Chapter Fourteen

The Notebooks

Mary Ann's heart and insides fluttered with excitement. She was eager to see the Professor in the hospital again, but also nervous to confess her love to him, which is why the past week she'd been writing everything out in her journal in case her voice ever gave out due to crying, the Professor could read it. Mary Ann had read it over a hundred times, making sure it conveyed everything she felt in her heart perfectly. On her one hundredth and first read through, Ginger came in her room.

"Mary Ann, the chauffeur is ready to pick up the Professor from the hospital," she told her. "The castaways and I decided you could go by yourself."

Mary Ann closed her journal. "Actually, I think I'm going to bring Rose with me."

Ginger put two hands on her hips. "How come?"

Mary Ann smiled. "Let's just say Rose will no longer get between the Professor and I."

"I don't understand?"

"Something came over her and she apologized. Everything is good between us now."

"Wow, that was fast," Ginger pointed out.

"I know what you're thinking Ginger and you're wrong. I truly believe Rose was being genuine."

Ginger smiled. "Alright, alright then I believe you, I'm sorry. I hope everything will be okay with you and the Professor."

Mary Ann held her notebook to her chest. "Don't worry, it will be, because I'm going to do it."

Ginger gasped with the widest eyes and smile. "You're going to finally tell him that you love him?"

Mary Ann nodded. "I'm ready to take that next step."

"When are you going to tell him?"

"Later today," Mary Ann told her friend. "I wanna give him a chance to settle first."

Ginger threw her arms around Mary Ann in a hug. "I'm so happy for you two. I've always wanted a relationship like yours with the Professor."

Mary Ann smiled at her when they pulled apart from the hug. "You'll find it someday," she said, then with a smirk she added, "In fact he could be in this very mansion."

Ginger laughed. "Okay Mrs. matchmaker, lets get you to the hospital." Ginger pushed Mary Ann towards the door.

"Alright, but you know exactly who I am talking about," Mary Ann called as she went down the stairs. She went to find Rose and asked her if she wanted to come with her to the hospital. Rose gladly agreed and they were both driven by the Howell's Chauffeur.

"Mary Ann, thanks for inviting me to come," Rose spoke they drove to the hospital. "I know we hardly spoke to each other this trip, but I'm happy you asked."

Mary Ann smiled. "It was my pleasure Rose. I assume you have somethings you want to tell the Professor—I mean Roy."

Rose nodded. "Yes, but it isn't as important, I assume, than what you would like to say to him."

Mary Ann looked down at her lap. "Well, likewise...but um, I wouldn't want to do it in front of you..."

"Oh Mary Ann, don't worry I didn't mean to put pressure on you," Rose assured. "I guess I'm just saying, 'you have my blessing.'" Rose chuckled initiating one from Mary Ann as well.

"Thank you, that's very sweet of you."

...

When they arrived at the hospital, the doctors immediately knew who Mary Ann and Rose were there for and they sent them right on in the Professor's room. He was fully awake, bandage removed from his head and sporting a glad smile once the girls entered.

"You're looking wonderful Roy," Rose said, standing on one side of his bed.

The Professor turned to look up at her. "Rose I—"

"And I see your head has healed up nicely," Mary Ann added, eyes examining the spot.

The Professor now turned to Mary Ann who was standing on his other side. "Am I missing something?" he said to them both. "How long was I out for?"

Mary Ann and Rose exchanged playful smiles. They each took one of his hands.

"No need to worry Roy, everything has been taken care of," Rose said, before leaning forward close to his ear. "By the way, what you wrote in that notebook of yours was said beautifully, you ought to have her read it." Rose leaned back and winked at the Professor.

"Am I missing something as well?" Mary Ann wondered.

"Uh, never mind that," The Professor said, sitting up. "I must get out of this old hospital bed before I go insane."

...

The Professor was greeted cheerfully by the castaways when he was brought into the mansion. They gave him hugs and pats on the back. He still felt a little weak in his legs, so Mary Ann linked arms with the Professor and took him to the kitchen where a huge feast had been prepared for his 'homecoming.'."

The Professor's mouthed watered as he looked around at the table with food like sandwiches, fruit, salad, and cakes. Everyone gathered around, filling their cups with sparkling flavored water, cheering to the Professor's fast recovery.

"I must say," the Professor spoke after taking a sip of his water. "This has been a eventful trip, but also wonderful nonetheless."

Mary Ann set her glass down, scanning her eyes around everyone at the table. "Yes, It's been nice spending time together. We all didn't get to say proper goodbyes."

The castaways nodded.

"And Rose, you have been a nice edition to our group," the Skipper said, giving her a welcoming smile. "I hope we get a chance to meet again."

Rose smiled shyly. "Thank you Skipper."

Gilligan nodded and smiled his goofy smile. "Yeah, it's nice having another girl around so the Skipper doesn't feel left out," he joked.

The Skipper clenched his fist, eyeing Gilligan which instilled chuckles from everyone.

"Thurston and I would like to say you're all welcome here anytime," said Lovey.

"Yes, precisely," Thurston agreed.

"Thank you for inviting us," Ginger said.

The Skipper raised his glass. "Until we all meet again."

They raised their glasses along with him before taking sips. As she drank, Mary Ann eyed the Professor who sat across from her. They exchanged smiles, but both faded when they realized it may be a long time before the castaways would all be together again. Both were waiting for a chance to escape the table and talk. When the Professor finished up eating, he went upstairs to his room to rest and they got their chance.

Mary Ann opened the door to see if she was going to disturb him but his eyes were open and he smiled right at her when she poked her head through.

"Come in dear," he said, laying on his back on the bed.

Mary Ann walked in, shutting the door behind her. She held her notebook behind her back as she walked to the bed, then she sat beside him on the edge.

The Professor, with his arms around his head said, "So I take it you and Rose are on good terms?"

"Wow, Professor Hinkley is very smart," Mary Ann teased.

The Professor laughed but it slowly drew out into silence. They stared at each other, not saying anything until it got awkward. Mary Ann brought her notebook up to her lap. The moment was perfect—they where alone and the Professor was well. She wanted to just blurt it out and tell him, but her throat was stuck and she'd spent the time writing it out, so she opened the notebook to the page

"I have something I want you to read," Mary Ann told him, holding the book open. Her hands were shaking and her heart raced.

"Such a coincidence, because as do I," said the Professor, sitting up and extending his arm so he could grab his notebook from the side table.

They both held their notebooks open, and exchanged a little laugh as they traded. At the exact moment Mary Ann and the Professor began reading their handwritten letters to each other.

The Professor's letter to Mary Ann

My Dear Mary Ann,

I'm writing this because as you know from the island, I am not one for romance, or one for showing romance. (I'm far better at expressing my feelings in writing.) But with you it's different-always different. It's strange because our fate-full trip should have been the most terrible thing to happen, but for me it ended up being the best thing; meeting you was the best thing. I have never connected to someone in the way that I do with you . And when I'm around you, you make me feel like something different than a 'smart Professor.' From the day we met there was something there, something in you that made me want to constantly be around you. It didn't come to me instantly, but in the back of my mind you were always present. What all this means, and I want you to know Mary Ann Summers is that every ounce of me is in love with you and I hope you feel the same.

You'll always be my dear,

Roy Hinkley

Mary Ann's letter to the Professor

Professor, my Professor

I love you and I've loved you for longer than you may have been aware. I must admit, I was jealous of how long you've known Rose. But then I realized, it does not matter how long you've know a person. If that person makes you feel special and important, even knowing them for three years like you do with me, than the length of time means nothing. All I know is that I want to spend many more years with you. Thank you for putting the smile you see everyday on my face and for giving me something to think about before I fall asleep at night.

I love you and not even this letter can express how much love I have for you.

When they finished reading, they both stared intensely in each other eyes. They both didn't know what to do or say next. Mary Ann closed the book and set it aside and Professor did the same.

Mary Ann reached her hand over and ran her fingers through the front of his hair. "There's only thing I have to say about that," she said. "I love you so much Roy."

The Professor grinned. "And I love you Mary Ann."

Mary Ann stood up and the Professor got out of bed so they could hug properly. She wrapped her arms around his back and he held her against his chest.

"What else do you think life has in store for us?" Mary Ann said, squeezing him with all her strength.

He sighed happily. "I'm not sure, all I know is that my fondness for you will always be great."

the end

I always feel like I never know how to end my stories. They always seem to end lame or cheesy. But anyway, I want to thank all of you who've read/reviewed this story! I really appreciate it so so much. You guys gave me so much motivation to keep continuing. For my next story, I might write a Partridge Family based one. But I may need a little break between this one and the next.

Until next time! Thanks again!