Another way (Young Royals)

The apartment

We were back at the hospital to see Erik. He was in rehab and had been for a few weeks. Not where he had stayed for longest. He had even been in the ICU for a good while. He would soon be able to go home, for the first time since his accident. It was positive news and Erik really needed that.

"So what are you planning to do when you get home, Erik?" I asked. I assumed that he would need to adjust his life after his new conditions, but that he would keep going as the crown prince.

"Oh I am not going home. Not to Drottningholm," he said. I looked at him. What did he mean by that? "I have decided to move out, Wille." That made me smile. Maybe then we could see each other, without my mother trying to get me back.

"So where will you live?" Simon asked.

"I have an apartment that I bought before the accident. Mom does not know about it," he said. "I can't live at home again. Mom would not leave me alone." She could barely leave me alone, and I had shown that I did not want to be a part of it at all.

"Mom came to the release party," I said. Erik looked at me with big eyes.

"For real?" he asked. Simon and I nodded. Then the three of us laughed. It was quite absurd, really. The Queen herself dis such a thing as attending a release party for an album made by my boyfriend.

"She at least congratulated me," Simon said. Erik and I grinned. She would only dared to do anything else in my presence.

"But it sounded more like accusations that he had stolen me from the family," I added.

"That was mean of you, Simon," Erik joked. "How dare you make my little brother happy, huh?" That made me smile. Simon did too. He had a supportive arm around my waist. He knew it was still emotional for me to see my brother in the hospital. It caused me anxiety.

"As if she would stop me," Simon said. That made Erik grin. When I pulled Simon closer and kissed him Erik told us to get a room, but he smiled big. Just like Simon and I smiled at each other.

"Did mom witness any kisses at the party then?" Erik asked. Mom did not like me kissing in public. And definitely not Erik. Erik had the most of a reputation to obtain. I did not think I had ever seen my brother kiss anyone. He had girlfriends when we grew up, but even in private he never kissed them in front of the family. As I grew up I had never really thought about it. But I knew now what it felt like being freshly in love with someone. How bad I wanted Simon close. How much self control it took to resist kissing him sometimes, even if we happened to be in public. Erik had been a teenager once too. But he never got to act like one. He had always known that the role he was an heir to required a clean reputation. Just at that I was unfit as an heir to the crown. I had gotten myself into too many scandals in the past.

"She almost walked in on us making out backstage," Simon confessed, a little red in the face. Erik laughed.

"She will survive, I promise," he said. We grinned. I supposed she would.

************

Erik had moved into the new apartment with help from us and some of his friends. He had a new assistant that helped him with the things he could not do anymore too. Simon and I came back to his apartment after throwing out cartoons he would not need. We also had some lunch and ran some errands Erik needed help with. The assistant had gone on his usual lunch break. We both thought he was on his own. Well, apart from his bodyguards that were stationed in the hall. Therefore we were a bit surprised to hear another voice coming from his bedroom. It was a girl's voice. One I recognized, but could not place. Not until I saw her brunette ponytail from behind. It was Hanna, the nurse from the hospital.

"Wille. Simon," Erik said. Thought of what he was going to say next.Things went a little slower after the accident. He had a smile on his face, but no more words came out. Hanna watched the clock that Simon had put up prior that day.

"Oh shit, I should get going. My shift is on in half an hour," Hanna said and stood up. "Nice to see you boys." She told Erik she would call him later and put on her outdoor garments and went out the front door. Simon and I just looked at each other.

"She was in a hurry," I said and looked at Erik. He blushed a little. My brother, blushing? He hardly ever did.

"I guess," Erik said.

"So what was Hanna doing here?" Simon asked. Erik looked down at the floor and looked up at us again.

"She helped to put up some picture frames," he said, most probably avoiding the real reason she was there. I had that feeling at least. The picture frames in the living room, I had put up myself.

"What picture frames?" I asked.

"The ones I keep in my bedroom," he said. There were two empty coffee cups on the living room table, so I guess she had been there for a while.

"Do you drag that poor girl to come and put up picture frames in the bedroom for you?" I teased. Erik laughed.

"Yes. So what?" he said.

"I could have done that if you asked me and Hanna could have rested before her shift," I said. He shook his head.

"No, you could not," he said.

"Why not?" I asked.

"Because then it would not be a surprise for you, idiot," Erik said. I wondered what he was talking about.

"A surprise for me?" I asked.

"Yeah, for you," he said. He rolled into his new bedroom and Simon and I followed. When I turned around, I saw a wall, with pictures of myself. Myself and Erik while we were growing up. Pictures of me and Simon. I turned to Erik. It was so pretty.

"Why did you do this?" I asked.

"Because I love you, little brother," he said. We hugged, but I could not really keep my eyes from the wall.

"I love you too, Erik," I said. I had realised I said that too little after his accident. I had decided to tell him that more often after that. So that he knew I did.