The silver faucet handle was turned off and Skipper wiped his face with a fluffy pink towel. The entire bathroom was done in pink and white. Pink marble countertops and matching porcelain tile on the floor. He set the towel in the wicker laundry hamper and looked at his reflection in the mirror. The past month with Erika Tiffany Smith had been quite a whirlwind. She lead quite a life that was for sure. Trips to Paris and England and Milan. Yacht parties and cotillions with fancy high powered tycoons. While they were fun to hang out with they weren't anything like the Howells. Skipper felt these people were lacking a bit in the class department but he enjoyed himself. Or he thought he did. He wasn't so sure anymore. He sighed and walked out to the bedroom where Erika was lying on the bed wearing a pink silk bathrobe lined with fur. She smiled at the sea captain. "Skipper dahling are you hungry? I can have my chef whip up a dinner in no time."

He picked up his shirt from the floor and pulled it on. "No that's quite alright." He replied. "I um I really should get going."

"Oh nonsense. Why don't you stay the night?" Erika said sweetly. "You don't want me to be lonely now do you?"

Skipper shook his head. "I'm sorry Erika but I really should go. I have a lot to do in with getting my new business up and running. I need to see a man about a boat."

"Forget that." Erika said dismissively. "I'll buy you a nice boat."

Buy him a boat? Skipper looked at her puzzled. "What do you mean you'll buy me a boat?"

"Just that dahling." She said. "I'll buy you the best boat there is. And a brand new captain's hat. Hire you the best crew. Of course you can keep that Gilligan if you wish but it would be nice to have more help."

"You really don't need to go through all that trouble." Skipper said. "I would just rather get my own. And I don't really need a big crew. Gilligan works just fine."

"It's no trouble at all." Erika said. "And I won't hear another word about it. I'm going to purchase you a new boat and that is all there is to it. I'll go shopping first thing tomorrow."

Skipper didn't know what to say. He didn't feel right arguing with her and he also didn't feel right allowing her to purchase him such a thing. He just nodded and headed out of the bedroom. He went down the winding staircase and to the front door. He turned the knob and walked out shutting dark wrought iron door behind him. Skipper hurried to his car and started it up pulling out of the long driveway. He was starting to question why he was with Erika. At first it seemed nice to have her attention. He enjoyed the nights he spent in her bed but now…now it felt wrong. He couldn't explain it but it just did. In the back of his mind he knew he had to end things but for some reason he could not bring himself to do so. Erika had a way of getting her way and you could not argue with her. If she said something was so that's pretty much all there was to it. It was like when she stupidly thought the Professor had wanted to enter into matrimony with her. Anyone could see that was not his desire but Erika was so oblivious to reality it didn't matter. She saw things one way. Her own.

Skipper drove up to the house he had rented and stopped the car. He got out and walked inside sitting down on the couch. His eyes glanced at a newspaper on the table that had a picture of him and Erika splashed on the front. He wondered what the others thought of the whole situation. Gilligan and Mary Ann had not been pleased when they heard he was dating the socialite. They didn't come out and say it but he knew by the looks on their faces. Erika had invited the two out to dinner with them and it was pretty cold. The young ex-castaways were polite but Skipper could sense the coolness. Erika didn't seem to notice. He had not heard anything from the Howells on the subject but he was certain Mrs. Howell was probably not happy. What Ginger and the Professor thought he didn't know. He hadn't spoken with either of them. He knew very well how much Ginger detested Erika and most likely the Professor did as well. What Skipper knew is that he had never been more miserable in his life. Every now and then his brief time with Diana would enter his mind. Especially that first time he met her. What fun they had. She was quite a pistol. Late a night he dreamed about her. Well sort of. They weren't exactly pleasant dreams. There was one in particular that haunted him….

"I don't love you Skipper!" Ginger would yell. "I never loved you. Why on Earth would I pick a fat slob like you over a handsome intelligent sexy man like my Roy!"

He would look at her dumbfounded not saying a word.

"You are sad! Sad!" Ginger would exclaim. "Pathetic creature who lusts for women who never showed any type of interest! Don't you dare come near me!"

It was then the Professor would show up. "You lay one hand on my beautiful Ginger you will be very sorry!" He would snap. "Ginger belongs to me. She is mine! You get your own woman!"

Ginger would laugh. "He is incapable of that. He's too stupid to hold onto one. He has to settle for a phony like Erika Tiffany Smith."

"She…She likes me." Skipper tried to say. "She and I…we have a good time. Together."

It was then Mary Ann and Gilligan showed up shaking their heads at him. "Gee Skipper to think I used to take your advice on women." Gilligan would remark. "You really are clueless."

"Very." Mary Ann would interject. "So so clueless. You know nothing. Erika doesn't love you."

Skipper turned to find Erika and found her surrounded by several rich handsome men in tuxedos lavishing her with gifts. "Erika!" He would call out. "Erika."

She would ignore him and smile and laugh at her admirers. Then a soft gentle voice would speak. "I liked you Skipper." He would turn and see Diana standing there. She was dressed in what appeared to be rags. "I liked you Skipper. I liked you." She said again. "You threw me away. You threw me away. You threw me away for her."

"Diana!" He would run towards her. "Diana!'

He couldn't get to her because two men would come and take her away. The more he tried to follow the further away they got. "Diana!"

He would wake up sweating and shaking. It was like his subconscious was telling him something but he was too stubborn to see it. He kept on seeing Erika. Besides it was nice having his picture in the paper with her. Everyone gushing about them and saying what a handsome couple they made. He was sure he had to be the envy of a few men. He wasn't going to succumb to any foolish dream. It was just a dream that is all. No he was going to keep seeing Erika and that was how it was going to be. He couldn't give her up. It wasn't so bad being with her. The sex…it was…terrific. And the attention she gave him. There was no way he was giving that up. Everything would be just fine. It would. Besides he couldn't walk away now. Erika.. she is who he always wanted. He wasn't about let her slip away.

Ginger and Professor's House

"You made a remarkable meal my love." The Professor said as they loaded the dishwasher. "You outdid yourself.'

"Thank you darling." Ginger smiled as she placed a glass on the rack. She then added the detergent and close the door hitting the button for the dishwasher to start. "Why don't we go rejoin everyone in the living room?"

"Not just yet." He said taking her in his arms and kissing her lips.

Ginger grinned at him as the kiss broke. "What's gotten into you? You haven't stopped kissing me all night. Not that I mind of course."

"Nothing." He replied. "I just love you and think you are beautiful." He kissed her once more and Ginger pulled away. "Roy darling what is it? Are you trying to hide something from me?"

The Professor sighed. Ginger knew him so well it was impossible to keep anything from her. And she was going to find out sooner or later. He couldn't hide this. "There is something. And I don't want you to get upset. Promise me you won't."

"Roy what is it?" Ginger asked.

"It seems that the publishing company I signed with…they are merging with Erika Tiffany Smith's company." He said.

Ginger's eyes went wide. "What!" She shrieked in horror.

"Relax my love." He said trying to calm her. "They are just merging. It does not mean that I have to deal with Erika directly."

"What about that horrible woman Evelyn! Oh I knew she was up to no good. Just had to find a way…"

"She is not a factor." Professor explained. "It seemed that Erika found someone to buy her out. She is not a part of it anymore."

"I see." Ginger said. "Well can't you find another publisher? I'm sure there are others who would love to…."

"It's too late for that." The Professor explained. "I signed a contract. I have to fulfill it."

"This is just great." Ginger grumbled. She then looked at her husband. "You just steer clear of that creature you hear me?"

"I shall do my best." He replied holding her close. "I promise."

"I bet this was all her idea." Ginger said "Probably trying to find a way to get you away from me. I bet that is what she is doing with Skipper. Probably thinks you will be jealous…"

"It won't work." The Professor assured. "You know that."

Ginger sighed. "I do know that." She said. "I just can't stand that woman. But I can be grown up. If we have to deal with the wench we will."

"I love you." He said kissing the top of her head.

"I love you too Roy." Ginger said wrapping her arms around him. The phone rang and Ginger reluctantly broke away to answer it. "Hello?"

"Ginger it's me Tony."

"Oh hi Tony. What's up? Did you talk to that movie studio about me?"

"I did." Tony said. "But that is not why I am calling. I'm calling about something else. A magazine wants to do an article about you."

"Oh." Ginger smiled. "That's wonderful."

"Not exactly." Tony said.

"What do you mean not exactly?"

"I mean Ginger the person who wants to write the article is a sleaze. He doesn't actually want to talk about you or your career or your marriage to Roy. No he wants to talk about your relationship with Mary Ann." Tony paused a minute. "He seems to think there is more to it than friendship."

"More to it than friendship…what are you…" It then hit Ginger. "Oh my…that's horrible! That is just…that's disgusting!"

"It is." Tony agreed. "To top it off he wanted to put in racy photos of you and Mary Ann with the article."

"I think I'm going to be sick." Ginger said. "What kind of person would…why on Earth would…"

"I don't know." Tony said. "But I told him that was not happening. You weren't going to do such a thing and that there was never anything like that going on with you and Mary Ann. He was needless to say not happy."

"Well too bad." Ginger snapped. "That man is a sicko. Ugh…what is wrong with people!"

"I wish I knew kid." Tony replied. "I'm sorry but I just thought you should know."

"I appreciate it." Ginger said. "Thank you." She hung up.

"What was that about?" The Professor asked.

"Oh some sleazy writer at some sleazy magazine wanted to write a sleazy article about me and Mary Ann. Claim there was more going on with us than friendship. You know what I mean?" She fumed. "It's sick."

The Professor couldn't believe it. "Why would they want to write such trash?"

"I don't know." Ginger replied. "My guess is that this sleaze thinks it will sell magazines or something. Darling what has become of the world?"

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"I mean it's like God is being shut out. People think they are more intelligent than Him and they disregard what He said. They make up their own way of thinking. What gets me is some claim to believe in what the Bible says but more often they pick and chose what they want to believe." Ginger replied. "I don't understand it."

The Professor placed his arms around her. "I don't get it either." He said. "I think you are correct when you say that people are under the belief their way is better than His way. They honestly believe they are more intelligent than God and they aren't wrong. They think God is wrong."

"God isn't wrong." Ginger stated. "And how they can think they know better? God is the one who created everything. God is the one who made us. They didn't do that. He did. He is the almighty. All knowing."

"I agree with you." The Professor said. "But it has always been that way. Since the beginning of time, mankind has believed they know best. Throughout Biblical times people assumed their way is right. It's hard to change people's thinking. But my love you can't let it get to you. There are just some people who are so bullheaded and stubborn that no matter what you say they will refuse to listen."

"That is true." A voice said.

They turned to see Tim there at the door of the kitchen. "Sorry I couldn't help but overhear."

"That's okay." Ginger said. She then filled him in on the conversation with her agent.

"Wow." He said. "No wonder you were upset."

"It just bothers me." The movie star said. "So many people claim to believe in the Lord and follow His word but they seem only want to follow what suits them. I don't know what the beliefs of this sleaze at the magazine is but I can't help but think if I did do an article like that that it would be big seller and people would get a cheap thrill out of it."

"You are probably right." Tim said. "It would be a big seller. People just can't help themselves. I think you are right when you said that it appears God is being shoved out. But you need to keep something in mind, that can never happen. God cannot be shoved away. He is all around us. He is everywhere. No matter what, He is there. And also know that we are all sinners. We aren't perfect."

"I know." Ginger said. "I know I'm not perfect at all. I've done stupid things in my life. I've asked God for forgiveness more times than I can count. I don't mean to make it seem like I'm some perfect being. I'm not. And yes I know that none of us are. It's just when something like that happens, I just gets to me. I'm sure this writer was not the first to want to print something like that and I know he won't be the last. To be honest Mary Ann and I did get some pretty disgusting innuendoes when we got rescued."

"You just keep holding onto your faith." Tim said. "You keep on believing and following the teachings of Jesus. As for people like this magazine writer, all you can do is pray they change their ways. You know what Jesus said. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Yes people may mock you and throw out nasty labels as if that shuts down the argument. Keep strong. God is with you."

Ginger nodded. "That is true. I will try to remember that. Thank you Tim."

"You are welcome." He said with a smile. "By the way there was a reason I came in here. Charlene wanted to know if you would consider singing next service. The girl who was scheduled to sing had to back out. She was hoping you would fill in."

"I'd love to." Ginger smiled. "Actually I would love to do a duet with Charlene. I have the perfect song. You think she would do it?"

"I think she would love that." Tim replied. "I think that you both would make a dynamitic singing duo and that the congregation would tell me to shut up and let you both sing again."

The Professor smiled at his wife. "You do have a way of captivating people my love."

"I only like captivating you." She said as she kissed him. She turned back to Tim. "Tell Charlene I would be more than happy to sing with her. Roy and I will be out in a minute with the coffee."

"Will do." He said as he left the kitchen.

The Professor turned to his wife. "You feeling better?"

"I am." She said. "I guess I hadn't realized how much changed since we were on the island. Being isolated from the world you don't realize how different things are."

"That is true." The Professor said. "But we don't necessarily have to change with it. Some things have not changed for the better. We should never compromise our faith or beliefs to fit in. So what if people don't think it's cool. It doesn't matter."

"You are right." Ginger said. "Who cares if the world judges. Let them judge. I would rather being standing with God and allowing the world to judge me than the other way around."

The Professor gathered up the coffee and the cups and placed them on the tray. "Let's go rejoin the others. I'm sure Shannon and Grace have more questions to pepper you with about David Cassidy."

Ginger giggled and followed her husband in. She decided to forget about that sleaze at the magazine. He was just that. A sleaze. Her mind did drift back to the news her husband shared about the publishing company. She had to wonder just what Erika was up to.