It took no time at all to walk the few blocks to the courthouse where Judge Barclay's courtroom resided.

"Can I please be the one to tell him?" Dennis asked sheepishly. "I'd rather he hear it from me."

"That's fine with me, but I intend to accompany you to assure it's done with complete honesty."

"That's fine sir. And it will be either way. My dad sorta makes a living out of sniffing out dishonesty. It's easiest to just confess."

Dennis and the Cullens were quickly led by the secretary to a courtroom where Judge Barcley sat alone reviewing paperwork.

"Cullen! My friend I haven't seen you in a few months." The judge greeted Carlisle with so much merriment, he almost didn't note his own son shying away from the bench.

"Dennis?" He questioned. "What has happened?"

Dennis stepped forward. "I almost got arrested sir. For sneaking into the movies." He paused. "Well actually, four movies sir."

The countenance of the judge changed swiftly, and as if a guilty verdict had just been read, he cleared is throat and said,

"Very well then son. Go on home. You know what to expect when I arrive."

"Yes Sir." Dennis choked and immediately fled the courtroom.

"Don't be too hard on him Barcley." Carlisle began once Dennis was gone. "It's hot and the kids are bored. Besides, he owned up to his mischief, was completely honest with me and the officers, and didn't try to run like my bone heads did." He gestured towards the two remaining teenagers.

"Running from the law is the quickest way to end up on the wrong end of this courtroom boys." The judge chided. "I hope you remember that in the future."

"I'm sure they will never forget today. I whipped them in Marshal Doughoutys office in front of the officers and made them pay out what they owed for the movies."

"Very good." The judge nodded. "I'm sure I'd of done the same if I were there. And many of my cases would be nonexistent if more fathers did the same."

"Well, I hope you'll forgive me," Carlisle continued, "but I did the same for Dennis. It seemed only fair, and had I not intervened so, you likely would have had to pick the boy up from a holding cell on the other end of your courthouse here."

The judge nodded again. "I see." He was silent a moment.

"No Carlisle, I do not forgive you as I see nothing that needs forgiving. I appreciate you sparing myself and my son the humiliation of being paraded through my courthouse in cuffs."

The two men shook hands amicably and exchanged a few more words in which Edward and Emmett gleaned that Dennis would not have to endure another licking over the matter, though the judge saw no harm in allowing the boy to "worry himself" until the work day had concluded. They laughed at the trivial and childish nature of their children's criminal acts and concluded the exchange with a handshake and promise to meet up for drinks and billiards after work one evening.

After leaving the courthouse, Carlisle walked quickly, too quickly, down the street. The boys trotted behind for a block or two when the stress of unable to learn anything about their fate overwhelmed poor Emmett. He caughy up to the speed walking leader and joked,

"So since you talked Judge Barcley out of whipping Dennis again that means we won't get another one either right? It's only fair that we only get one right?"

Carlisle stopped abruptly and raised a questioning eyebrow.

"You thought that was a whipping?"

Emmett coughed, "I mean. It sorta was wasn't it? I mean." He coughed again. "It sure left an impression on me."

"Well the only impression I'm getting from this conversation is that I've been entirety too soft on you boys." He began to walk again, this time at a slowed pace. "You know good and well that your licks didn't even tickle."

"Well of course not dad." Edward laughed. "In no world would leather to ass ever tickle."

Edward nearly crashed into his father a second time that day as the older vampire stopped again.

"Sorry dad. Not funny. I'll just be quiet now."

The pause lasted only a few seconds and included a verbal reminder about appropriate language before the two troublesome teens were trotting behind once again.

To their surprise, Carlisle had led them to the hospital. He quickly instructed them to sit on a nearby bench and keep still and quiet.

"Think he's gonna make us sit here all day?" Emmett asked.

"I dunno."

A moment passed before another question broke the silence.

"Do you think he went back to work?"

"I don't know what he's planning."

"Well mind reader, read his mind!"

"He has me blocked."

The two waited fretfully another moment.

"Do you think he's gonna give us another hiding?"

"Emmett shut up!" Edward hissed angrily turning to face his brother. "I already said I don't know and dad said keep quiet. I'm not getting my ass busted for..."

"For not following my instructions to the letter?" Carlisle said approaching the two boys. "First, watch your language. We are in public with women and other children present. Secondly, you two couldn't manage to sit still and quiet for fifteen minutes while I picked up my things and paperwork?"

A couple of "sorry dad" were mumbled to the ground before the trio once again walked away at lightning speed.

Home was too near for comfort. The boys wished for a longer walk to delay the inevitable chastisement they had imagined for themselves. By the time they had arrived, the cloud of anxiety and concern had grown to such a level, all the others in the house felt it before the front door had even been unlatched.

"Good golly!" Alice started.."is everyone ok?"

"For the moment." Carlisle responded. "You two up to my office please." He ordered while walking the opposite direction, presumably to his room to change.

"You'll hear all about it once our as... er... our backsides have been toasted." Edward answered to the concerned glances of his siblings. "It wasn't that serious though..."

"Eddie ran from the police!" Emmett teased as he raced for the office door.

"Glad to see my special idiot so excited for a toasted backside." Rose sneered with an eye roll.

"Rose dear," Esme chided. "Emmett is not an idiot. He's just... excitable is all."

Meanwhile, Carlisle had changed and was walking back across the house from his room to his office, whistling!

"Should we be concerned about how calm he is?" Jasper asked Esme.

Esme frowned. "Maybe." She stood from her reading chair and handed her book to Jasper. "I'll just go see what is happening in there."