That evening, the Skipper, Nala, and the Professor all sat down and had a discussion about some intimate issues. Without getting too graphic, the Skipper was able to explain to Nala that everything she had felt was quite normal. He also explained that the different ways he had touched her were all quite common to his people... it was a way of making relations more exciting, more enjoyable. True, the Professor did blush from time to time, but over all he felt Nala and the Skipper were being quite tactful with their discussion. Nala explained how relations were just naturally expected from a wife in her culture, whether the husband truly loved her or not. The Skipper assured her that he did in fact truly love her, and he was going to do his best to keep loving her as time went on.

Much to the Skipper's surprise, the Professor had presented Nala with a copy of the Kama Sutra, saying it might be good reference for her. The Skipper gave the Professor an odd look.

"Research," he replied, "I research various topics."

Research my foot! The Skipper thought to himself as he fought a grin.

The discussion turned serious again as the Skipper admitted to Nala that he didn't like the idea of her being able to marry more men. He didn't like the fact that she still felt bound to a man that had beaten the living daylights out of her and took advantage of her. He said it was called jealousy and in his culture it was common for men and women to feel that way. He said when people loved one another, they didn't like the idea of their loved one being with someone else. He said that more than jealousy, it was emotionally painful for one to see their love with anyone else.

Nala seemed to understand. It had been her suspicion since upon getting to know the Howell's that the Skipper's people might practice monogamy. Did he fear that she was interested in Gilligan, or the Professor, since they hadn't been claimed? If the two single women hadn't been interested in them already, it might have been a possibility. However, Nala had never liked the idea of polygamy herself. She had chosen a second husband because she loved and admired Niko. He had been free to marry once again. He had been claimed before she had the chance to chose him, but the gods must have smiled on her in giving her a second chance.

Her poor husband. She saw the sadness in his eyes as he confessed this fear to her. Well, she had no plans of returning to Maruka now. Even if he came to hunt her down, she wouldn't go with him. She felt safe and loved with the Skipper. She loved her new way of life. The way she had been treated by everyone had been a wonderful experience. She had to convey this to her husband.

In her best English, she began to speak to him, "Nala stay here. Nala happy here. You are Alpha husband now. You are only husband. I love you." The gentleness of her eyes told the Skipper that she had given her word. He breathed a sigh of relief in knowing he wouldn't have to pass Nala on to some other man whenever her wifely responsibilities were desired.

...

From that time on, the Skipper didn't worry much about Maruka. More time had passed with not one sign of him. After Nala had been on the island for four months, both of them never would have imagined Maruka coming for her now. They moved on with their life, doing what they always had... learning about each other and each other's ways.

In the next month or two, Nala would be giving birth. Everyone was excited for the Skipper just as much as if the child were really his. The Skipper was nervous and excited. He knew he would have to strike a balance with this child in teaching him or her the ways of the civilized world and the ways of his or her tribal ancestors. Nala would reassure him that as long as the child was provided for and protected, he would be doing his part.

"You are good man. You be good guardian to child of Niko. I know it. You good to me."

During this time, the Skipper found Nala more beautiful than ever. Without her knowing, sometimes he would sneak down to the lagoon at sunrise on the days she bathed and just watched her as she frolicked in the cool waters. She had been offered the bamboo constructed shower and bath tub, which she used on occasion. However she still preferred to bathe the way she always had from the time she was born.

Happiness reigned there on that little island. The love that Nala and the Skipper had for each other seemed to permeate through the camp. Just days before Nala was to give birth, Ginger and the Professor had announced that they were engaged. Gilligan and Mary Ann had even become more fond of each other as well. There didn't seem to be a time when they weren't together now. Of course, Mrs. Howell was thrilled with all of the romance, as she began to plan weddings and baby showers.

...

The day Nala gave birth was an exciting day for everyone. Her contractions had started in the middle of the night and continued until that evening. Finally, after several hours, Nala had given birth to a son. She lay back on the bed in relief. Never had she felt such pain... never had she been so exhausted. Her husband had done a wonderful job in helping to deliver him. He had been calm and patient, though she knew underneath he was a nervous wreck. It showed in his voice at first until he could coach himself into sounding calm for her sake.

He was beautiful. He looked just like Niko. She was sure that Niko would have been pleased with him. He also would have been pleased with Nala's choice for a new husband...the man who would help raise Niko's son. She had to admit that for a short time part of her feared that there was the slim possibility that the child could have been Maruka's. She wasn't sure how she could have ever loved her child if that had been the case. Naturally, she would have had to force herself to. She wanted no part of that man. She realized now that she never should have chosen him in the first place. The fact that he was an excellent hunter and the fact that he was strikingly handsome on the outside should have never been a factor in her choice. He was ugly and grotesque on the inside. She felt as if she had been married to one of the evil spirits of Malokema, the god of battle.

She shut her mind off to her foul thoughts of Maruka as she concentrated on the celebration that was to come in a few days. The Professor, who still studied from cover to cover the chapter in his tribal book about her tribe, was teaching and training the others about the ceremonial dance of life that was to be given in honor of her son. It would be a wonderful two days of celebration, starting with the life dance and moving on to the child being handed over to her husband, who would then anoint the child with oils of the aloe root. Before this, he would recite the vow to be his protector and trainer, to teach him the ways of survival, and the ways of the culture.

This worried the Skipper. Though he was learning the ways of his wife's culture, he was far from being an expert. Nala reassured him once again, "He learn your ways too."

...

As the ceremony had gotten underway, Nala, the Skipper, and baby Niko stood in the center of a circle that the other's had made around them. Gilligan drummed out a very specific rhythm on his bongo drums as the others danced in the circle around the new family. Mary Ann held the bowl which contained the aloe oil, and Ginger held a torch as she led the dance. After several laps had been danced around them, Nala handed young Niko to her husband. It was now time to anoint his step son.

The Skipper carefully cradled the baby in his arms. The sun was just beginning to set, causing a bit of a glare. He squinted at the book the Professor was holding. Everything he had to say was printed for him there on page forty three. In a loud voice, and in Nala's tribal tongue he read:

"On this day you become a part of the Narubi tribe. Narubi's are strong, fierce. They dedicate themselves to hard work. They live to please the gods of Jacko, Helokeem, Kalamakai, and Solorami... the gods of the hunt, fertility, earth, and sun. I am your father. It is my duty to teach you the ways of the tribe you have been born in. I will protect you, and teach you how to protect yourself. This I swear by heavens." Mary Ann came forth as the Skipper dipped his fingers into the aloe oil. He spread it generously across the baby's forehead. Then he continued his speech in Narubian. "Today you have been consecrated. Today you have been sealed for greatest. May you grow to be a strong warrior, swift hunter, and master of your home."

Even though the Skipper had performed the ceremony right down to the last detail, something didn't feel right. There was more that he wanted to say to this child. There had to be more to this ceremony than just setting him up to achieve the goals that had been laid out before him. There was no emotion in this ceremony. All he had promised the child was to teach him the ways of the people and to protect him from danger. Little Niko had to know his American daddy was going to go a bit above and beyond his expectations.

Everyone stood still as the Skipper looked at all of them. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out for a moment. Then finally in English, he looked down at the child and began to speak.

"Niko, I know I'm not your real father. Your real father died trying to protect your mother. That was a very noble thing of him to do. There are some things that I want to teach you as well. I want to teach you to always be like your real father... to defend those that can't defend themselves. I want to teach you to be kind and loving. I want to teach you that violence isn't always the answer... I mean sometimes it's needed, but rarely. I know that's something I have to learn for myself. I have a short fuse, but I would never want to hurt anyone. I want you to know that I will love you. I'll always love you. I want you to learn that if you ever get the chance to marry, you should treat your wife like a lady... not like a slave, not like a whore, not like an animal... but as a gentle woman who needs love and respect."

Ginger, Mary Ann, and Mrs. Howell all began to wipe their tear stained eyes. The Skipper's speech had been moving They knew the man had to have reached way down into the depths of his soul to come up with words like that. Nala was crying too. She had understood little of what the Skipper had said in his own language, but she had seen the way the Skipper had been looking at her child. He cared deeply for the little baby. It was quite evident from the look in his eyes and his body language.

As the Skipper handed the baby back to Nala, Gilligan beat on the bongos again as everyone began to dance. It was a very happy day for everyone. Nala thought her heart would burst from all the joy she felt. Nothing in the world, she assumed, could have pulled her from this happy state that she was in.

...

Maruka's head shot up. He dropped the monkey he had been skinning. Slowly he moved toward the sound he heard. His ears were tuned into the sound of drums playing. He was silent... so silent he nearly held his breath. He listened closely, concentrating on the rhythm of the drums. They were coming from a distance. They were coming from the west. He recognized that rhythm. It was the beat of the life dance that their tribe used whenever a child was born. It had to be Nalamoya. She was still alive. She had finally given birth. That meant the island she was on had inhabitants. The fact that the life dance was being performed told him that she had found another to replace Niko. She had found someone to anoint the child and give the vow. An evil grin spread across his face. At long last he could get back at his cowardly runaway wife. He had spent several weeks on two other islands, searching for her and combing every inch of the two islands. When he had returned, his new wife had picked two more husbands. Now she was expecting too. He couldn't afford to leave again, he had thought. He assumed that perhaps Nala was dead, that she hadn't been successful in escaping him.

Now that he knew where she was, she could be punished for her lack of respect and disobedience. He would start out in the morning. He had to avenge the humiliation she had put him through. He had to show her that he was still in charge if it was the last thing he ever did.

One simple author's note. The Kama Sutra that I mentioned in the beginning of the chapter is an ancient Indian text that's basically all about sex. I heard it mentioned on Big Bang Theory one evening, so I googled it to see if it was real... It is. I know the beginning of this chapter talk alot about intimacy, but I'm keeping the rating as it is. There will be very little focus on sex from here on out. Thank you for reading.