'Sup guys! I'm so glad you all liked my first chapter, so here's to hoping this one works too! Thank you so much for following my little project and for reviewing so nicely. I hate to disappoint others, so I will update as often as possible and will give a heads up if I won't post for a few days. Enjoy!

Mary Ann decided to find the Professor. No, he hadn't left yet. But, Mary Ann wanted to see if she could change his mind. And not using tactics already attempted by Ginger! It was just a half an hour before the Professor was scheduled to leave, so she figured she'd better hurry. She was already taking him some food provisions, so at least she had an excuse. She didn't want anyone to get the wrong idea. She walked to his hut and knocked quietly.

"Come in." she heard the Professor respond. Mary Ann opened the door to see him packing his contraptions in a makeshift bag.

"Oh, hello Mary Ann. Anything I can do for you before I leave?" he asked, his tone more cheerful than it had been the day before.

"I'm just here to bring you the extra provisions. But there is something you can do for me."

And what is that? I'm not changing my mind, if that's what you want." he said, becoming a little more serious. Mary Ann frowned, handing him the provisions.

"That was it! I don't know what the others said to you, but I want to speak my mind as well."

"Go ahead Mary Ann. I'm interested to hear what you have to say." he said, looking at her for a moment, quite interested. Mary Ann sighed.

"Professor, I'm not saying this on my own behalf. Well, not completely, anyway." she said, blushing a little as she spoke. "The others need you. I know Gilligan keeps ruining your inventions and Ginger can be annoying sometimes with her scripts, but we really do need you. What would the Skipper do without your levelheaded way of directing us when things go wrong? We couldn't do much without someone calm and patient, and that's what you have always been to us. You know how grateful Mr. Howell was when you were constantly saving us from troubles. Plus, you made him a golf course. I can't say much for Ginger, I really don't know how she feels. But Gilligan is really glad we have you. You always forgive him for what he does. No matter how much he messes up, you always forgive him and help him fix things. Please don't go."

The Professor stared at her. That was quite a speech she made. She didn't once mention her own feelings, but she spoke immediately for the others. Mary Ann was certainly different from any other girl he had ever met.

"Mary Ann, I respect your thoughts, but I cannot change. All I need is some time to myself. I promise, I'll come back soon. Thank you for the provisions. I also appreciate that you spoke up for the others and not yourself. It shows how much you care. Really, it does. I'm sorry, Mary Ann. I have to go now." he said. He hesitated for a moment, gathering courage. He set down his bag for a moment and hugged her. Mary Ann was utterly startled, but she hugged him back. It felt surprisingly good to feel his strong, protective arms around her.

He released the embrace, gathered his things quickly and left. Mary Ann stared after him, not knowing what to think of it all. She watched him walk out of the hut and did not follow him, though she wanted to. Mary Ann stood staring silently out the door of the hut.

Okay, don't kill me for the shortness. But I wanted to get that moment in and nothing else. Love y'all!

Anna