Ch. 1
Mary Ann made the first move.
It wasn't something she would normally do. After all, women did not chase after men. It wasn't right. It wasn't womanly. Her mother certainly would never have approved of it.
But she couldn't help herself.
He was kind and sweet. He had a gentle spirit and was so caring that she found herself wanting to be a part of him. He laughed a lot, which she loved, and he had a wonderful sense of humor. He was accident prone and managed to irritate others at times, but not her – well, sometimes – but at least not as much as the other castaways. He always meant well. He was rather thin and handsome in a boyish way with his innocent blue eyes and ready smile.
Mary Ann thought he was beautiful inside and out.
The first few times she tried with Gilligan were a bust. He didn't pick up her intentions and she didn't really know what she was doing either. She tried following him around, but that just made him nervous. After talking with Ginger though, Mary Ann tried again and again. She didn't give up so easily and stayed optimistic.
Eventually she realized that a blatant come on would scare Gilligan away. He was still like a boy in a lot of ways and was very antsy around women. Mary Ann tried a different approach. She befriended him first, but never forgot Ginger's words of advice.
I'm glad you're getting to know him. Just be careful that you don't become 'one of the guys.' Because then he won't ever see you as anything but!
The last thing Mary Ann wanted was to be put in that category.
She talked with him about home and about his home and family, and about things they both liked. Mary Ann knew he loved her pies, so she made them often for everyone, but especially for him. He never got tired of them and told her so after she brought it up to him. He could be immature but she noticed that less and less over time. She eventually got to know him to point that he considered her as good a friend as he did the Skipper.
It took Mary Ann several months but she finally had Gilligan comfortable enough around her that when she leaned in to kiss him one balmy night he didn't move away. Normally he was so shy that she was expecting him to jump away from her.
She had envisioned Gilligan leaping up and scrubbing his lips raw, so his lack of reaction made Mary Ann lean back to study him. He had an unreadable expression on his face and she began to feel regret for kissing him. He was obviously in shock. She should've known it wouldn't have gone well.
She sighed and moved back only to discover she couldn't. Mary Ann looked up at Gilligan and saw that his arms were around her, preventing her from going anywhere. She saw that his cheeks were slightly pink. He gave a shy little smile and had difficulty looking her straight in the eyes, but his arms were firm. She wasn't going anywhere.
"Gee Mary Ann, I didn't know we were that friendly," he said in a cheeky, un-Gilligan-like tone.
A furious blush spread over her cheeks before the hesitant brush of his lips against hers made her forget everything else.
From then on, they were inseparable. Mary Ann heard once that having a woman made a man mature quickly. She never knew if it was true or not, but Gilligan had changed. Of course, he was still himself – silly, prone to accidents, and still quite innocent, but he seemed more adult lately. He made better choices and was more aware of the repercussions of those choices.
They stayed faithful to one another even after the castaways rescued themselves from the island and found their way back to civilization. Their love just grew and got deeper over time. It started out as puppy love and turned into something so much more lasting.
As shy as Gilligan was, he felt so strongly for Mary Ann that he considered doing something that would have never crossed his mind otherwise.
Mary Ann climbed aboard the SS Minnow II which was ironically docked in the same spot the first SS Minnow was docked in.
"Hi Gilligan! Are you hungry? I brought your favorite pie…" Mary Ann gave him a big smile and put the food she brought below deck. "I saw the sandwiches you have – they look delicious!"
"Yeah, they should be pretty good -," he was interrupted by a big smooch on the cheek.
Gilligan grinned shyly. He ducked his head and rubbed his cheek before looking up at Mary Ann. She was so beautiful to Gilligan that he just stopped and drank in the sight of her for a moment. His love for her actually made his chest ache a little bit. He felt so lucky that she picked him. Him. She could have anyone she wanted and she wanted him.
Gilligan shook himself out of his reverie and ushered her to the top portion of the boat.
Mary Ann raised an eyebrow at him. "What's the deal Gilligan? I mention pie and you take me away from it?"
"Uh – well, that is…," Gilligan felt so nervous suddenly. A vision of the Skipper and the Professor popped into his head.
Just do it Gilligan! You can do it little buddy!
Yes, you have to be confident about these things, Gilligan. Do it with your whole heart and you won't go wrong.
Right. Just do it. Gilligan stood up straight and looked at Mary Ann who was still watching him with her gorgeous brown eyes, waiting for an explanation.
"Mary Ann, we can eat the pie later. I have to talk to you something."
"What? This is so unlike you Gilligan. Well, is everything ok?" She looked at him in concern. Mary Ann hoped he wasn't getting ill, but she already had a hundred different soup recipes ready to go if he was sick.
"Uh yeah Mary Ann… everything's fine. I just… wanted to ask you something."
Mary Ann waited. Her eyes then went very wide as she saw what he did next.
Gilligan pulled a white felt box out of his pocket and knelt down in front of Mary Ann. He then opened the box which contained a delicate gold band with a lone solitaire diamond on top and presented it to her.
Mary Ann looked down into his sky blue eyes and gently caressed his hair. She was already crying.
"Mary Ann… you mean the world to me. I love you. I love you even more than I love your food. I don't think I could live life without you. Will you marry me?"
He heard the first strains of music from an ancient upright piano off to his right somewhere. It was soft and sounded lovely although he didn't know the song. Gilligan felt like he was in a dream. Never in a million years did he think he would be getting married. And yet there he was, standing up on the altar waiting anxiously for Mary Ann.
The Skipper was his best man. He was standing next to him, talking with the Professor. Both men were looking quite dapper in their black tuxedos. Gilligan, the Professor and the Skipper were all fine with wearing normal suits, but Ginger wouldn't have it.
Tuxedos are for the most formal affairs. You'll have to wear one Gilligan. There's no other way.
The Skipper reminded him that the only reason he was in a monkey suit was because they were such good friends.
It's only because my little buddy is getting married that I'm doing this!
She and Mrs. Howell had seen to all the arrangements – the church, the flowers, the music, the cake, the food, the dress, etc, etc. Mr. Howell insisted on paying for the whole wedding. Well actually, he only wanted to pay for a small portion of it, but Mrs. Howell made it very clear what she wanted from him. She usually got what she wanted.
He let his gaze wander the small church decorated in white roses and pink carnations. There were so many flowers Gilligan could smell them all from where he stood. Mrs. Howell even had ropes of forget-me-nots draped over the eight pews in the church. He could hear the echoes of people walking around on the stone floor.
The congregation was a small one - just the Professor, Skipper, Mr. and Mrs. Howell, Ginger, and a few other friends. He didn't have any family left and Mary Ann's family was back in Kansas. She said that they wouldn't be able to fly out to Hawaii.
"Gilligan – it's time," the Skipper said to him with a big grin on his face.
The pianist switched keys and suddenly Gilligan heard the introduction to the wedding march. His palms became slick with sweat. He tried not to fidget and turned to his left to see everyone seated and waiting for the bride.
My bride.
Gilligan was suddenly so elated he wanted to shout. He was at his highest and nothing could bring him down. He was going to marry the girl he loved; he had all his friends with him, and his very best friend right beside him.
He was so lost in thought that he didn't even notice at first when the pianist began to play the wedding march a second time. He looked at the empty entrance of the church. Maybe she had to use the bathroom. Or maybe she lost her veil.
By the third time everyone was murmuring and looking around. The pastor was looking down at his watch. He smiled encouragement at Gilligan when he realized he was being watched. The Skipper had lost his smile however, and the Professor was nowhere to be seen.
Gilligan kept his smile pasted on. Nothing was going to ruin the best day of his life. Everything was going to be perfect.
He started to shake the fourth time he heard the wedding march play and looked over at the Skipper who now had a deep frown on his face.
Everyone's heads snapped to the back of the church as the doors suddenly banged open loudly. Ginger ran up to the front of the church with the Professor close behind her.
"What is it Ginger," Gilligan asked as he rushed down from the altar. "Where is Mary Ann?"
"Oh Gilligan! Mary Ann's gone," Ginger exclaimed breathlessly. She looked like she was ready to cry. "She didn't even leave a note or anything!"
A collective gasp was heard from the group of people in the congregation. Most of them quickly made their way up to the altar where Gilligan was.
"Gone? Ginger – what do you mean she's gone," the Skipper asked. "I don't understand - where could she have gone to?"
"We think she might have gone to the airport," the Professor replied.
The Skipper rubbed the back of his neck. "How could you possibly know that? You said she didn't leave a note."
During the entire exchange, Gilligan didn't say a word. All he heard was the blood roaring in his ears. Where was she? Why isn't she here? He fought the panic that was starting to rise inside. Gilligan swallowed hard and suddenly he could hear everything again.
"I saw an airplane ticket in her purse yesterday," Ginger explained, her voice becoming shriller the more upset she became. "It was lying open. I thought she had invited her family and the ticket was for one of them."
The airport. Gilligan suddenly walked off the altar and out the front door. He ran to the side of the building where a shiny baby blue Cadillac sat. He fished out the keys, got in the car and started it up. He shifted into reverse and took his foot off the gas before the passenger door was yanked open by the Professor. Ginger, the Skipper, Mr. and Mrs. Howell were right behind him.
"We're going with you Gilligan," the Professor said firmly.
"You aren't all going to be able to fit, Professor," Gilligan responded. His throat felt tight.
"We'll make do."
Gilligan didn't say anything but kept his foot on the brakes while everyone piled in. The Professor sat up front while Mr. and Mrs. Howell sat in the back along with the Skipper. Ginger ended up sitting on the Skipper's lap, to her slight discomfort and his immense pleasure.
He didn't know it, but the rest of their friends had also rushed out to their vehicles to follow him to the airport.
Everyone was just barely situated when Gilligan stomped on the gas and tore out of his parking spot.
The drive to Honolulu International Airport was normally a 45 minute drive. Gilligan made the trip in 20 minutes. By the time Gilligan pulled into a parking space, he had everyone hanging on for dear life. He got out of the car and ran inside the airport. All of his friends followed him and made their way out onto the tarmac after him.
Gilligan looked around wildly. He finally spotted her after a moment climbing the steps to board a plane.
"Mary Ann!" He yelled her name as loudly as he could.
She turned around and saw Gilligan, dressed in his tuxedo. Then she turned back towards the plane.
He started to walk towards the plane, which had already had its engine going. He stopped short. Who had their hand on Mary Ann's waist? Gilligan squinted his eyes against the wind from the propellers. He couldn't believe his eyes. It was Mary Ann's ex-boyfriend. Gilligan watched them both make their way inside the plane in disbelief. It was only after the door was closed and sealed that he began to move towards the plane again.
He took several steps before he felt himself being restrained on both sides by the Skipper and the Professor.
"Gilligan! You can't go out there," the Professor yelled over the sound of the planes and the wind whipping around them. "It's too dangerous!"
"Come on back little buddy," the Skipper cried out. "Let's get inside!"
Gilligan didn't respond. He struggled in silence as they turned forcibly him around towards the building. He heard the propellers of her plane speed up as it became ready for flight. As Gilligan relaxed his body, so did both men next to him. He knew he wasn't the strongest guy out there, but he had speed and he used it when he had to.
This was one time he had to.
Gilligan waited a moment before suddenly yanking himself free and sprinting onto the tarmac. He could the Professor and the Skipper yelling behind him but he paid them no mind. He had one goal. Get to that plane.
Unfortunately, it started to take off. Gilligan ran towards it as the plane picked up speed. He finally caught up with the plane and saw Mary Ann in one of the windows.
"Mary Ann!" Gilligan yelled to get her attention. "Mary Ann! Where are you going? Don't go! Mary Ann – look at me! Mary Ann!"
She finally heard him and looked out the rounded window at Gilligan. Mary Ann couldn't hear him very well, but she could make out what he was saying.
"Mary Ann," Gilligan yelled again.
He was having a hard time keeping up with the ever increasing speed of the plane. He actually got close enough to bang his hand on the fuselage one time but that took a big chunk of his energy. Gilligan's lungs were burning and he was getting very tired at this point but kept up the chase anyway. The plane was beginning to pull away from him and it held the one thing he loved most.
He made one last desperate plea with her.
"MARY ANN – PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME, I LOVE YOU!"
She looked at him for one more moment and turned her face away.
Gilligan felt his legs give out and dropped to the ground, tears pouring down his face. He watched as the plane finally lifted off.
As he cried, he felt something within him shrivel up. Gilligan began to feel numbness throughout his entire body. It radiated from his chest. Warmth used to radiate from that same spot.
We'll always be together, won't we Gilligan?
Sure we will Mary Ann. We love each other. I'll never leave you. You're my Mary Ann. I love you.
And I'll never leave you Gilligan. I love you too.
She left him. She stood him up at the altar. She turned away from him on the plane.
Gilligan was suddenly hoisted to his feet by several people. He was dragged back a few feet before he suddenly dug his heels in.
"What are you doing," someone near him asked. "We have to get off the tarmac!"
Gilligan smacked the hands around him away and turned towards where the plane sat before takeoff. He dug in his pocket and pulled out a white felt box. He opened the box and tore the delicate gold wedding band with its lone solitaire diamond out.
He then took the ring and with an anguished cry, hurled it away from him. He tossed the box to the side as he was led away from the tarmac.
Gilligan wouldn't need it again.