Gilligan and Mary Ann sit on one of the beds in the hotel suite, holding each other. They had a really nice dinner, and couldn't believe that they were back in civilization. It was like a dream come true! They were so excited they would be heading home to see their families again. Everything was going so great right now. They were rescued, Eva Grubb was in jail where she belonged, the Professor and Ginger were engaged, and now Gilligan and Mary Ann were a romantic item.

"Mary Ann?"

"Yes, Gilligan?"

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why me?"

Mary Ann looked at Gilligan in confusion. Was something wrong?

"Why you what?"

"Why did you pick me? What's so great about me? All I ever did on the island was goof up."

Mary Ann sighed and looked Gilligan straight in the eye.

"You listen to me, William Gilligan. I've liked you from the beginning. Why? Because you're sweet, you're caring, you're thoughtful, you're hard-working, you're fun to be with. Everybody goofs up, not just you. You always seem to have low self-esteem about yourself, and I never understood why."

Gilligan gave Mary Ann a smile and kissed the top of her head. She sure was great! He was so lucky to have her by his side.

"I'm really lucky to have you, Mary Ann."

"No, Gilligan. I'm the lucky one. I just wish I knew why you are always so hard on yourself."

"Well, the teachers had a hard time with me back in school. They always told me how stupid I was for not knowing things that should have been easy. School was always tough for me. And I know the Skipper doesn't mean it, but whenever he calls me dumb or says I do nothing but mess up, it makes me feel like I'm back at school. He doesn't know that I had a hard time in school, for I didn't really figure it was something I had to tell him. Not all the teachers were mean, though. More were nice than me. It was only two that were mean. The rest were all great, though."

Mary Ann nodded her head in understanding, for she knew that Gilligan wasn't dumb. He wasn't a screw-up. She knew that he just had a hard time when it came to learning certain things. That didn't make him dumb by any means.

"Gilligan, there are lots of things I can't understand. But you don't think I'm dumb, do you?"

"Of course not."

"Well, neither are you. You know the Skipper doesn't mean the things he says. He just gets aggravated, and a lot of people take it out on the ones closest to them. He loves you very much, and I know he would be lost without his little buddy."

Gilligan smiled. "Yeah, he is a great guy, and I know he doesn't mean the things he says. It still hurts, though."

"Well, you should tell him. Tell him about what happened in school, and how it makes you feel when he says those things."

"Mary Ann-"

"Gilligan, you're best friends. If what he says hurts you, then you need to tell him."

Gilligan nodded his head, knowing that she was right. The Skipper was a reasonable man, and if Gilligan told him how he really and truly felt, then the Skipper would ease up on the name calling when frustrated. It was natural for friends to tease each other and call each other names, but it really hurt Gilligan to be called dumb or stupid.

"What about you, Mary Ann? I know you feel bad about yourself a lot. Why?"

"I most certainly do not," Mary Ann said in a stern voice.

Gilligan didn't want to argue, and decided to let the subject go.

"What makes you think I do?"

So much for letting it go, Gilligan thought.

"I know you compare yourself to Ginger all the time. Mary Ann, she might be glamorous, but she's not you. There's different kinds of beauty. You are beautiful. You're sweet. You make the best coconut cream pies I've ever tasted in my life! You don't need to wear fancy gowns or a lot of makeup or act glamorous to be beautiful. You're already beautiful."

At this, Mary Ann covered Gilligan's face in kisses.

"Oh, Gilligan, you're wonderful!"

MEANWHILE...

Eva Grubb sat in her jail cell, fuming! This wasn't over yet. If Little Miss Hollywood thought it was all over, she was way off. No. Eva would not give up, not by any means. Once she was out of here, she would get her revenge on all of the Castaways one by one, but she would save Ginger for last. Yes, Ginger was her main target, but she was determined to get all seven of them jerks if it was the last thing she ever did!

Eva gave a small smile, making a list in her head of what she was going to do. It would be too good.