Author's Note: Thanks so much for all the feedback! Reviews are always wonderful, so please keep 'em coming. Hope you enjoy and peace!

Chapter Forty-Four: Keeping it All Together

1430 Hours, March 15, 2552. Cooper Residence, St. Louis, MO. "The Confession," Planet Earth. Day Twenty-Eight of the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV

First Lieutenant Willis Hawk departed from his base in Denmark a couple of weeks later, taking his second day off. He'd spent the whole time in between strapped into a cockpit, and the constant maneuvers had left him pretty exhausted. Still, he had felt the uncontrollable urge to visit his son. Though he didn't want to admit it, Willis had the uneasy thought that his compulsion was caused by a sort of sixth sense; he just couldn't escape the feeling that somewhere, something was going very wrong.

And, of course, that led to the logical conclusion that Natalie was in trouble.

You don't know that, Hawk reminded himself. She could already be dead, and it was always only a hope that she might still be alive.

In any case, things weren't looking too good: either Natalie had been killed in the initial invasion, or she was in danger of getting killed now.

"Shit," Willis whispered, running a hand over his light brown hair. I just wish I knew what the hell was happening over there! he thought.

After arriving at his mother-in-law's home, Willis didn't let on that he had a bad feeling about his wife's safety. He greeted Natalie's mother and gave his son a big hug. He spent a few hours playing with Gabe before his mother-in-law called him into the kitchen.

"Willis, I need to speak with you," the woman began when they were seated at the table. Willis sat at the far end, just because it was the best angle to keep an eye on his young son while they talked.

"Sure thing, Mrs. Cooper," Willis said. He hesitated, then added quietly, "Today's her birthday."

"Seems hard to believe, with all that's happening," Natalie's mother said. "But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about."

Willis gave her a quizzical look, and the woman paused briefly before going on. "A number of years ago, your parents told me why they named you William. Do you know what your name means?"

"What?"

"It means protector. You are their first-born son, and it makes sense that you would be there to guide your younger siblings."

Willis gave her a sad smile. "Yeah, right. I was real good at protecting Matthew, wasn't I?"

"You've carried that death on your hands all these years, William, and yet you've never realized that it wasn't your fault."

"He was my brother," Willis said, his voice just a step away from cracking. "Seven years old, Mrs. Cooper. He was seven when he died, and I was eighteen. Who do you think should have been there for him?"

"William, you cannot blame yourself for things that happen out of your control. Were you going to single-handedly take on a Covenant ship, before you were even trained for such missions?"

"Why are we talking about this?" Willis asked, growing frustrated.

"Because I want you to understand that you fit your name perfectly, William. Even if you can't see that."

Willis was beyond perplexed. "Yeah, but why now?"

His mother-in-law took a deep breath, and he could see the tears well up in her eyes. She feels it, too, Willis thought with a mounting panic.

"I don't know what's happening on Sigma Octanus Four, Willis. The media has been unable to receive any reports, even from orbit. But if…if Natalie should…" her voice trailed off and she put a hand to her mouth. Blinking back her tears, the woman looked at Willis again. "There's just something I wanted to tell you, something she doesn't---and can't ever---know about."

Willis swallowed hard. "Ok."

She hesitated for a moment before saying, "I know what you did for her all those years ago, Willis."

"Huh?" he asked, wondering where this was going.

The woman gave him a faint smile. "Playing innocent to the end, right? I'll admit, that's very commendable."

"Really, Mrs. Cooper, I'm kind of lost. What are you---"

"Ethan," Natalie's mother stated simply.

At first, Willis thought he hadn't heard right: in fact, he was sure that he'd misinterpreted the word. "I…I'm sorry?"

"I know about Ethan, Willis. Of course, I didn't actually find out until a few years later, but I do know." She shook her head. "I never really did believe his story about Natalie getting mugged that day."

"You know?" Willis asked, incredulous. "But she wasn't the one to tell you?"

"It's a complicated---and classified---story. Suffice it to say that through my work with the Office of Naval Intelligence, I came to know about this particular incident."

Willis just sat there, blinking at her.

His mother-in-law couldn't help but offer him a second smile. "Think about it, Willis. Didn't you expect me to give Natalie a long talk about getting married at twenty years old?"

His cheeks flushed. "I guess so."

"When I found out about your part in removing Ethan from her life, how you stood by her and helped her…I knew then that she was choosing wisely." Natalie's mother paused. "After that, I was sure you truly loved her enough to make that commitment."

"I've always loved your daughter, Mrs. Cooper. Natalie and Gabe mean the world to me."

"Good answer, Willis." She grinned briefly, then sobered. "Do you understand what I said about your name yet, William?"

After a few seconds, he nodded slowly. "Yes, ma'am. I think I get it now."

"You protected her, Willis. You did exactly the right thing, and you did much more than what was expected of you. And for that, I will always be grateful."

The table grew quiet, and remained so for several minutes. Finally, Willis got up the nerve to break the silence.

"I only wish I could save her now," he said softly.