(A/N: Hello again! Please note that this story follows on from "Prince Eric" (as indicated by the title); so if you could take the time to read that one first then this is likely to make a lot more sense, thank you. For those of you who have already read that story then welcome back. I hope you enjoy this, and please review if you have time.)

It had been eight years, and still he thought of them every day; haunted by some survivor's guilt he would sit out on the balcony, alone. The sound of the waves lapping against the shoreline below him would calm his racing mind as he watched the waters ebb and flow. After all these years the sea continued to fascinate the young Prince, even after the incident that had almost lead to him drowning when he was only four years old. Eric shuddered at the memory, for the events that followed that had stuck with him to this very day. Having lost his mother only two weeks before, Eric's father King David had been sentenced to death by King Vernon of Glowerhaven for the murder of one of Glowerhaven's Earls. Eric had been too young to go to the execution at the time, but even then he had blamed himself for his father's death. He didn't know why, but he felt entirely responsible and partially responsible for his mother's death too, although he had no reason to. As expected, it had taken him a long time to get over the loss, despite the fact that his father had been abusive and power hungry.

After that, Carlotta and Grimsby had become his main carers, and acted as his foster parents. But things hadn't gotten any easier after that.

After hearing of her husband's death, Lady Victoria had ordered that Grimsby, Carlotta and Eric left the Manor House; she blamed them for the Earl's untimely death. With the palace still in ruins, Grimsby had tried contacting the other Earl's and Duke's within the surrounding area in a desperate search to find somewhere the three of them could stay. However, the search proved pointless, for nobody was willing to give up three rooms; and after the reputation that King David had built of himself, people began growing wary of Eric, some thinking that he would grow to be like his father. Grimsby and Carlotta had shielded Eric from these rumours, for they knew that the last thing he needed was to be compared to his father.

Eventually, thanks to Edward's generosity, they had bought a small house on the edge of town as a temporary residence. They would stay there until the palace had been rebuilt and live in the Kingdom as regular citizens. The argument then began about whether or not they ought to send Eric to school; but, after only a few days at the local school, the answer became apparent. All the other children knew who Eric was, and who his father was. Of course, word of Tony's murder at King David's hands had spread like wildfire throughout the Kingdom and, as a result, Eric was now finding it very difficult to fit in.

Grimsby had decided that he would teach Eric himself, and prepare him as best he could for the upcoming role of King.

After almost two weeks of meetings, it had been decided that Eric would take the throne come his eighteenth birthday unless he, nearer the time, felt incapable of doing so. In which case, it would be delayed until Eric felt capable of challenging the role. But, in his heart, Eric knew that he'd never be ready, not really; and he fully intended to delay the coronation as long as he could get away with.

It had taken six years to rebuild the palace after the fire that had killed his mother, and so, until the age of ten, Eric had been living amongst the people of, what would become, his Kingdom. Over this time, people had grown quite fond of him, and eventually realised that the young Prince was nothing like is father before him had been. He and Carlotta would often make trips in to town and, in all honesty, Eric had preferred that life to living as royalty. The young Prince became very down-to earth, and on occasions, completely forgot that he was a Prince altogether. As he had gotten older, he would help Carlotta with chores and been allowed to go off into town and down to the beach by himself so long as he was back before sunset. Eric had spent the majority of that time on the beach but, as happy as he seemed, Carlotta knew that he often felt lonely. He didn't have any children his own age to play with, and Grimsby and Carlotta were often too busy to entertain him.

King David was the main reason for this. He had forced Eric to grow up too quickly, and as a result, he was never really going to fit in, no matter how hard he tried.

Eric sighed, there was a hole in his life that was proving almost impossible to fill and, although he was still only twelve, the pressure of one day becoming King was already starting to weigh down on him. That's why he spent so much time out here; the sea calmed him and made him feel more relaxed than anything. The way the moonlight covered its surface in a silver blanket, shimmering against every wave. Sometimes Eric would stay out here for hours, which sometimes helped and sometimes lead him to overthink things and end up feeling worse than he had before.

Eric silently wished that things could go back to the way they were before. That he, Grimsby and Carlotta could go back to their little house on the edge of the Kingdom and live there as regular people, with no responsibilities, and nobody expecting grand things from them. But he would never say anything about it, for he'd never been one to complain, and he knew how much Grimsby and Carlotta had sacrificed for him. He was grateful, truly grateful for what they had done for him, and how they'd supported him throughout the years.

Grimsby had continued tutoring him, though the lessons were much more easy-going now that Eric's father wasn't around. He had taught the young Prince things that would help him when it came to ruling the Kingdom, and also core subjects such as English, Maths and Science. But Eric no longer saw Grimsby as a tutor; no, Grimsby had become Eric's father. The Prince was able to discuss any problems he had with Grimsby in the knowing mind that he would do his very best to help him, and felt able to confide in the older gentleman. There were however, certain things that only Carlotta could help with. She had been there for him since the beginning, and acted as Eric's mother even before the Queen had died. Eric would go to Grimsby for help and guidance, but he would always turn to Carlotta for comfort. If ever the memory of his parents or the stress of his studies became too much, the young Prince would seek out the woman who had raised him. She would hold him for hours, letting him cry whilst she uttered soothing words to him, and then listen whilst he got whatever was bothering him off his chest. Eric knew that it was childish, but when Carlotta's arms were around him he didn't feel afraid, and, most importantly, he felt safe.

Cuddling up on the sofa with Carlotta was something that he'd grown up with. For the six years they'd lived in the village, the two of them would sit down together almost every night, but now it was a rare treat. For, she knew that he was growing up, and had prepared herself for him not needing her as much. But, in all honesty, Eric still needed her just as much as he had done when he was younger.

He didn't want to grow up; not yet anyway.