Chapter Eleven

As December turned into January, and January into February, and February to March, Mary Ann and Gilligan slowed their relationship down considerably. All they really did was now was kissing and holding hands, making out at the most. For Valentine's Day, Mary Ann received a dozen red roses and a box of chocolates, though two had been eaten by the time she had received it. "Sorry, Mary Ann," Gilligan had apologized. "But I was hungry." Although, that night was the last time they had intercourse. After all, it had been Valentine's Day.

Now, it was April. The flowers were in full bloom, and the rain came around every other day almost. But today, it was sunny. It smelled of fresh rain from a few hours earlier and Mary Ann relaxed on the bench, smiling to herself.

"I love the smell of fresh rain."

"I guess it's okay." Gilligan shrugged as he sat next to her. "I prefer the smell of seawater."

"Of course you would." Mary Ann giggled. "But I think the smell I love most has to be fresh cut grass."

"Yes..."

The farm girl got closer to the first mate, who put an arm around her. "Gilligan?"

"What?"

"When is your next boat ride going to be?"

"I don't know. Gotta ask the Skipper."

"Well, I was thinking. What if, the first time, all seven of us have a boat ride? Just us seven."

Gilligan's eyes lit up. "That's an awesome idea!"

"I thought so." Mary Ann grinned smugly. She reached her hand up, yanked his hat off of his head, and quickly hopped up.

"Mary Ann." Gilligan did the same. Mary Ann giggled.

"What?"

"Give me my hat."

"Make me." She laughed and ran away. Gilligan was quickly behind her, and reached her in five seconds flat. "Damn you and your ability to run faster than me." The Kansas girl winked.

"One day you're really gonna pay for taking my hat." Gilligan joked, smirking.

"Oh really now?"

"It's a warning." The first mate reached for the hat, but Mary Ann slammed it down on her head. He stopped, chuckling quietly. Tenderly, he placed his arms around her waist and kissed her softly. Mary Ann, almost automatically, put her arms around his neck. Then, before she could react, Gilligan knocked the hat off of her head, took it in his hands, and pulled away smirking and raising an eyebrow.

"I should've known." Mary Ann clicked her tongue.

"I think I've learned a few tricks." Gilligan waggled his eyebrows, and put his hat back on his head. Mary Ann ran her fingers through his hair the best she could.

"Cindy and Herbert's wedding is next week."

"About time."

Mary Ann giggled. "And don't forget, we are invited."

"Me? Forget? How could I forget that?"

"You've forgotten a lot of things."

"Yeah, but nothing like that."

"True." Mary Ann placed a hand on his chest and gazed into his eyes. His gorgeous, blue eyes. Her breath hitched slightly as she tried to get some words out. "Don't...don't, uh...forget to...ah...to wear something nice."

"Don't worry, I will."

"Good." She kissed him softly. Every kiss, every single kiss, she could feel the sparks intensifying. And so could Gilligan. He liked Mary Ann. No, he loved Mary Ann. Like was too weak of a word. As for Mary Ann, she definitely had those feelings for him as well. It was made noticeable throughout the months they've been together. But she hadn't been feeling well lately. She didn't know what it was, but she was constantly sluggish and just worn out. She was still surprised she had enough strength to actually run like she did earlier. She seemed to be eating a lot more too. All of this was a huge concern in her mind. It kept sending off warning signals in her head. Was she getting sick? She had been feeling nauseous too, but that didn't explain the constant hunger. She was too scared to tell anyone, because Mary Ann knew that if Gilligan figured out that she was sick, he would more than likely freak out and try to make it to where she was practically barricaded in her room-or, rather, their room- in the bed with him taking care of her until she got better.

Mary Ann pulled away, and Gilligan kissed her again, this one a little harder and deeper than the first one. Mary Ann pulled away again.

"I must say, Mr. Gilligan, you are gaining a lot of confidence in yourself." She winked.

"Thank you, Miss Summers, it's a slow journey, but with you by my side, I'm sure I can do it." Gilligan winked back, a smile growing on his face.

"Really?" Mary Ann blushed.

"Really." The first mate picked her up bridal style, making her giggle quietly. She picked his hat up off of his head, ran her fingers through his hair, and then placed it gently back onto his head. "That's a first."

Mary Ann giggled. "Well, there's a first for anything. You and I both proved that."

"With what?" Gilligan looked confused.

"Well...you getting out of your shell around girls, us having our first time...first date. Lots of things."

"Getting stuck on an island."

"Getting stuck on an island." Mary Ann laughed, repeating him. "Just think, though. Because of that, we would've never met."

"I'm glad we did though."

"Me too. I'm starting to like that little island better and better every day."

...

At night, Mary Ann sat in the bathroom, groaning quietly. The last sick episode had happened five minutes ago, but she hung in the bathroom just in case another decided to rear its head. She couldn't understand what was going on. Millions of things decided to swarm around in her head, each suggestion more frightening than the last. Cancer? No, cancer didn't make you throw up, the chemo did. A stomach virus? Granted that one wasn't very scary, but it was a plausible answer. Maybe the flu? Did the flu make you throw up? She wasn't sure. After all, that was one of the things she never really had. That and a broken bone.

God, what's going on with me? The farm girl thought to herself. After staying on the bathroom floor for what seemed like thirty more minutes, she slowly stood up and made her way over to the sink. She brushed her teeth again, rinsed her mouth out with mouthwash, and slowly walked back into the bedroom. She quietly got back into bed and put her arm around Gilligan. It didn't make him stir at all. All she got in response was a soft snore. Different reasons for her sickness ran through her head as Mary Ann fell back asleep.