It was close to midnight as the Professor held Ginger in his arms. Two hours since she finally stopped crying. The whole experience was the most traumatic of her life. All she could do was cling to her husband and sob. She felt like such a failure."I let you down. I'm so sorry." Ginger said over and over. "I'm so sorry! I'm sorry I was so careless!"
The Professor would hear none of it. He told her that she was not at fault and to stop blaming herself. Repeatedly let her know he loved her and always will. Nothing would change that. Ever. His eyes looked over at the untouched plate of food sitting on a tray that Mary Ann had brought over. She thought the movie star could use something to eat. The minute Ginger saw Mary Ann and her pregnant figure, she burst into tears again. The farm girl apologized saying she didn't mean to upset the starlet she just wanted to bring her food. Mary Ann then started crying thinking she was being insensitive then Gilligan had to bring her back to their hut and advise her that she didn't do anything wrong. Ginger didn't mean to be distraught over seeing her. It will be okay. Really it will. Ginger still loves you.
Mrs. Howell then paid a visit to the actress which did seem to help a little. She told Ginger all about her miscarriage and how painful it was. Having someone who experienced was she was going through did help ease the redhead. She thanked Mrs. Howell and said she was glad she was there. However even will all the love and support around her, Ginger still felt like her heart was ripped to shreds. It wasn't anything she could explain. It was just how she felt. The emotions that were inside of her.
Roy just allowed her to have a good cry in his arms. Let her get her emotions out.
It did seem to work as she finally fell asleep exhausted. He hoped she had a peaceful night sleep. He had no idea how she was going to feel when daylight broke. The realization of what happened could possibly fully hit her and hit her hard.
Whatever he had to do to help her, he would. He loved her. He vowed he would be there for her for better or for worse. Well this was most decidedly the worse. The academic prayed this would be the only worse they had to experience. It was certainly an emotional roller coaster. Ginger's emotions were most likely going to be up and down. As long as he let her know he loved her he knew she could get through this. He wasn't worried about himself, his only concern was for his wife. One thing he did want more than anything was to be able to give her another baby as soon as possible. When that would happen he didn't know but he hoped it was very soon.
Next Morning
The sun was shining brightly in the clear blue sky and there was a warm gentle breeze flowing into the hut. The Professor opened his eyes and noticed Ginger was still snuggled up against him. He gently touched her hair and kissed the top of her head before he carefully moved her aside. The academic stretched as he sat up on the bed. It was quite a comfortable bed too. The salvaged some old mattresses from the sleeping deck of the Minnow when they got shipwrecked. A few repairs were made and the one mattress was almost as good as new. It was a change from his cot in his old hut. The best part of course to him was waking up with the beautiful Ginger beside him. Like he always dreamed of. He looked back down at his wife and kissed her once more before getting up from the bed.
The scholar made his way outside to the little shower they had built. Ginger wanted a private shower away from the other one. After all, she was married now and was entitled to privacy. Gilligan had made a remark about she only wanted the private shower so that she could make out with the Professor in it. Ginger had responded by grabbing the Skipper's cap and whacking the first mate on the head. The Professor knew that the sailor was correct. It was the reason she wanted it to be private. Not that he minded. He liked being able to join his wife for some morning love without worrying about who may see them.
He gathered up some firewood and heated the water to place in the bucket. Once that was done he placed it inside the stall on top of the ledge. The Professor then removed his clothes and began to bathe. He was still worried about Ginger and her state of mind. As he washed he thought of things he could do that would cheer her up. Yes it wouldn't bring back their baby but at least it would help lift her spirits. That bright beautiful smile of hers he longed to see again. As he rinsed the soap, he thought he heard a sound. Was his gorgeous wife coming to join him? The Professor waited a few seconds and nothing. He decided to peek out of the curtain to see if she was there just trying to catch him off guard. He frowned when he saw it was just a bird that had flown on to the flower box.
Roy finished his shower and grabbed a blue towel. He wrapped it around himself before walking back inside the hut. The academic went over to the bedroom to see Ginger wasn't there. Did she go someplace? Quickly the Professor dressed and then called out to his wife. "Ginger? Ginger?"
"In here darling." She replied.
The Professor walked to another room in the hut. The room that was to be the baby's room. He found her staring at the empty crib. "Ginger." The academic said approaching her placing his hands on her shoulders. "What are you doing in here?"
"I couldn't help it." The starlet explained. "I just felt like I had to be in here. I just look and see this empty crib. I know that it won't be filled with a baby now. It hurts. It hurts a lot."
"Come on." The Professor said taking her hand. "You need to get something to eat. You have not eaten in hours. Have some breakfast."
"I'm not hungry." Ginger said. "I don't want any breakfast."
"My love." Roy said taking her in his arms. "You need your strength. You need to go on with your life. You can't let this eat away at you."
"I know darling." Ginger said. "I'll try. Really I will."
"So how about I bring you a little breakfast? Can you try to eat something?"
"Okay. I guess some eggs would be good. And some juice."
"Good." The Professor smiled. "I'll be right back." He kissed her lips and headed out.
Ginger sat down on the sofa and sighed. She could not help but feel empty inside. Her precious baby was gone. It hurt. It hurt like hell. Like a knife digging away at her heart. How this could be she did not understand. One minute she was carrying life, the next it was gone. Just like that. While she felt horrible about getting upset when Mary Ann showed up, it was not something that she could control. Seeing the brunette in the condition she was only served to remind her that she was not going to be in that same state anytime soon. At the same time, the movie star did not want the farm girl to think she had to tip toe around and hide from her. It was the last thing she wanted her to do.
Mary Ann was not doing anything wrong. She couldn't help the way she looked. She was having a baby. It was not something she could hide and Ginger did not want her to hide it. If she did, it would just make Ginger feel like she was being childish.
Shaking the thoughts from her head, Ginger went to her make-up table in the bedroom and picked up her mirror. She cringed at the reflection. "Ugh." She said horrified. Puffy eyes, runny mascara! Hideous! The actress got up from her chair and decided to freshen up. A nice shower would do her some good. Ginger went outside and smiled seeing that her husband hand kindly heated the water before he left to get her breakfast. She picked up the bucket and brought it in the shower. The warm water felt good rushing over her. It was as if it was washing away the hurt. She even smiled a tiny bit as she dabbed the shampoo in her hand and washed her hair. It was still her very own shampoo made by her wonderful husband. The scent was still heavenly. Ginger rinsed her hair and picked up a towel drying herself off.
She walked back inside the hut and to the bedroom. Ginger went to her closet and stared at her various dresses. Truth be told she didn't feel like wearing any of them. She really wasn't in the mood for looking glamorous. The redhead decided upon her green gown as it was the less frilly of them all. Beautiful yes it was but simple. She pulled it on and sat down at her make-up table fix herself up.
The Professor arrived back with the tray of food. "Ginger." He called out. "Breakfast."
"Be right there." She answered back.
He looked over and saw his wife sitting at her table fixing her make-up. Good. It was a start. Something else came to mind that he knew would make Ginger happy. A little thing that she had always wished. The Professor unbuttoned his shirt and threw it aside. Many many times the actress stated that he should stop hiding his hot bod under that shirt. Why couldn't she have something pleasant to look at? She wore her tie dyed pink skirt and top for him. Why couldn't he do this for her?
Ginger set her make-up down and stood up from her table. She walked out to the living room where the food had been placed. "Looks good." The starlet remarked as she sat down picking up a fork. "I could really use this."
The Professor waited for her to notice him but she didn't so he walked over to her placing his arms around her from behind. "You are welcome my love." He said kissing the side of her head.
Ginger smiled as she looked back at him. Her eyes noticed his bare physique. "Darling what happened to your shirt?"
"What?" He asked with a grin. "You always said I shouldn't wear one…Remember." He said kissing her ear. "You said it was rude of me to deny you something pleasing to look upon."
"Oh." Ginger said. "I did?"
"Yes you did. Several times." The Professor whispered his lips moving to her neck.
"Roy…" Ginger said pushing him away. "Please…I…I'm trying to eat. I think you should put your shirt back on and go about doing what it was you were going to do today. I have some laundry I need to get to when I'm done here."
He looked at her puzzled. Put his shirt on? Since when did she ever want him to put his shirt on? Ginger spent her time trying to get his shirt off. Cleary this wasn't working. It wasn't helping cheer her up. "I see." He said picking up the garment. "I'll leave you to your breakfast." He then left the hut.
The Professor was stunned. Completely stunned. Ginger had no reaction to. It didn't do anything to help cheer her. He could not understand it. This was going to be a lot tougher than he imagined. Something occurred to him. What if Ginger decided that they shouldn't..make love anymore. What if she got into her head that it would be best they not try to have anymore kids. It was possible. This was a very traumatic experience and it may cause her to want to withdraw..He could not let that happen. Of course he could be jumping the gun. It was not that he was expecting her to want to jump right back into bed with him, he just wanted her to know that he loved her and that whenever she was ready, he would be there waiting for her.
The scholar arrived at camp and Mrs. Howell looked up at him. "Hello Professor. How's Ginger doing?"
"She's doing a little better." He replied. "It's going to take time but I think she will be okay."
"Good." Mrs. Howell said. "I hate to see that poor girl so distraught. As soon as she accepts the situation the easier it will be for her to heal."
"I think she will be just fine." The Professor said. "I think she is starting to accept it but it's not easy as you can imagine."
"I know dear. Just one little step at a time."
Mary Ann spoke. "I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean to upset Ginger. I wasn't thinking…"
"It's alright Mary Ann. I know you didn't mean to and I assure you Ginger is not angry with you. This is not easy for her and she is trying her best. I think the best thing everyone can do is just let her be. Please don't give her any special treatment she will only come to resent it. You know how she is. She doesn't like to be treated like she is a fragile doll. If you attempt to walk on egg shells around her it will just upset her more. Just don't act any different."
The farm girl nodded. "Okay Professor."
"Good." He said. "Now if you will excuse me I'm going to go help Skipper with repairing the fish net that got torn."
Mary Ann watched as he left. She was worried about him. She knew he wanted to be strong for Ginger. Who could blame him? He loved that redhead more than life. She just wondered how this was affecting him. It was his child too. He had to be devastated.
The farm girl stood up and walked towards the lagoon. She spotted the academic crouched down trying to untangle part of the net. The Skipper said he had some more rope in his hut that they could use and he went to get it.
"Professor." Mary Ann started. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. My concern is for Ginger."
"I know that. But I'm talking about you. Are you okay? I mean it was your child too."
The Professor frowned. "I'm aware of that Mary Ann. I'm fine. My concern is Ginger. I care about her getting through this. She is what is important."
Mary Ann was going to say something but decided against it. "I see. Well I just wanted to.."
"I know what you wanted and I assure you I'm doing just fine. You should concentrate on making sure Ginger is okay. That's what I intend to do. No matter how she…" He tossed the net aside in frustration.
"Professor…what's wrong? Did you and Ginger have a fight?"
"No. I….I just wanted to cheer her up this morning. Do something that would bring a smile to her face…so…"
"So…what did you do?" Mary Ann asked.
"I decided to…I took off my shirt for her. I thought she would like that. She always said…"
"I know." Mary Ann smiled. "She would always complain you wore it way too much. I bet she appreciated the gesture."
"No. She didn't. It didn't phase her one bit. She told me to put my shirt back on and go about whatever it was I was going to do."
The farm girl could not believe her ears. "What? Ginger told you to put your shirt on? Since when did she ever…I don't get it."
"Neither do I. I just…"
"Just what?" Mary Ann asked. "What is it?"
"I don't want her to withdraw herself from me. I don't want her to get into her head that she and I can't…I don't want that. I'm not saying that she is going to want to…you know right away…I'm not asking her to. What I want is for her to know that I love her and whenever she is ready, I'll be there waiting for her. I love that woman. I would do anything in the world for her. Anything. If there was a way for me to get my gorgeous wife back to Hollywood I would do it in a second. If I could swim back to Hawaii and send a boat back I would. Just for her."
The farm girl nodded. "I know you would. I know how much you love her. Look, maybe you and Ginger could use some time alone."
"What do you mean?"
"Well Gilligan and I needed to get away for a bit…I think that you and Ginger need that too. Why don't you take her to the other side of the island? You can stay in that old hut. It is still quite cozy. Maybe it would do some good for you both to just be together. Alone. Just the two of you."
"I suppose that would be advisable." He conceded. "Maybe it would do some good for her to get away from everyone for a few days. Not worry about anything."
"Think about it." Mary Ann said. "I bet it would do a world of good."
She then turned and walked back to the communal area.
The Professor pondered this. Maybe it would be wise to be alone with his wife. Let her know he loved her and will always love her. Let her grieve in peace. Not feel like she has to explain to anyone why she is down. Have everyone tell her it will be okay. Not that she didn't know they meant well. But still. Just be afforded the time to start to heal. It couldn't hurt.
The Skipper arrived back with the rope and the two men were engrossed in their work that neither heard the soft steps of a redhead approaching. The Professor felt a pair of lips touch his ear and whisper. "I love you."
He smiled and turned his head. "Ginger."
"I'm sorry about earlier darling. You forgive me?"
"There is nothing to forgive." He said pulling her into his arms. "I understand and I love you." He then kissed her lips.
Ginger returned his kiss and then broke away. "I know you were trying to cheer me up. I do appreciate it darling. Really I do."
The Skipper smiled. "Is this the part where you whisk away the Professor against a tree and I have to finish this myself?" He joked. Well half joked. He really would not have minded if the starlet did in fact do that. She loved kissing her husband and well if it helped make her feel better, he was going to afford her that.
"Oh no." Ginger said shaking her head as she stood up. "I'll let you get back to work now. I just wanted to.."
"Wait." The Professor said taking her arm. "You don't have to leave. And there is a nice tree over there with lots of shade…" He then began to trail his finger tips down her bare arm.
A smile came to the starlet's face. "I love you darling." She said kissing him before turning to leave.
The academic quickly tossed the fish net aside and ran after her. He caught up to her and took hold of her arm again. "My love." He said. "What do you say that you and I…well we have a get away of our own?"
"Get away?" Ginger asked confused.
"Well Mary Ann and Gilligan got away for a few days to be by themselves. I thought maybe we use some time to ourselves. What do you say? We could go to the other side of the island and stay in that hut."
Ginger stared at him. "Darling I'm not ready to.."
"Ginger." He said placing his hands on the sides of her arms. "I'm not suggesting that we just…I thought it would be good for us to be alone. That's all. Just you and me. Allow you to grieve and start to heal. I know how difficult this is for you. It is for me to. I would love nothing more than to be alone with you. I don't care if we don't…make love. Even if all I get to do is just hold you, that's enough for me."
"I'll think about it." Ginger said. "I can't promise anything."
"Okay." The Professor said. "I love you. I want you to know that I love you. I'm not going anywhere."
"I know that Roy." Ginger assured. "And I promise you that I'm not trying to push you away. I need you. I love you. I don't ever want to live without you. I couldn't stand to lose you too…" Tears weld up in her eyes.
The Professor took her in his arms. "You are never going to lose me Ginger. Not ever. I will never ever leave your side. I promise you."
The starlet sniffed wiping her tears. "I love you." She said again holding him tight. "I love you so much. Maybe…maybe we should…I think it's a good idea. Let's get away from here. I don't want to be around anyone but you."
"Okay." He said kissing the top of her head. "You go pack your things and I'll be right there."
Ginger nodded. "Okay." She kissed him once more before heading back to their hut.
The academic watched as she left. He was glad Ginger agreed to it. It was a start. And at least he knew now that she had no intention of pushing him away. Her love for him was still strong. That's all he needed to know.
Ginger arrived back at the hut and found a bag. She began packing some clothes. Roy was right. They did need to get away. She couldn't stand the others staring at her like she was a ticking time bomb. She saw the looks of Mary Ann and Gilligan. Especially Mary Ann. Trying to hide her pregnant stomach behind a laundry basket filled with Gilligan's clothes. The young sailor then staring at her as if she was going to explode any minute. It irked her. She hated them looking at her like that. The last thing she wanted was them all telling her how everything was going to be okay. There There you'll be okay. You'll see. It would just make her scream. She did not wish that. What she wanted was to be able to just feel what she felt and not be treated like she was a child.
Besides. She reasoned to herself. Would it be so terrible to be all alone with her sexy husband? Put your shirt back on? What the hell was she thinking? She didn't talk that way! Silly. Well she was going to make sure she didn't make that mistake again. While it was true she was not ready to be intimate in such a way, it didn't mean she could not enjoy her husband's hot body. Being cuddled up against him. How wonderful.
Roy was the best thing that ever happened to her. And he loved her more than anyone ever loved her before. The starlet thought about what he had told her about them having more kids. Maybe the could. Just maybe. It was something to consider.
