others and pointed at Peter and Marc. 'You two are on cleaning duty, Peter you take the Livingroom, Marc you take the Kitchen and Dan, would you be so kind and set up the dinner table.' Marc stood up straight and Peter even saluted, Dan just nodded and turned towards Anna, giving her a smile. May then turned around facing Eddie and said: 'I'm sorry dear, but your home is...'
'A mess, I know.' Eddie sighed, deflating and looking even more tired than he already did. Anne came up to him and gave him a side-hug, her arm felt strong and warm around his shoulder, honestly, it felt good to have her next to him again. Eddie turned his head to look at her. It was only now, Eddie realized, how much he had missed her after his move to New York. Venom also preened at her touch, knowing that Eddie had missed this and tried to commit the feelings to their memory.
'Uhm Eddie, are you okay...' Dan suddenly said, his face growing concerned. Eddie started panicking, what was wrong now? Dan's eyes were trained on Eddie's leg, his sweatpants, that were still covered in blood. 'Let me have a look at it.' Dan was already moving when Eddie yelled panicked. 'No! No I'm alright it nothing, uh.. I cut my finger with my razor and then I wiped it on my pants?' Eddie tried to explain, his eyes flying between the faces of his friends and he started sweating nervously. 'You sure...' Dan said unsure, looking from Eddie to Anne and back again. 'Yes, I'm sure.' Eddie said quickly and something must have shown on Anne's face, because after looking at her Dan backed off and held his hands up, 'Alright.' he said and then turned to aunt May. 'Well now that we know that, Eddie why don't you get cleaned up, hm? Take a shower and relax, Dan you know what to do and Anne will you help me with dinner?' May assured Eddie and Anne and Dan nodded, Eddie turned towards the bathroom, looking over his shoulder he saw that the three others were still looking at him, and all three nodded encouraging. May even shooed him towards the bathroom. Eddie huffed, he felt Venom smirk from within and walked towards the bathroom and closed the door behind him. Quietly he looked at the glass shards on the ground, his mind kept carefully blank. Venom appeared from behind Eddie, peering over his shoulder and then more black slime appeared. Little black tentacles worked together and cleaned the floor of glass, depositing the little bits inside a little trashcan Eddie kept in his bathroom. Eddie then took of his clothes and stepped inside the shower, Venom's little tentacles reached for the shower faucet and turned the water on. And just like that, it felt as if the water washed the stress and tiredness away. The empty, hollow feeling in his chest was gone. SO... they are all here. And Peter is here too, God Venom we can't let them stay here. Eddie thought and he felt Venom move around, sticking his little black head under the hot water flow.
Yes, we can Eddie. We are not hungry now, we can make things alright again. Venom thought back, moving his snakelike head back and looked at Eddie.V, Peter doesn't even know it was me, no you... I mean us who hurt him. I don't even know what to say. Eddie panicked, his breath hitching and he slammed his hands, palm first, against the shower wall, to stabilize themselves. Then we don't say anything at all Eddie. 'What?' Eddie spoke out loud, confused and looked at Venom, who looked back. We will just enjoy, Eddie. Eddie was silent, not knowing what to do he nodded and turned the shower off. When he stepped out of the shower, he saw some clothes lying on the toilet seat, without him knowing, someone had come in and had laid them there. It was Anne. Venom let him know and pushed him towards the clothes. Did she... See you, hear us? Eddie didn't even know what to ask, or what to think. After dressing in the comfy clothes, Eddie took a deep breath and opened the bathroom door.
The first thing that hit them was the smell of food, warmth and family. The familiar sweet scent of Anne, that perfume Eddie once bought for her. And next Dan smelling, a light musk and clinging tightly next to it, the sterile smell of hospital. A little bit weak but still there was Marc, smelling of strong morning coffee and ink, that for some reason was always splattered on his hands, thought Eddie had never seen him pick up a pen. Then there was a new smell, but a pleasant one, May smelled of honey and food, mixed with that of Peters. Who smelled of the streets at night and teen sweat. No hard feelings kiddo, that's just puberty.
The second thing was the sight, Eddie hadn't decorated at all, not even remembering the date. But Christmas had come and even thought there was no tree, the room was decorated with green garland, covered in red ribbons. The heating was on and the room looked neat and didn't feel so cold and empty anymore. Dan and Marc had taken their place at the table, which was now covered with plates, cutlery, napkins and wineglasses. On the table also stood several candles, making the faces at the table light up and glow softly. Peter now to grabbed a chair and sat down. The same chair as that morning Eddie. Venom let him know thoughtfully. Aunt May and Anne moved around the kitchen and set all kinds of different food down on the table. 'Come dear, you're not gonna stand there the whole evening I hope?' May spoke, shaking them out of their thoughts. Venom willed their legs to move and slowly Eddie walked towards the table, grabbed a chair and sat down next to Peter and Marc. Both man and boy looked very nervous and they smiled twitchy at each other. Suddenly Dan let out a snort. 'It looks like two and a half man.' Dan laughed and Anne turned around, her gaze landing on Eddie, she smiled and said. 'Well I know who is who.' She then turned her attention back to the food she was preparing. Marc let out a nervous laugh, relaxing a little bit in his chair and Peter just sat there with a big grin on his face. Eddie, food smells so good! HUNGRY. Venom said persistent. We have to wait V... Eddie tried to reason with him but Venom became even more excited when the turkey was placed on the table.
After that it was like everything was moving in a blur and Eddie was just watching the movie play. May divided the turkey, Anne and Dan handed out the vegetables and different kinds of sauce. Peter took big bites and Marc thanked the ladies for the food. Venom's excitement rattled their bones, Eddie could only nod and at the end of the dinner there was a soft smile around his lips. When food was finished and the table cleaned Eddie and Peter were on dry duty and Dan washed the dishes. Marc, Anne and May walked towards the Livingroom, which only existed off a secondhand couch, a low table and a tv. May carried some small and little candles and put them on the table, Anne filled another few glasses of wine. When the dishes were done, Peter, Eddie, and Dan took a place on the couch, while the others took a chair from the dinner table and together, they sat down around the low table which was now filled with candles, glasses and several plastic bags. Peter was the first one the reach for a plastic bag and pulled it on his lap. Out of the bag he grabbed a little present, which he held out towards Eddie. 'No, no I can't take this...' Eddie said quietly, the quilt now rearing its nasty little head. 'Yes, you can.' Peter spoke with confidence and again held out his hand towards Eddie. Eddie looked up, he looked around his little group of friends. Family Eddie. The looks on their face encouraging him and Anne and May even nodded. 'It's okay Eddie.'
Eddie didn't know who said it, but he reached out and took the little present from Peter. He felt Venom move, curious about what was in the little box. Eddie opened it slowly and when the wrapping was of a little notebook and a very nice pen lay in his hands. Eddie looked back at Peter, looked him straight in the eyes and thanked him from the bottom of his heart. After that presents were exchanged, May and Peter had presents for themselves and Eddie. Anne and Dan exchanged presents and Anne had bought a new watch for Eddie. Marc too had a few presents, one of them a new aftershave, which Eddie looked strange at and Marc made a bad joke about Eddie always looking a little bit sweaty, especially that time after their rough chase with Ironman. To which Eddie let out a happy laugh.
It was already late when they all said each other goodbye, Anne and Dan where the first once to go. Together they went to a nice little hotel and the next day they would do a little sightseeing and enjoy New York in Christmastime. After that Marc to left, he told Eddie again that he was very sorry and after an awkward man-hug, Eddie promised him that he would come back to work if Marc still wanted him. When Marc finally left, Eddie felt good, he still had his job and now he had a purpose to stand up early tomorrow. May and Peter were the last to go. 'It was nice to see you again Eddie.' May told him, giving him a quick hug and grabbing their bags, which were now filled again with the boxes in which the food had been stored but the Christmas decoration they had hung around the room stayed. 'Those will have to come back a later time, I think those are very much needed here.' May joked and Peter laughed. Eddie thanked her for the food and then turned towards Peter. 'Peter, I...' Eddie started but Peter cut him off. 'It's alright Eddie, there is no need to say sorry. I'm just happy you're alright again and that we can talk again. We can talk again right!' Peter finished his sentence worried, giving Eddie another hug and Eddie grabbed the kid tight. Venom to clung to the kid, not that the kid noticed but... Eddie sure did. 'Well... I'm still sorry kid.' Eddie said quietly, slowly letting go of the kid and after another goodbye, aunt May and Peter went home and Eddie closed the door of their apartment.
Venom appeared on his shoulder, a crooked smile on his little snakelike face and tongue lolling out between his teeth. 'That was nice Eddie. Tonight, was nice.' Venom sighted and Eddie sat down on the couch. Eddie looked back at Venom and smiled 'Your right buddy, tonight was a good night. You know, maybe the best Christmas I ever had.' 'We like Christmas,Eddie.' 'Yeah we do V...' Eddie smiled, relaxed back into the couch, thinking about how everything was alright again. With a deep sight Eddie now completely sunk into the couch and closed his eyes.