Once Michael crossed his Rubicon, that was it. As TB points out, he couldn't simply walk away. It was in his blood to dominate the underworld. He liked the power and the manipulation. it was intoxicating. Power usually is. Michael managed it better than many did. I've never bought into the Michael wanted to be legitimate story line. He wanted the appearance of legitimacy so that he could continue his nefarious ways.

In some ways, yes. Many of us here believe it came even earlier: when, in the hospital, he said, "I'm with you now, Pop," he could have meant that he was, finally, with the family, not just at his father's side.

But I believe that he could have chosen to go his own way after Sicily. He could have said to Vito: "Pop, I was wrong to hold you and the family at arms-length, but I made up for it. I killed the two guys who were conspiring to kill you, and saved your life. I paid a heavy price: I had to ditch my beloved Kay and hide in Sicily. I lost my beloved Apollonia to a bomb intended for me because I'm your son. We're quits. Sonny dead? I grieve as do you. Fredo not up to the Donship? Sorry, Pop, but that's not my problem. Besides, you always said you wanted me to be 'Senator Corleone, Governor Corleone.' Well, Pop, I can't get there if I'm 'Don Corleone.'"