Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters.

Later, Gilligan led Mary Ann around to strengthen her legs and he led her to a familiar place.

"This place is real?"

"You heard me, huh?"

"It's even more beautiful now that I'm awake."

He led her down the path to the flowery hill where you had a better view of the island and the ocean.

"Oh, Gilligan, it's spectacular!"

He smiled and they sat down to relax. They were silent for many moments before she turned to him and kissed his cheek.

"What was that for?"

"For saving me."

"I didn't..."

"Gilligan, what did I do while I was in a coma?"

"You didn't do much except sometimes you'd walk in your sleep. The first time you tried the Skipper had to hold you down and you pounded on his chest. I tried not to laugh, but it was funny."

"Why wasn't I allowed to sleepwalk that night?"

"The Professor had just stitched your wounds up and didn't want them to open or get infected. Later, he cauterized them to help seal them."

"So, that's why I don't have any scars."

"Professor thought it might be traumatizing if you saw them."

"I can't see the ones on my back."

"There's no scars, but I kept mine."

"Why?"

"To remind me of how I failed."

"You didn't fail, Gilligan."

"I almost did because the Professor was worried that if you didn't snap out of it in a month you'd be lost to us forever."

"Gilligan, you tried to protect me and you stayed by my side while my brain was sick. You probably kept me from getting lost in there."

"It worked a little too well because the Professor said you were so used to me that you'd never wake up if I continued talking to you. There were times you knew when I walked into the room and you called to me. They made me say things that weren't true so you'd get better and I hated it because you'd cry. They made me stay away from you for a week to get you to wake up and I'm guessing it worked."

"I guess so, but Gilligan, all those conversations, were they real?"

"Yup, and I was surprised you talked back, it was almost as if you had woken up."

"What about the hut?"

"They forced me to say that. I'd build you a hut out here if you wanted, it is a beautiful place."

"Maybe someday, Gilligan."

"By the way I meant what I said."

She eyed him for a moment wondering what he meant.

"I love you, too, Mary Ann. I just didn't know if you heard me or not."

"I heard you, Gilligan, and I love you so much."

She leaned over and kissed him.

"Am I dreaming?"

"Pinch yourself."

She pinched him instead.

"Ow! Why'd you pinch me?"

"The last time I pinched myself it wasn't real."

They laughed.

"You know for someone who was in a coma you sure talked a lot, but you cried a lot, too."

"I did?"

"The Professor figured I was the only one who really got through to you and let me stay by your bedside everyday except at night or in the mornings."

"Why?"

"I had to sleep, Mary Ann, but if I couldn't I'd sneak in and talk to you until they got that bell rigged to your door. I couldn't visit in the mornings because that's when Ginger dressed and bathed you. I could've helped, but it wasn't proper for a young man to see a lady in her glory until they were married. That's what Ginger told me, but I peeked anyways."

"Gilligan!"

"I didn't see anything, honest, you were already in the tub and all I could see were your bare shoulders!"

She giggled at his curiosity.

"That explains why I always saw you after lunch where I was."

"Yeah? You did however talk to Ginger more when the Skipper really needed my help or when you would walk in your sleep, even the Professor would fill in for me sometimes. I hated that I couldn't always be there, but I tried, Mary Ann, I really did."

"I believe you, Gilligan."

They laid back and gazed up at the sky. They played their little cloud game as she snuggled closer to him, sighing happily. She fell asleep clutching him and when she awoke he was still there.

"We'd better get back it's getting late."

He helped her up and she embraced him. She felt him hug back as she pressed her lips to his and was pleasantly surprised when he kissed back.

"What was that for?"

"Because I love you, Gilligan."

"I love you, too."

Hand in hand they strode back to camp and he kissed her cheek before separating from her to see if the Skipper needed help. Mary Ann found Ginger preparing dinner and smiled at her attempt to replicate Mary Ann's coconut cream pie.

"Mind if I help?"

The redhead nearly jumped a foot in the air and turned to the grinning brunette.

"Are you up to it, Mary Ann?"

"If I get tired I'll sit down, okay?"

"Okay, but the Professor said not to overdo it."

Ginger went back to preparing the main course while Mary Ann went to work on making the pies.

"Ginger?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for everything that you did for me. I know it probably wasn't easy, but I just wanted to say that you're like a sister to me and I love you for that."

Tears were beginning to fall down the actress's cheeks and she turned to the farm girl hugging her tightly.

"You are the perfect sister, Mary Ann, and I love you even when we fight sometimes. You had me scared to death especially at night and I am grateful that you found your way back to us. Never leave us again, promise?"

"I promise."

"Good, now let's get ourselves ready for dinner because I think my mascara is running."

They laughed as they went to their hut to change.

Dinnertime turned out to be party time since Mary Ann had finally joined them and they toasted to her. The Professor was curious as what conversations leaked into her subconscious while the Howells wondered if she remembered them being there. She told them what went on and verified certain conversations. When dinner and dessert had been consumed Gilligan stood up raising his glass.

"May I speak?"

They all looked up at Gilligan.

"I want to make a toast to Mary Ann for returning to us so I can continue to tell her how much I love her."

"Here, here!" they all toasted.

He sat down next to her as she grinned lovingly at him, whispering in his ear how much she loved him and kissed his cheek. Her nightmare was over and her dreams were just beginning.

THE END

AN: Thank you for reading my tale and hope you enjoyed it, and enjoyed the old Alfred Hitchcock twist. :) That man was the genius of plot twists. :) I should hope the next multi-chaptered tale I write will be just as thrilling. :) Thank you all!