Chapter 2: "At the Beach"

Wally was right, this was a great day. The bluest sky they'd seen since any of the friends could remember was utterly cloudless and splendid. The green of the water as deep and clear as they'd ever witnessed and Kuki thought it looked almost as inviting as Wally's eyes. The sand was hot, but soft beneath their feet, and the ocean waves were washing in just steadily enough to make the atmosphere calming, without being so still as to bode a coming storm – perfect for swimming too. Kuki jumped out of Wally's car with unsuppressed glee, and he chuckled at her girlish demeanor. Hoagie and Abby had elected to ride in the back seat of the convertible their friend had recently acquired, agreeing with him that today was a perfect day to ride with the top down. Abby had to hold her hat, but she enjoyed the feeling of the air rushing by. No one enjoyed that more than Hoagie, though. Somehow, the sensation made him think of flying in an open cockpit, despite having no concrete memory of doing so before. He felt as though this is exactly what it would be like, only off the ground which of course would be the best part.

Abby helped Kuki pick out the perfect spot to spread the two couples' beach blankets and the guys set up the umbrellas to block the severest of the sun's rays from them as the gals set up the refreshments, lounge chairs, and towels. Abby connected her ever-faithful iPod to the portable speakers that would enable everyone to listen as they lounged. She pulled out her latest book, settled in her lounger and peacefully began to read as the ocean made sweet complimentary music to the bustle of the beach-going crowd, just far enough away. Hoagie smiled down at his cool headed wife and leaned down over her book to place a soft kiss on her head. Of course, to manage that he had to dare to remove her favorite red hat from its perch. That could be deadly business, he knew, but sometimes a Gilligan just had to show his lady some love. At first she looked up at him with some annoyance because he'd touched the hat. It was after all the hat that he'd bought her to replace the one she'd worn since he'd met her in middle school. That one had begun to disintegrate and she'd finally placed it on a shelf in their room so no more wear could damage it. Even Abby herself could not explain her connection to that hat. It was just always there, like Hoagie. He seemed to her to have been always in her heart, even on the day they'd met at Hendry. She tilted her head up to meet his lips when she saw the tell-tale glimmer in his eyes and grinned at his blush, the one he always got when she kissed him even after all this time.

Wally was busy chasing his energetic spouse down with sunblock, remembering the freckles he'd seen that morning. She laughed, a musical tinkling sound like crystal bells and ran from his grasp playfully splashing her way into the water. She dared him to pursue her into the cool, green depths with her sparkling violet orbs focused his way. She knew he still was not too fond of water and she didn't think he'd follow. She was wrong. Wally waded right in after her and before she could escape he scooped her up in his arms and flopped backwards into the shallow, slightly sandy liquid still holding her tightly. They both sat up sputtering and roaring with laughter and Wally shook the hair from his eyes just in time to see his wife lean in and press her mouth to his hungrily. His arm snaked around her bare middle, growling in thanks at her choice of a two piece suit, he smiled at the trembling he could feel in her limbs knowing it had nothing whatever to do with the water's temperature. This while his other hand grappled her sweet mouth to his, fingers tugging the wet inky tendrils of her long locks gently, but with enough force to make her whimper. After the kiss broke, several minutes later, he lifted her to her feet again and clasped her hand as they walked back to the blanket so he could satisfy his protective streak and add more SPF to every exposed inch of her. He was content at last and he sat down on the blanket to begin rummaging through the picnic basket and the cooler for a snack.

Soon enough the boys were off to play a game of Frisbee and have a swim leaving the girls to tan and relax on the blankets together. The blazing intensity of the afternoon sun was too much for them, so they left the umbrellas open and enjoyed a little girl talk in the shade.

"So Kuki, you gonna tell Abby what's got you lookin' so happy or what?", the darker skinned woman queried her best female friend (Hoagie was her best friend and she'd never have it any other way).

"I am happy Num- I mean Abby. I don't know why I do that when I talk to you. I sometimes do it to Wally too, I just don't know why or what it is that I'm about to call you. It's like it's gone, before I can quite remember it all the way", she looked away a moment confused then turned back to face her friend, who just smiled.

"Abby understands, baby. Hoagie and me, we do the same thing. Sometimes when I look at the moon, it seems like somethin' there is callin' to me. Hoagie says he feels like he has flown for years already, even though he just finished flight school and got his pilot's license", she too looked wistful for a second and then a commotion from the near-by beach-goers got her attention.

There was a game of volleyball going on and she could see both Wally and Hoagie on one side of the net with two women completing their team and four other people opposing them. She nodded in the direction of the game and Kuki's joyful eyes traced her gaze and she jumped up shouting that they should go cheer their athlete husbands on. Abby smirked at the thought of Hoagie as an athlete, but she secretly hoped he was holding his own with Wally. He just didn't enjoy sports much, so she was sure he was only playing to make his friend happy.

At first when the ladies arrived on the scene, they were happy and proud to cheer as their men seemed to be winning. Then Kuki noticed something and her cheers died on her lips. The girl closest to Wally on his team was flirting with him and he looked very much like he was enjoying it. He grinned and blushed at her attentions, and even began showing off to impress her. Was this the way he acted all the time? Kuki was shocked, hurt, and getting more furious by the second. It was clear to everyone that the girl was interested in him, and he was doing nothing to stop it. Abby looked on too, as her friend seethed at her side. She was concerned for Kuki, naturally, but her eyes narrowed as she perceived her own spouse behaving in much the same way. He was trying to impress the woman too! Then she took a detached look around at all the closest males. Every one of them seemed transfixed by this one female. She was beautiful, Abby'd be a liar to say she wasn't. Shining long golden hair, flawless tanned complexion, face like a cover girl, eyes so blue they seemed to glow and to top it off the woman had figure that would make any man weak. Curves that just wouldn't quit. She knew it too, Abby could tell.

Wally's eyes seemed to magnetically follow where ever the blond went, no mater how she moved he tracked her. Kuki felt as though the air was being sucked from her lungs, but she refused to budge. She had to see the end of this game. As the sun's light dipped lower and the game neared it's finish, with the Beatles/Gilligan team sealing the fate of the opposition, one final blow struck Kuki right to the heart. Wally's wedding ring was missing! He had taken it off. That was the last straw, she couldn't take anymore and burst into hysterical tears on the sidelines, causing everyone to turn her way. Wally had just lobbed the ball to make the winning point when the sound of his wife's tears reached him and he sprinted to her side, his heart in his throat, to see what on earth the trouble was. The doomed man never knew what hit him.

Author's Notes:

Gee, for someone who really doesn't like to interrupt the story's impact with these things, I am getting into quite a habit of talking to you all a lot...

I just thought I'd say, for the sake of my fellow Wally fans, that we are now entering the danger zone. He will come out alive I promise you that. As to what I do (or allow Kuki to do) to him in the meantime, well that's for the coming chapters to reveal..

Just to keep you going, I present a little glimpse into the future, a PREVIEW - Chapter 3: "Round One":

*SMACK!* The hot sting of impact whipped Wally's head to the side as his wife's hand left a flaming print on his cheek.