A/N - Thank you guys so much for the amazing response to chapter 2! I am so grateful for all the amazing readers who left me positive messages! This is the final chapter for this fic and it is pretty much pure fluff (the horror). One thing I want to let everyone know is that I have every intention of finishing my other stories ASAP! I'm hoping to really buckle down and update really soon!

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Chapter 3

When the house finally came into view Edward's stomach dropped. Something seemed off though and Edward quickly realized what it was. The house was to quiet as the pair made their way across the yard. One quick breath let Edward know that the only person home now was Esme and he felt tension leave his body that he didn't know he had been holding on too. Carlisle stopped at the back porch and gave Edward one final squeeze before loosening the arms around his neck and placing the boy on the ground.

Carlisle took the time to straighten Edward's clothes a bit. "Go on son," Carlisle gave him a small nudge to the center of his back that got him moving into the house. Esme stood in the doorway of the kitchen and Edward froze again, dropping his eyes and shifting awkwardly where he stood in front of his father. Esme looked past Edward to Carlisle, who gave her a small nod. She looked back to her youngest son with a knowing and sympathetic gaze.

"Come here baby," That was all the invitation Edward needed. He moved forward into Esme's waiting arms. She wrapped them around him tightly and he buried his head in her neck.

"I'm sorry Mama," Edward spoke softly.

"I know," Esme soothed softly. She held him tightly whispering comfort to him for several minutes as Carlisle looked on fondly; before pulling away and examining her son closely. Finally she spoke, her tone firmer now. "Don't you ever take off like that again Edward Cullen. Do you understand me?"

"Yes Ma'am," Edward spoke softly and had the good grace to look ashamed.

"You had me worried sick young man," Esme scolded again. Seeing her son's guilty stance had her sighing softly. "I want you to go upstairs and get cleaned up okay. Daddy and I need to talk." Edward nodded his head, worried eyes flashing between his parents. "I'll bring you in some clean clothes. Go on." Esme pressed a kiss to his cheek before giving him a gentle push towards the living room. Edward could here the muffled voices of his parents as he made his way up the staircase and tried to remind himself that the worse was over.

He made his way to the bathroom and wasted no time climbing into the shower stall. He watched as the dirt swirled around the drain as the cool spray pounded on his shoulders. He closed his eyes against the spray and tried to fight down the overwhelming emotions that threatened to climb to the surface.
Regret and guilt took center stage. Regret that he had let his impulse take control that morning. Regret that he had ignored his brother's annoyed shouts. He truly hadn't meant to wander so far but time and distance had gotten away from him. He hadn't realized how long he had been gone, nor how far he had traveled; until he had heard his fathers stern voice ringing through the forest. Then the guilt had set in. Suddenly aware of where he was, recognizing that he was much farther from the house that he had intended to travel. Noticing he could not longer hear or smell his brothers. Guilt because he knew, whether he had stopped to consider it at the time; that his brothers would have searched for him before calling their father.

So when Carlisle called his name he had frozen in the trees, fear gripping his heart and sinking his stomach to the ground. He'd known as soon as he'd seen Carlisle standing in the clearing what was in store for him. And now in the aftermath, backside flaming despite the lack of blood flow; Edward was left with a dead weight in his stomach.

The bathroom door opened, Esme's scent wafting in; and shut rather quickly. Edward gave a soft sigh and made quick work of scrubbing his hair and body clean. Stepping out of the shower Edward dried off and dressed in the clothes Esme had brought him. He was thankful for the soft cotton pajama set even as they burned when he slid them into place. When he left the bathroom he was greeted by Carlisle, standing in front of his and Esme's room waiting for him. Carlisle offered him a small comforting smile as he waved him forward obviously sensing his sons anxiousness.

Esme was already in the room, seated on the large bed and after a small nudge from his father Edward made his way over and reluctantly took the seat next to her, squirming as his backside smarted painfully. As Carlisle took the seat to the other side of her Edward couldn't stop his mind from reaching out as he sat next to his parents but he was met with silence.

"Am... Am I still in trouble?" Edward asked quietly.

"Grounded," Carlisle answered. "For one week." Edward bit his tongue, smart enough to keep his mouth shut despite wanting to protest.

"And Daddy and I decided," Esme spoke firmly her stern look letting Edward know what followed would not be up for discussion. "No more hunting without one of us with you." Edward's eyes widened.

"But-"

"Edward," Carlisle's voice was firm and had Edward snapping his mouth shut instantly and eyes dropping to his lap.

"You ran away from your brothers Edward," Esme reminded the boy sternly. "You have to prove that you can behave yourself without daddy or I with you."

"It's going to take a lot of work to gain our trust back," Carlisle said softly. "Do you understand?" Edward glanced up from his lap meeting his parents expectant gazes.

"Yes..." Edward mumbled. Carlisle cleared his throat expectantly. "Yes sir."

"Good boy," Carlisle praised as he stood, Esme rising to her feet next to him. Carlisle moved forward then, guiding Edward to lay on the bed. "Now I want you to lay for a while."

"Why..." Edward whined instantly as Carlisle maneuvered the blankets from under his body.

"You can lie in bed or you can sit in the corner," Carlisle offered pausing in his movements. Edward let out a small huff of air, falling against the mattress with his arms crossed over his chest and a pout forming on his lips. "Enough of that," Carlisle admonished softly as he pulled the blankets up to Edward's chest and tucked the boy in. "I think you've had enough excitement for one day. You could do with a bit of quiet time." Carlisle bent down, pressing a gentle kiss to the boys forehead.

"We'll be downstairs love," Esme said trading spots with Carlisle and pressing a kiss to the same spot. Carlisle wrapped an arm around Esme's waist and the two made for the door.

"Stay in bed," Carlisle warned before the two left the room, shutting the bedroom door behind him. Edward gave another huff before rolling from his back to his stomach, glad to finally have the pressure taken from his backside and settled in. He was in for a long afternoon.

Edward would have sworn it had been hours since Carlisle and Esme had shut the door to their bedroom and left him alone in the darkened room with his thoughts. And he did mean his thoughts. Any attempt he had made to to reach out with his mind to the two other occupants of the house had resulted in nothing but silence. And despite his certainty that they had left him to suffer the never ending silence several hours ago, a glance at the alarm clock on the bedside table told him it had been just under two. He shifted again, turning his head away from the offensive, and obviously broken; alarm clock and glancing towards the window. The curtains remained closed.

Edward couldn't help but wish they had been left open as he squirmed again.

His backside throbbed with the reminder of his recent punishment and with nothing but the walls to stare at he had no way to distract himself from the pain of it. He pulled the comforter tighter around himself and was thankful for the comfort it offered. The blanket, though receiving little use; smelled distinctly of his parents and their scents at the very least gave him something else to focus on at the moment.

A knock at the door brought him out of his thoughts. He turned his head as it opened, whoever it was having no intention of waiting for an answer; and was greeted with his two brothers sliding quietly into the darkened room. Letting the door fall shut behind them they made their way over to the bed. Edward moved toward the middle of the bed, Jasper sitting next to his head, a hand instantly finding its way into Edward's hair; and Emmett sitting near his knees. The three stayed silent for several minutes. Edward purposefully staying out of his brothers minds, worried they might still be angry with him. Even as Jasper began to scratch softly at his scalp Edward instead focused his mind on the blank page that was his fathers blocked mind and his eyes on the bed sheets.

"I'm sorry..." Edward finally muttered out when the silence became to much for the boy. Jasper's hand rested a little heavier on his head, and a wave of calmness washed over Edward. The boy relaxed against the mattress, and Edward caught the end of a shared look between his older brothers.

"We know..." Jasper spoke softly as he guided Edward's head to rest on his lap.

"It's over now," Emmett smiled reaching a hand forward and rubbing Edward's back.

"Not yet," Edward muttered.

"Grounded?" Emmett questioned and gave a soft wince when Edward nodded. "Ooh that sucks." Jasper sent a glare Emmett's way.

"IT won't be that bad," Jasper comforted and Edward sent him s look that clearly said he doubted that very much.

"Come on," Emmett laughed giving Edward's back one final rub before standing.

"Do you have to?" Edward questioned softy.

"Dad only gave us ten minutes." Emmett smiled softly as Jasper nodded and stood while sliding Edward's head back onto the pillow as he went.

"One more thing," Jasper said pointing towards the closed curtains. Emmett moved towards them and wasted no time raising the blinds and opening the curtains, allowing the soft afternoon sunshine to drift into the room.

"Much better," Emmett winked as the two made their way towards the bedroom door. "Give us some time and we'll plead your case."

"See if we can bust you out any sooner," Jasper added before the two slipped out into he hallway. When the door closed and Edward was once again left in silence it didn't seem quite as daunting as it had before. And at least now he had the muffled voices of his brother's thoughts and the view of the forest to occupy his thoughts...

A/N - That's it! I really hope you guys enjoyed this fic! Let me know what you thought and what you would like to see in the future! For this fandom and any others!