Chapter Nine

Hollywood, California

When Christmas of 1978 came around, the seven former castaways decided to have a little get together.

They were all chatting in the living room of Ginger Grant's home, save for Mary Ann who was checking on the food. The movie star stood up and walked into the kitchen as Mary Ann took out two pies.

"Do you need any help?" she asked.

"Oh, no, it's fine." The Kansas girl shook her head. "I've got it."

"Are you sure? I'm the hostess, I could help."

"No, Ginger, it's fine." She chuckled to herself. "I'm still surprised Mrs. Howell let you take over the hostess job. You know how much she loves to host parties."

"Well when I convinced I'd let her do it next year I think she agreed to it." The redhead laughed to herself. Mary Ann smiled as she walked over to the other the other dishes of food to check on them. There was a moment of silence until there was a light smack.

"Ow!"

"Gilligan you keep away from those pies!"

"But Ginger...!" Mary Ann heard the first mate whine.

"You'll get them when everyone else does. Now shoo." Ginger shooed him out of the kitchen. Mary Ann laughed quietly. "Honestly, he's like a child." She shook her head.

"You should've seen him this morning." Mary Ann couldn't stop smiling. "He was so excited to go and open his presents. He looked so disappointed when I told him that we were going to open them after dinner. The way he pouted was so cute, though. I had to let him open one."

"Which one was it?"

"I got him a new watch, it's one he's been wanting for a while. His face just lit up and his mouth was hung open for about five minutes." She laughed quietly.

"That's cute." Ginger walked over to the fridge, taking out some wine. "What do you think?"

"Is that white or red?"

"White."

"Perfect. Help me make the table." She grabbed the ham and walked over to the table, Ginger following with the potato salad.

...

The seven were gathered around the table, laughing and talking. And, even though this wasn't his home, Mr. Howell sat at the front end of the table, his wife on the right side of him. On the opposite side of Mrs. Howell, facing her, were Ginger and Roy. Ginger was saying something that ended with a wink. Mary Ann was messing with her fork as she finished her food. Gilligan had gotten up for his second helping. Jonas was talking and joking with the Howells. Mary Ann stood and walked over to Gilligan.

"When you finish, meet me in the office. I want to give you your other present in private." She kissed his cheek.

"Why?" Gilligan furrowed his eyebrows.

"Because. I just do." She walked over to her dishes, put them in the sink, and left the room. Gilligan looked confused for a second before he sat down again.

...

Mary Ann looked around the room. The office was very nice. There were four bookshelves across the left wall with a desk in the middle of it. Behind the desk was one of those chairs with wheels on them and on the desk was a lamp. The farm girl dug into her pocket and pulled out mistletoe. She hid it earlier, wanting to use it for later. Grabbing the footstool in front of an arm chair that was placed in the right corner of the room beside a floor lamp, she stood on it and pinned the mistletoe above the door. She put the footstool back in its place and then sat in the chair. She looked around for a second, hopped up, grabbed a book, and then sat down in the chair again. She started reading it when there was a soft knock on the door.

"Come in."

When it opened, the brunette looked up. A grin filled her face and she stood.

"Well that was quick." She said to Gilligan, who was looking around.

"Where's the present?" he looked confused.

"Look up."

He looked up. "A vegetable?"

"No, Gilligan. That's mistletoe."

"Oh!...What's mistletoe?"

Mary Ann clicked her tongue. "Haven't you ever seen it in movies? Gilligan when you stand under the mistletoe it means you have to kiss."

"I think I like mistletoe."

...

"...anyway, after I said that, the director just gave me this look. He was so mad, you wouldn't believe!" Ginger smirked. "I told him that I would not be in his movie if my whole naked body was going to be seventy feet high in a movie theater for the whole world to see."

"So what happened?" Jonas asked.

"I quit. He wouldn't compromise with me."

"That's just for the better, I'm sure." Mrs. Howell nodded. "After all, who wants to work for a director like that?"

"Almost everyone in Hollywood. I guess they just don't have any sense."

"If they're that low, then they don't." Roy shook his head, picked up his plate and walked over to the sink.

"Yes, Ginger, I think you made the right decision." Mr. Howell nodded.

"I think so too." She looked around. "Where did Mary Ann and Gilligan go?"

"I saw them go towards the office not too long ago." The Professor rinsed his plate and then put it in the dishwasher.

"Well." Ginger smirked. "Should we go spy?"

"No, leave them be. They just got together, I'm sure they want to be alone."

"Isn't it rather odd? Gilligan used to be so scared of girls." Mrs. Howell shrugged. "I guess all boys grow up sometime." She smiled.

"I remember I would go to kiss him and he'd turn his head, hit a palm tree or a pole, and knock himself out." Ginger laughed.

"Yes, well, now I guess he knows what he was missing." the Skipper smiled.

...

Around eleven that night was when everyone decided to retire to their bedrooms.

"Mary Ann, Gilligan, I hope you don't mind, but I've got you two in the same room." Ginger winked at them. Mary Ann crossed her arms, raising her eyebrows.

"If you think we're going to do anything like that tonight, you're crazy."

"Oh, no, I don't think that. I just figured since you two can't get enough of each other, well..." the redhead smirked. "Your room is the last one on the left."

"Thanks, Ginger." Gilligan nodded.

"Anytime. Now, I've got to get back to Roy." She giggled quietly and sauntered back to her room.

"Leave it to Ginger." Mary Ann shook her head. "Let's go to bed."

"But I'm not tired." Gilligan said simply.

"Well then what do you want to do?" she messed with his hair. Gilligan smirked.

"I've got an idea."

Mary Ann giggled. "Maybe Ginger wasn't so crazy after all."