AN: Thank you again for all the beautiful reviews, they are really appreciated. Also, I would like to add that since this is an AU story that I kind of rewrote a little history by moving a certain episode before The Hunter episode. I realized that it took place many episodes after The Hunter, but for the purposes of this story I wanted it beforehand. Anyways, enjoy! :)
Disclaimer: As usual I do not own any of these characters except all the ape babies. :)
In the morning Ginger awoke to someone lightly snoring and smiled at the sight in front of her. He still held her firmly in his arms and noticed the silly grin on her friend's face as she slept. It was the happiest she had seen her since Kincaid hunted them down. She respected her friend to not inquire what happened, but could tell how scared she had become like she was waiting for him to come back and shoot her. Ginger went behind their privacy screen and changed into her lime green dress. She sat in front of the vanity sweeping her hair up and putting on her make-up before leaving the hut to make breakfast. After a few minutes, Mary Ann woke up and felt his arm around her. She inwardly sighed as she stared at his sleeping face and smiled as he snored. He was her hero and she felt safer with him by her side as she hugged him, then nudged him awake. He mumbled something and went to roll over, but rolled them out of the bed. She cried out in surprise which woke him up and he noticed he was on the floor, but he was sitting on top of Mary Ann. He immediately jumped up seeing at what position he had been in and began blushing.
"I'm sorry, Mary Ann."
He helped her sit up.
"It's okay, Gilligan."
She tried to stand, but he picked her up knowing that she wanted to get dressed and placed her in a chair that sat behind the screen. Ginger had been kind enough to hang Mary Ann's clothes over it and Gilligan handed them to her tentatively making his cheeks flush. Even though she was behind the screen he still turned his back until she called to him that she was decent. She was wearing her red gingham dress again, it was easier for her to wear dresses until her ankle healed which also meant no shoes and he picked her up setting her in front of the vanity. He watched in fascination as she brushed her hair into pigtails and tied ribbons in them. She was about to put make-up on and he stopped her.
"You don't need that stuff, you look pretty without it."
She smiled and blushed.
"Thank you, Gilligan."
"Besides, I think breakfast might be ready."
He scooped her up and carried her to the table just as the Professor began setting the table. The Skipper seemed a bit surprised that his little buddy had spent all night in the girls' hut, but to still be there in the morning, he shook his head hoping nothing happened. They all took their seats as Ginger served them their breakfast and then served herself. They ate quietly until Ginger broke the silence.
"Here, Gilligan, I made this for you."
She handed him a covered plate and was surprised to see a guava jelly filled doughnut when he lifted the lid.
"Thanks, Ginger, but you didn't have to."
"It's for what you did last night."
"Yes, thank you, Gilligan," Mary Ann said.
The Skipper nearly choked on his scrambled turtle eggs and they all turned to him.
"It was no big deal, girls."
He grinned and ate his doughnut while the Skipper gazed at his little buddy in shock. Gilligan glanced up and noticed his big buddy staring at him.
"Skipper, are you alright?"
"Yes, little buddy, what about you?"
"I'm a little sore because Mary Ann's bed is somewhat uncomfortable."
They all seemed to choke on their breakfast at his statement except the girls who only grinned at each other now realizing what they all thought was going on.
"Oh, really, Gilligan, and you're not even married yet."
"What does marriage have to do with Mary Ann's bed, Mrs. Howell?"
She looked scandalized and felt faint as she brought her fan out to cool herself.
"The dear boy finally achieved his sailor's blood," Mr. Howell remarked.
"Sailor's blood?"
The girls were trying to suppress their giggles.
"What Mr. Howell is trying to say, little buddy, is that you and the girls, well, had a little fun last night."
"We didn't have fun, Skipper."
He smiled in relief.
"We just slept together."
Mrs. Howell fainted into her husband's shoulder, the men began choking, and the girls laughed while Gilligan scratched his head wondering what he said to make them act weird. Mary Ann saw his confusion and whispered into his ear what the others thought was going on. His eyes widened, but then he laughed as he turned to his big buddy and shook his head.
"Such naughty thoughts, Skipper."
"What am I supposed to think when you're not in your hammock in the morning and see you emerge out of the girls' hut?"
"Mary Ann had a nightmare, couldn't you hear her screaming?"
He shook his head.
"Was I that loud, Gilligan?"
"I thought for a minute Kincaid had come back and was hurting you."
"It was a pretty bad nightmare by the looks of it because she didn't know me and I was grateful when Gilligan showed up. I didn't know what to do, Mary Ann, I couldn't comfort you because the more I tried to help the more you panicked in your sleep."
The brunette threw her friend an apologetic glance.
"Besides, she asked me to stay and I wasn't about to break my promise," Gilligan piped up.
All eyes bore into Mary Ann's eyes and she bowed her head.
"I was frightened. I thought..."
They realized she had been dreaming of Kincaid and stopped their questioning.
"Why didn't you leave before Ginger awoke?" the Skipper asked.
"Yes, Gilligan, it isn't proper to be in the same room when a lady is changing unless, of course, you're married."
"Ginger was already gone when I woke up, Mrs. Howell, and Mary Ann needed my help."
"I think I'm going to faint again, Thurston."
"She needed help to the chair behind the changing screen and help handing her clothes before she dressed. I even turned my back, Mrs. Howell, I didn't see anything, honest."
The girls were chuckling as everyone else sighed in relief.
"Although, it's not like I haven't seen a woman naked before."
Everyone choked on either their food or their coconut milk.
"Gilligan, you didn't spy on us at the waterfall, did you?"
"Of course not, Ginger."
"Then when have you ever seen a woman naked?"
"Remember, Skipper, in the Navy some of the guys had those magazines they weren't supposed to have."
The captain turned a bright red and nodded.
"Well, one of the guys showed it to me and she was gorgeous, but I still think she'd be prettier with her clothes on. I mean, who wants to go around naked all the time and then have your picture taken for the whole world to see? If I was her boyfriend I'd be jealous that other guys were staring at her, isn't she supposed to be showing her assets only to her boyfriend or husband?"
"I suppose so," the Skipper croaked out.
Everyone had turned red as Gilligan looked to the Howells.
"What do you think, Mr. and Mrs. Howell?"
"I agree with you, dear boy, it isn't proper," said Mrs. Howell.
After his confession they finished their meal in silence and then left to do their own things.
Mary Ann sat in the lounger bored to death, how did the Howells do this everyday? She sighed in frustration and wished she had made Gilligan stay, but she told him she'd be fine if he went fishing and if he stayed she was half tempted to ask him if he was telling the truth about him not spying on them at the waterfall. She noticed he had answered Ginger quickly and had a secretive grin. She heard rustling coming from the jungle and she cowered readying to call out to him or crawl away or both, but realized it was Eliza and she let out the breath she had been holding.
"Eliza, you scared me."
The ape bowed her head.
"Are you looking for Gilligan?"
She shook her head.
"You came to see me?"
She nodded.
"Well, I am bored because I have to stay off my feet. What are you up to? Do you need help?"
The ape gestured, but she didn't understand and before she knew it Eliza was taking off with her. She was concerned that something happened to Gilligan or one of the other apes. When they arrived at the ape community Eliza set Mary Ann down and pointed to the three young apes who were depressed. The others had tried to cheer them up, but they huddled close together and sat there. Eliza called to them and gestured to Mary Ann. The siblings perked up and ran to her, hugging her. The brunette was surprised by this, but smiled at them.
"I didn't realize I would be missed."
They made grunts as if to say they missed her because she was family to them.
"I missed you, too, but listen little ones I know you're sad about your mom. She was wonderful for an ape and she saved our lives which we will forever be grateful for, but you guys can't stay in one spot forever. I know it will take time to grieve the loss of your mom, but she wouldn't want you to dwell on it, would she?"
They shook their heads.
"It's okay to be happy sometimes, just remember she loved you very much and she'd want you to be the best apes you can be."
They smiled at her and then ran off to play. Eliza gestured a thanks and Mary Ann grinned as she watched them play.
"They're lucky, Eliza."
The ape sat down next to her.
"I lost both of my parents when I was a little girl, they still have their father."
Eliza whimpered in sympathy.
"I was staying with my aunt and uncle while my parents were celebrating their anniversary. They never came to pick me up and later that day my aunt received a phone call informing her that my parents were killed in a car accident by a drunk driver. I was raised by my aunt and uncle from then on, it was difficult to adjust, but I did it because that's what my parents would want, for me to be happy."
The ape placed a hand on her shoulder and nodded in understanding.
"Thanks for listening and if you need anymore help with them let me know."
Eliza grunted when there was a noise coming from behind them and Mary Ann clutched the ape in fear. Eliza guarded her, but picked up the scent and stood down knowing who it was. He emerged from the jungle and was surprised to see her there.
"Oh, hi, Mary Ann, what are you doing here?"
"Eliza needed my help. What are you doing here, Gilligan?"
"I was checking on Billy and his babies."
The three siblings noticed him and came running, jumping all over him making Mary Ann laugh. He chased them as they played while she and Eliza watched.
Later, Gilligan gave Mary Ann a piggy-back ride to one of his favorite spots, a clearing with tall grass and flowers where almost every butterfly on earth visited. They laid on their backs as the sky became littered with butterflies and even some dragonflies. They soaked up the beauty that surrounded them and he reached over intertwining his hand with hers. Butterflies arose in her stomach as they smiled at each other and stared back up at the sky.
"Are you okay, Mary Ann?"
"Now that you're here I'm fine, why?"
"You looked sad when I found you with Eliza."
"I told her about what happened to my parents."
"What happened to them?"
"They were killed in a car accident by a drunk driver when I was little."
"I'm sorry I asked."
"Don't be, Gilligan, my experience helped out Gladys's babies."
"I'm still sorry I asked because it made you sad and I don't like it when you're sad."
"Thanks, Gilligan."
She rolled onto her side and leaned over kissing his cheek. He grinned and squeezed her hand.
"By the way, Gilligan, were you telling the truth about not spying on us at the waterfall?"
"Nope."
He had answered nonchalantly and grinning.
"Gilligan!"
"It was an accident, you girls hog that waterfall I had to find my own!"
"And when did you spy on us?"
"Well, it was only you back when you thought you were Ginger and I had to keep an eye on you while Ginger assumed your identity. I didn't know you'd be at the waterfall when I needed to use it, but there you were in your birthday suit and I couldn't look away. I'm sorry for staring, but you were so beautiful, more beautiful than that girl in the magazine. I am sorry, it really was an accident and that's why I had to find a waterfall of my own. Are you mad?"
Their faces had turned crimson, but she squeezed his hand.
"No, I'm not mad and I'm sure it was bound to happen."
"Thanks for not holding it against me."
"Gilligan, I could never be mad at you especially when it was an accident. I think at one point or another we've all seen each other naked by accident."
"Oh yeah? Did you see me?"
"No."
He smiled as she stared back at the sky.
"Yes, you did, I can see it in your eyes."
"No, I didn't see you."
"Yes, you did."
"No, I didn't."
"Then why are you blushing?"
She covered her face with her hands trying to hide the flush in her cheeks.
"Because I saw someone else and I'm embarrassed."
"Who did you see?"
"I'm not telling."
"Come on, Mary Ann, please."
He tried prying her hands away from her face, but she wriggled away from him.
"No."
"Pretty please?"
She peered from behind her hands and shook her head. He smiled mischievously as he straddled her and began tickling her stomach. She giggled and tried to fend him off, but he wouldn't relent.
"Tell me!"
"No!"
He tickled under her armpits and she laughed uncontrollably.
"Tell me!"
"Never!"
He then tickled her neck which was one of her most ticklish spots and she laughed until her belly hurt.
"Are you going to tell me?"
"Okay, okay, stop!"
He relented, but didn't move and she gazed up at him.
"It was the Skipper."
He rolled off her and laughed until he couldn't breathe.
"Don't you dare breathe a word to him."
"I won't, I promise. When did this happen?"
"It was when we came back from that mad scientist's island."
"The guy who switched our bodies?"
"Yeah, anyways, I felt weird being in the Professor's body and him in mine so I thought a nice relaxing shower underneath the waterfall might help. I was halfway there and noticed the Skipper getting in. I've never seen a naked man before and I turned running back to camp."
Gilligan chuckled at her story.
"And I thought I was shy."
"Oh, Gilligan, I think of the Skipper like an uncle."
He giggled and she sat up watching him before she tickled him. They had a tickle fight until they were both breathless and laid on their backs gazing up at the sky again watching the butterflies flutter freely.
