Down on his knees, Michael stared at the large headstone before him. His eyes trailed over every letter of his brother's name as his heart pounded hard in his chest. The sun was high in the sky, but not even its warmth could best the chilly winter air determined to swallow him whole.

This was the moment Michael had dreaded most. Not so much the act of visiting Gabriel, but having to stand before him. Having to face him. But it was a moment—a visit—he could no longer put off.

Days had passed since he discovered a fairy in the Woodlands, and his mother's unreasonable suggestion that he take responsibility for her. Responsibility in the form of him deciding whether the fairy lived or died. And he knew the only way to make such a decision was to seek answers from somebody who was no longer around to give them.

"It has been a while, brother."

A while since he had last visited.

Longer since he had seen the brother he knew and loved—not the monster Gabriel had become in his final days.

"Have you been well?"

He hoped he was.

"Wherever you are, are you happy?"

Life had forced him to face hardships. Had death at least rewarded him with peace?

Michael closed his eyes and imagined his brother standing before him, wearing the smile that was so much like their mother's. He imagined him closing the space between them, placing a hand on Michael's shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze. He imagined Gabriel telling him everything would be alright because that was what he would always say. Making things right was what he had always done—taking on the world so that Michael did not have to.

And that made Michael angry.

Because Gabriel had done everything right. He was good and kind. He was stronger than anybody Michael had ever known because his strength came from his love for his family, their pack, and his ability to see good in others and the world.

So how did someone like that become a murderer? How did someone who had so much life still left to live end up six feet under?

Michael opened his eyes, and stared at the headstone, particularly the words—decided upon by their mother—etched into it.

Beloved brother.

Beloved son.

"A murderer? How? Why? That was not you, Gabriel. Our mother is in trouble, and none of this would have happened if you had not been in the Woodlands that night. If you had not killed..."

The haunting memory of the night Michael discovered Gabriel sneaking into the castle—clothes stained with blood, and dried blood trailing from his mouth down to his neck—played over and over inside of Michael's head.

No matter how hard he tried, it was a sight he could never forget. Evidence his brother had done something he could not undo. The exact moment Michael realized the brother he knew and loved was no more.

"Why? Why were you there?"

Gabriel had told him he did not know why he went to the Woodlands that night, only that his choice to do so led him to be bewitched by a fairy, who he ended up feeding on and killing, which, in turn, led to him being abducted and held captive by the Fae. His story had been corroborated by the Witches, but his mother stood firm in her belief the Fae had not wronged Gabriel.

So, what was true and what was a lie?

"Mother said the Fae did not harm you. If that is true, then why did you say they did? Had the fae blood driven you to the point where you made up stories? Where you could not distinguish fact from fiction? How do I fix your wrong, brother?"

He failed to protect Gabriel in life, but could he protect him in death?

"Tell me!"

Dead men told no tales, so demanding answers from Gabriel surely made him look crazy. Perhaps even a bit unhinged. But that was all he could do. Yell at a brother he would never see again, and hope to hear answers from a voice he would never hear again.

But Michael did hear a voice then, only it was not the one he expected.

He turned his head to locate the source, and saw his father and Damien headed towards the Woodlands.

His heart began to race.

The only reason Michael had been able to visit Gabriel was because the pack meeting supposed to take place that day had been cancelled, and his father was supposed to have been called away.

So, why were they going into the Woodlands?

He stood up, and carefully watched them. Their steps were not particularly hurried, and they were not dressed as if they were partaking in a raid. And if his father had known about the fairy, he sure as hell would have been taking more than just his beta with him.

But that neither set Michael's mind nor body at ease.

He took a step to go after them, but paused before he could take a second.

If he went after them, he could ensure they did not find the fairy by finding her first. But considering how easily he had gotten lost in the Woodlands the last time, he ran the risk of being caught.

If he stayed where he was, then fate would decide what would happen to the fairy. Maybe she would be caught, or maybe she would not. But if she was, the risk of his mother's secret coming out increased.

And Michael absolutely could not let that happen.

After he watched his father and Damien disappear into the Woodlands, Michael turned his head and glanced at Gabriel's headstone. As he trailed his eyes over it just like he had done earlier, three words crossed his mind: at all costs.

He may not have gotten the answers he wanted, but, in that moment, he did get the answer he needed in the form of those three words.

No matter what.

No matter the price.

No matter how difficult.

'At all costs' had been the last promise he made to Gabriel. It was also a promise he had made to protect his mother and her secret. It had always been his way of taking responsibility, even in situations he had not created.

He may not have been the reason why a fairy was left behind in the Woodlands, but fate chose him to be the one to discover her.

And no matter what, no matter the price, no matter how difficult, he would take responsibility in a way that would protect everybody.

But he would first have to protect her.

A/N: Michael also once swore to protect Ellette 'at all costs'. Such a shame he doesn't remember.

What made you fall in love with these two in Moonrise, and what do you hope for in Moonfall? If it's a HEA, keep in mind that I never make promises of happy endings  ;)

p.s. rmkeys & _domestos_SA — LOVED hearing your theories last chapter about who might have killed Gabriel! Thanks so much for sharing!  :)