Author's Note: This story was written by me and katherine1992! Hope you like it!
A Miracle
Seven castaways sat around the dinner table, passing food and chatting, as usual. However, everyone noticed the Howells were not looking very happy that day.
"Maybe their stock went down a few points!" The Skipper thought to himself, trying not to laugh. The Howells were always pretty sad when their stock lost a few points. But even when their stock lost points.. He had never seen them so quiet before..
"Mr. And Mrs. Howell, would you like some fish stew?" Mary Ann asked the sad looking couple.
"No thank you dear." Mrs. Howell quietly replied, not looking up at Mary Ann. it was unusual that they weren't eating, they usually complained about not getting enough food, and now they're not eating!
The Howells sat quietly all through dinner, and eventually the whole table went quiet. Never before had dinner been so quiet, especially with Gilligan there!
"Mr. Howell? Mrs. Howell? What's wrong?" Mary Ann asked, eager to see what the usually very social couple was so sad about.
"Nothing.." The Howells answered, both at the same time.
"Mr. And Mrs. Howell, it won't get any better if you don't tell us what's wrong!" demanded the professor, who was ever concerned about the well being of his fellow castaways.
"Thurston- would you like to tell them, I don't know if I could handle it." The elder woman said, tearing up.
"Well,... N-n-nineteen years ago t-t-today, a year after we were married, we were so excited about welcoming Thurston Howell IV to our family... But then.. After expecting to come home with a baby in a bassinet, we learned that we could never have children.." Mrs. Howell burst into tears. The castaways stood in shock.
The others really had never heard the real reason behind the story, only Mr or Mrs. Howell would sum it up by simply saying, ' We never had any children.'
MaryAnn thought to herself, how said it must have been for the older woman whom she loved and admired. She always thought that Mrs. Howell was kind enough to look out for her, Ginger and Gilligan.
" Gee Mr and Mrs. Howell, were awful sorry." The skipper says.
" It's quite alright captain." The millionaire spoke softly, " I think Lovey and I are going to retire." they said nothing more and went to their hut.
Meanwhile, the others sat around the table. A sad expression filled each of their faces.
" It was nice enough of Mrs. Howell to adopt me." Gilligan says.
" Yah, little buddy, it sure was. It's nice to have a mother figure like Mrs. Howell around to give you all advice." the skipper pointed out to the group.
The three nodded, silently looking at each other, then toward the dark hut occupied by the quite millionaires.
" MaryAnn, leave some food out, I have a feeling they may come out for a midnight snack, if not we need to check on them later." the professor announced breaking the long silence that hung in the air.
The castaways retired to their own personal huts, after a saddening confession from the Howells.
"Oh Ginger, I feel so bad!" The Kansas farm girl told her movie star roomate.
"I know, and after all the time she spends mothering us... When I get back to Hollywood, I'm going to make their story into a million dollar movie!" Ginger cried, holding back tears.
"And I'm going to name my first child Thurston!" Mary Ann cried, suddenly bursting into tears. She felt so bad for the elder woman, who spent her time teaching them to be proper young ladies and mothering them. You could tell she wanted to be a mother so badly.
The two girls sat and cried, like someone had died. Neither of them could imagine what the Howells felt when they got the news.
The Skipper and Gilligan sat in silence on their hammock beds. Neither of them said very much since dinner. Gilligan spoke up.
"Gee Skipper, I hope the Howells are ok." Gilligan told his big buddy.
"Oh Gilligan. They are going through some hard times right now, ok? The least we can do is not bother them, give them some peace. And Gilligan... don't pester them.. THAT'S AN ORDER!" The Skipper told his little buddy, trying t make sure he didn't make anything worse for the Howells. he couldn't imagine how tey felt right now... on their son-to-be's birthday... the same day they found out that they could never have kids...
Each of the castaways secretly wanted to hear the whole story. They wanted to hear what happened, but they were afraid to ask, thinking it would upset them even more.
The next morning at breakfast, the usual prompt millionaires were no where in sight.
The food they left out was untouched.
The others barley talked and silence filled the air.
" Professor, do you think one of us should go see if they need anything?" Ginger asks.
" Maybe, if they don't come out in a few minutes." he replies still looking at their hut door.
The others waited and waited and decided to eat.
The skipper went to the door and knocked on it lightly.
" Mr and Mrs. Howell?"
No answer.
He opened the hut, to find neither of them there, and the beds were made up.
He walked over to the first bed and saw a note, saying they would be back later.
" Skipper what'd you find?" the eager first mate asks.
" A note, the Howells said they would be back later." he replies.
" Professor, you don't suppose they will pull a stunt like last time and try to jump the cliff, do you?"
The professor reads and re-reads the note. " Well I can't fine anything here that would be chancing, but just in case, why don't we split up and look for them. I will go off by the lagoon. Gilligan and Skipper you both go towards the cliff and check the caves. Girls, you stay here in case they come back."
The others went off into the jungle searching.
" MaryAnn, don't you wonder?" Ginger asks the farm girl.
" Wonder what?"
" You know, the whole story? I of course wouldn't be the one to ask them, but I do wonder." Ginger muses.
" Me too Ginger. Maybe Mrs. Howell will tells us. Oh I do hope there alright. Why don't we go cook lunch, after all who knows when they will return." MaryAnn says.
With no luck from any of the worried men, or the girls they ate a quick lunch.
" They couldn't have gone far, now could they." the professor says just as the Howells appeared.
The breezed by the table, leaving the 5 with questions.
The five castaways sat in awe at the table. Mr. and Mrs. Howell had just switly walked by the table, said nothing, as if they were the only ones on the island. The five castaways were concerned for them... they hadn't eaten or talked to anyone for the past two days. The castaways didn't even know where they were that morning.
"Wouldn't it be a little better if they just.. told us?" The Skipper suggested, taking his seat at the table.
"Skipper, it might be too much for them to come right out and tell us. It not only could put them into a depression, but they may not want to talk about it." The professor explained, also taking his seat.
"Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and hope for the best then." Ginger suggested to her friends.
"I agree with Ginger.." Mary Ann sighed. She hated to see people sad, especially her friends.
Lunch was made, and the Howells were no where in sight. That means they had missed 4 meals in the past two days. The Professor was concerned for their health. "We have to find them, and talk to them... this is unhealthy." Explained Professor, in a way that wouldn't worry his fellow castaways.
"Alright, we'll go looking again!" Mary Ann exclaimed, glad they were at least trying to help the Howells.
The castaways set out looking for the second time that day.
The Howells were sitting in a cave where they figured no one could find them, it was deep in the jungle.
Lovey Howell didn't complain about the long hike to it, which was highly unusual.
They sat in quiet, and in deep thought.
" Eat something Lovey." her husband begged her.
She shook her head. She hadn't spoken a word in two days.
" Lovey, really just eat a banana, I had to practically pry the thing away from that savage monkey." her husband says.
" Fine." she says taking it.
He looked up at her, adverting his eyes whenever she looked towards him.
The 5 could be heard just outside the cave. They tried to remain quiet but the others soon found them.
" Look I will go in. You all stay out here." he says.
The professor cautiously walked in smiling at the couple.
" Mr and Mrs. Howell, you both shouldn't be here. It's dangerous, and for your health too. Please come back with us and the girls will fix you something for dinner." he pleaded.
Lovey looked to her husband. " Fine professor." the millionaire huffed.
MaryAnn so desperately wanted to run up and hug Mrs. Howell, but she knew she couldn't, just yet.
The 7 walked back to camp with complete silence.
When they returned MaryAnn and Ginger got out the left overs and they all ate together.
Seeing there was no conversation, Gilligan began to speak. " We sure did miss you Mr and Mrs. Howell."
The skipper chocked on his food, he had reminded Gilligan not to pester them.
The others looked at the Howells.
" Thank you." Mr. Howell said almost too quiet to register.
The rest of the meal was finished and the Howells went to their hut.
" Tomorrow, we need to get them to talk. I'm afraid it's worse than I thought. I was observing their body language all through dinner, and well, they really don't seem like themselves." the professor states, then adding, " We can't force them to talk, each person had their own ways of dealing with emotional tragedies, but we do need them to talk."
The others nodded listening intently to his plan.
The next morning, the Howells did not show up at any meals. They hiked back to their cave, and stayed there all day. The professor came looking for the wealthy couple, the others tagging along behind him.
"Let me go in first..." instructed the Professor. He walked in the cave.
"Sorry for intruding Mr. And Mrs. Howell... But this is unhealthy. I thinking would be best if you maybe... if I may be so forward...talked about it? Please." the Professor begged.
There was no answer from either of them. They just sat there in silence, sad expressions on their faces. Neither of them looked very good at the moment either... They were both pale and sickly looking.
Still silence. Mr. Howell spoke.
"Fine." He told them, quietly, not even looking at the professor. "Tell the others to come here." he said solemnly.
The professor nodded and walked out.
" Okay, I managed to get them to speak. When we all go in there, everyone needs to be quiet." he informs them.
They all turn to Gilligan whom has his hands clasped over his mouth. When the return they sit in front of the Howells, giving them their full attention.
Lovey could hardly look at them, or even talk. Thurston knew he had to talk for them. He cleared his throat.
"Well, 20 years ago, when I first married Lovey, we both knew we wanted a son to carry on the Howell name. We were hoping to welcome a son into our family, but that didn't go as planned..." Mr. Howell paused for a second. "of course, we tried again, once again failing. We went to the best doctors all over the country. We spent hundreds of thousands of dollars at some of the world's best experts... but then they told us the worst news we could possibly hear." He paused again, holding back tears. "T-they told us we could never have kids, ever. We considered adopting, but we could never pick, we wanted them all. That's why Lovey.. loves you all so much and mothers you all. and I must admit I often feel like your father." Mr. Howell finished, still holding back tears.
The others looked at the couple with sad expressions. As if guilt had entered the small cave and sucked up all the peace.
The tears fell of the girl's cheeks. Not believing what they had heard.
The Howells didn't feel much better after speaking the situation, but it made things a little less uncomfortable.
No one spoke, but only sat listening to the air and nature.
Lovey began to cry. The others didn't know if they should leave or not, so they waited.
Thurston didn't dare cry in front of his wife, it would only make matters worse.
The professor sat and watched, tears burned his eyes as knew he had to bring them home and get them better.
Gilligan saw how hurt Mary Ann was so he put his arms around her and held her.
After that Mrs. Howell spoke up. " I love you all. I want you to know that."
The three younger castaways hugged her tightly. She kissed their cheeks and sighs.
" Come on, let's get you two back to the hut area." the professor says. The group walks home, feeling closer than ever.
The castaways reached the hut area, after a comforting walk home. Mary Ann made dinner. The Howells hadn't eaten in days, and they devoured their food, but didn't talk much. The Professor, concerned about their health after not eating, insisted they be checked out.
Mr. and Mrs. Howell agreed to be looked over. Mrs. Howell went first.
After a half hour, The Professor had some news. "Mrs. Howell, if you don't mind me asking, who told you that you could not have children?" he asked, hoping she wouldn't get upset again.
"Doctor Erich Montly.." She replied quietly.
"Well, he was wrong." Mrs. Howells eyes lit up with joy.
"You mean... after all these years..." She wanted to jump out of her seat, but it was so un-Howell.
"Yes Mrs. Howell, you finally will be a mother!" The Professor exclaimed, happy for the Howells.
"THURSTON!" Mrs. Howell yelled. She was too excited.
"What is it Lovey..." He asked, not sure what her excitement was about.
"Mr. Howell, you are finally going to be a dad. The doctors were wrong." The Professor told them.
"Oh, Lovey! Is it true?" He eagerly asked.
"Yes Thurston!" She practically screamed. The other castaways could hear everything from outside, and they jumped for joy.
It didn't seem possible, but she was going to become a mother. She was so excited.
The first few months went by very slowly. After all, morning sickness wasn't at the top of her list.
Thurston woke up every morning staring at his wife, still not believing this was happening.
Their hut was perfect size to fit one more person. Thurston decided he was going to help the other men put together a bassinet.
Lovey was thrilled with the whole thing. The girls helped her with her clothing, she was practically growing out of.
Once she reached 8 months, it became difficult, she couldn't do a lot.
" Lovey, come on, a Howell is never late for dinner!" Thurston begged as his wife sat at her makeup table.
" But Thurston, I look as wide as a house. I am not going out there." she cried.
" You look beautiful, I promise dear!" her husband pleaded.
She patted his cheek. " Thank you dear"
He rolled his eyes. He couldn't help but laugh. Lovey was beautiful, no matter how she looked.
They ate and happily chatted away.
Over dinner, she hadn't felt the baby much before but, it kicked.
" Thurston!" she exclaims putting his hand over hers to feel. He kissed his wife.
Mary Ann and Ginger even made a special cake resembling Mr. Howell's Teddy bear, of course, it was a coconut cake, instead of a pie.
Gilligan was very excited he worked for days on making the baby a gift.
" Here Mrs. Howell." he says handing her a sail boat he carved out of wood.
" Oh Gilligan, this is marvelous, thank you." she says hugging him.
The Howells went to bed early, thanking the others for all they did.
- Lovey was finally glad to be 9 months along. She couldn't stand carrying all the extra weight, not to mention how tired she was.
She had been on ' hut rest' for the past three weeks. She couldn't help but be bored. A Howell hardly ever missed out, but the others came to visit her to keep her company.
She got up out of bed and walked to the bassinet the men had built.
She couldn't wait, after all these years not knowing how it was possible now, but it was.
Her husband came in from a round of golf. Setting down his bag, he walked over to his wife kissing her cheek.
" Hello my dear, how are you feeling?" he asks.
"Well my back has been hurting, and I am very tired." she says.
Suddenly the pain became unbearable her water broke and she fainted.
"PROFESSOR!" Thurston Howell III screamed. His wife just fainted, and she was about to have a baby.
"What is it Mr. Howell... is she ready to have the baby?" he asked eagerly.''
"Yes! And she fainted!" Mr. Howell and the Professor carried Lovey into the makeshift hut they had made for emergencies like this. They laid her down on the bed.
"Mr. Howell, would you like to stay or leave? It is completely up to you." The professor asked.
"As much as I love my wife, I don't think I could bear watching it." His wife woke up.
"Thurston.." Lovey cried.
"Good Luck Lovey!" He kissed his wife once, and then left the hut so the professor could deliver her child.
About 2 hours later, Thurston Howell The Fourth was born. Lovey was fast asleep, holding the infant in her arms. Mr. Howell walked in to see his wife and child sleeping peacefully. He felt so blessed to finally have a son after all these years.
He sat down by the edge of the bed and watched his wife and baby boy sleep. Lovey woke up about 10 minutes later.
"Thurston..." She said, quietly.
"I'm here Lovey. How are you?" He asked his wife, now a mother.
"Oh, it was terrible, but I'm better now... and look at your precious baby twins..." she told him, smiling softly.
"Wait... did you say.. twins?" He asked, excitedly.
"Yes. Thurston Howell The Fourth and Emily Howell." She told him, now a huge smile on her face.
"Oh Lovey...'' He said, so proud of his wife. She was going to be an amazing mother.
"Would you like to hold your future harvard man... and your baby girl?" She asked him, handing him his chlildren.
He was ecstatic to be holding the two most beautiful people he had seen in his life, besides his wife. He smiled and kissed his wife again, proud of her.
A few months past and the tiny twin Howells were growing. Lovey enjoyed being a mother very much.
She now had a new meaning, and purpose to her life. But the other castaways loved playing with the baby Howell twins to give the Howells a break every few days.
Thurston loved being a father, he couldn't wait to take his son to the Harvard club, and dance with his daughter at her coming out party.
Once Lovey and Thurston were alone in their hut, the quite bothered them.
" My darling, just relax. I assure you, the children are just fine." Thurston said, massaging his wife's shoulders carefully.
" I know, but I do worry about them. I know the girls are taking good care of Emily, and well the men are hopefully doing well with little Thurston."
Thurston kissed her cheek.
Suddenly, the others came rushing back. Lovey feared the worst, almost fainting.
The Howells rushed outside to hear all of the commotion.
" What is it!" Lovey screamed.
" Mrs. Howell, Mr. Howell, listen." Mary Ann says.
" Mama." little Emily says with her cute accent, Thurston follows suit.
Lovey and Thurston began to laugh. " Oh Thurston, there beginning to talk!"
Lovey held her daughter and Thurston grabbed his son.
The skipper turned to the Howells," Pretty soon, there will be two mini versions of you both running around the island." he said with a chuckle. The others laughed.
" Yeah, and that's two more people we have to cater too." Gilligan said in the skippers ear, which earned him a nudge in the ribs.
" This whole experience on the island has taught me something new. I love you all and glad were a family!" Lovey says.
" Here, here!" Thurston says.
The others nod in agreement, knowing their little island family of nine people now, was closer.
Hope you liked it! Please Please Please Review! It means the world to me!