A

AN: This is an alternate ending to chapter 2. Yes I am still working on the Merman story but this bit me first.

He was gone. Ten years of happily married life was destroyed by three gunshot wounds to the chest.

Roy Hinkley was dead. Gilligan was worrying everyone. They were afraid that the grief was too much. He'd gone silent and appeared to be on autopilot. For three days he couldn't even get out of bed.

The Hinkleys were stricken with grief and angry knowing that this should never have happened.

One night Mr Howell found Robert sitting outside looking at the stars. "Mr Hinkley?"

He looked over and gave his host a watery smile. "Can't sleep. Mary's finally asleep and I don't want to wake her."

He nodded as he sat beside him. He sighed. "The loss of a son is something you never recover from."

He looked at the millionaire. "i'm sorry?"

"We had a child. Thurston Howell the Fourth. He was a beautiful boy. A sweet child. One day he asked to speak with us. He was dreadfully nervous."

Robert's eyes went wide. The scene sounded very familiar to him. He swallowed. "Was he?"

He smiled sadly. "Yes. He apologized profusely for disappointing us. Our love for him far outweighed anything else that we could have felt."

"What happened, if I might be so bold?"

"We kept his homosexuality a secret. Unfortunately, as you well know, teenagers can be very cruel. Somehow they found out and he was bullied. He never shared his troubles with us." He shut his eyes. "One morning I went to fetch him for a round of golf. He hung himself from the light in his room above his bed."

"Oh...oh Mr Howell I'm so terribly sorry…!"

He looked at him and smiled sadly. "When your son came out to us on the island he was dreadfully nervous. My wife and I had suspected it actually." He chuckled. "No straight man could resist Ginger Grant of course!"

Robert chuckled and nodded. "He would spout off scientific jargon to women to make them annoyed enough to leave him alone. It usually worked. Unfortunately one woman understood what he was saying and found it attractive!"

Mr Howell chuckled! "Oh dear! What happened?"

"Poor Roy tried everything he could but none of his tricks worked! He finally just told her he wasn't interested in women. She got the hint and backed off." He sighed. "We were afraid for him. We thought Roy would never find anyone so we sent him on a trip to Hawaii to brighten his spirits and get him out of the lab of his." He looked back up at the stars. "When he called us after the rescue it was "Will this" and "Will that". He couldn't wait to introduce us to him." A lone tear fell down his cheek. "We'd never heard him so happy and animated before. There was a light in his eyes that we had never seen. The only thing William Gilligan is guilty of is making my boy happy. For that I will be forever grateful." He looked at Mr Howell. "Their marriage may not have counted much here but as far as we're concerned he's my son in law. He's family."

Mr Howell nodded. "Of course. When the resort is finished would you like to move there? Neither of you would have to work."

"I'll speak with Mary." He frowned. 'What about the Gilligans?"

Mr Howell's eyes darkened. "They better not set foot on our island! Gilligan has a father in the Skipper."

Robert nodded. "Good." He let out a shuddery breath. "Roy won't be buried here. Mary and I have already spoken about it. He'll be cremated and we'll give his ashes to Will to keep." He sighed. "When the Minnow was declared gone the entire town rallied behind us and the school held a wake. The library was named after him as well as a scholarship." He smiled wetly. "One of his students won it. He went on to become an archeologist in Egypt." He sighed. "They made a grave for him and even now offered to lay him to rest in it and change the death date. We refused. I guess in a way that grave became a symbol. He did die that day. The old, lonely, and depressed Roy died that day and was replaced by the Roy that came home happy and joyful with a love that was as true as any straight couple."

The millionaire put a hand on his shoulder. "Believe me their love story has the makings of a true fairy tale."

"Oh Roy told us the story," he said with a wet chuckle. "They both did."

After a moment Robert asked, "Will William be alright?"

Thurston frowned. "I don't know. Honestly I…" His eye went wide as his throat dried. "Not again!" He got up and dashed to the room Gilligan was sleeping in gripped with fear! Robert was right behind him!

To their relief Gilligan was fast asleep cradled in between Ginger and Mary Ann. The two women looked up and smiled tearfully knowing what they were thinking. They had feared the same thing.

Skipper looked up from his seat at the head of the bed where he sat keeping a vigil and stroking the first mate's hair. He too smiled tearfully and motioned for them to enter.

A few days later the car was found and the suspect apprehended. The story of the Professor's murder reached all around the globe and there was an outrage from the gay rights community.

Support mounted and the man that shot Roy was soon on trial.

Then, as if being encouraged by his late husband, Gilligan took a stand. With the Hinkleys and his friends by his side he soon became the face of gay rights and the hate crimes they faced. He shared his story from beginning to end.

The man that killed Roy Hinkley was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Justice had been served and a change was in the air.

When the resort was finished Gilligan moved back with Roy's ashes. The Hinkleys did choose to retire on the island and the castaways were more than happy to show off their son's inventions. They soon fell in love with it.

Many months passed and Ginger was approached about making a movie about their island adventures. She would write it and direct it. She asked about the Professor and Gilligan.

The Producer smiled kindly. "That is entirely up to Mr Gilligan. There's someone he should meet first." He pulled out an 8X10 photo and handed it to her.

Ginger's eyes went wide! "Holy…!"

"He's here. Just been keeping his distance. He has his own tale that he wants to share with Mr Gilligan."

She bit her lip nervously. "Let me talk to him first. When it comes to this it's his decision."

The Producer nodded. "Of course."

As it turned out Gilligan was more afraid for the actor's safety should the movie be made. When reassured that times had indeed started changing he agreed to meet the actor in his hut.

Ginger showed him the picture and watched as his eyes went wide in shock!

Gilligan made some lemonade and when the door opened he took a deep breath and turned around.

He had been sort of expecting it but the shock still caused him to drop the drink he was going to offer the younger man.

The Actor's eyes were kind and sympathetic as he knelt down and picked up the spilled cup. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a picture of a smiling teenager. "This is my son. He's been diagnosed with AIDS."

"I...I heard about it when I was on the mainland," Gilligan said with a gulp. "Aren't...isn't that…"

The man nodded. "I'm so sorry about your loss. I want to do him justice and what better way than to hear about him from his partner."

"Have a seat," Gilligan said motioning to the table and chairs. He had set out a journal. "That was his journal. He was always writing in that thing."

He nodded before spotting a photo on the shelf. "When was that taken?"

Gilligan looked at it and let out a shuddery breath. "Our wedding day. Gosh we were young...ten years we were married." His lips quirked a bit. "Oh it wasn't always blissful. We were both stubborn and pigheaded at times but we always made up." He looked at the actor. "I can't believe how much you look like him…"

The Actor chuckled. "I think I gave poor Mary Ann a heart attack earlier in the restaurant when I went to eat."

Gilligan chuckled as he got the photo and sat down looking at it. He felt familiar strong arms wrap around him and he smiled a bit. "Well...just sit right back and you'll hear a tale...a tale of a fateful trip…!"