When Roy Hinkley and Mary Ann Summers woke in their respective huts, both were surprised that for all their carousing and drinking the night before, neither of them had hangovers, not even a severe headache.
Ginger was there when Mary Ann awoke, sitting on the floor by the side of the younger woman's bed.
"Hmmmm, Ginger?" Mary Ann said blearily, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "What're you doing down there, watching me sleep?"
"Thinking while watching you sleep."
"More about Jonas?"
"Yes, that and your day today."
"Hmmm mmmm," Mary Ann acknowledged, swinging her feet over the side of the bed. She worked her mouth back and forth, grimacing at the sour taste and feel.
"Blecch, I'm glad Roy can't see me like this today! Is it safe to go out into the compound?"
"In just a little bit. Gilligan's making breakfast for the men. The Professor woke up just minutes ago himself, without even a headache!"
Mary Ann stood, surprised again that she felt remarkably good. That hooch was kinder than she'd anticipated, and she'd enjoyed a deep restful sleep, not near-unconsciousness as some drink would've provided.
"Well, let's get started if we only have till Noon!"
Mrs. Howell joined them minutes later, with a white dress, a headband of flowers and a beautiful, brilliantly-colored bouquet of the native flora.
"All right, young ladies, it's time!"
Over in Roy's little hut, the Skipper and Gilligan were fussing over the Professor.
Roy was sitting on the edge of his bed, head in hand, taking deep breaths.
"You okay, Professor?" Gilligan asked with concern.
The Skipper chuckled, "He's just having a fit of the vapors, Gilligan. He's terrified!"
Roy remained silent.
"Terrified? Whyever for? He was so happy yesterday! He and Mary Ann have known each other for four years, what would he be scared of?"
The Skipper put his arm around Gilligan's skinny shoulders, leading him away from Roy's bed.
"Well, you see, little buddy, yes, they've known one another for four years, but not THIS WAY, you get what I mean?"
Gilligan's brow crinkled while he thought about it. After a few moments, he turned to look at the Skipper. "Not really, Skipper."
Jonas sighed at Gilligan's denseness. Knowing his little buddy as he did, he knew he'd have to be point-blank about it: using innuendo wasn't going to cut it.
He leaned over to whisper into Gilligan's ear.
The startled look and rapid blush assured the Skipper that Gilligan now "got it."
"OH!" he exclaimed, looking back at Roy, who'd watched the little exchange.
Roy offered Gilligan a wan smile, then returned to the deep breathing.
Gilligan sat down next to the older man, and boldly draped his arm across Roy's shoulder.
"Professor, it'll be okay, really it will! You're... well, you're the PROFESSOR, you know everything!"
The comment eased the tension, and Roy couldn't help but laugh at Gilligan's wide-eyed innocence and misunderstanding.
"No, no, Gilligan, you don't get it. What's going to happen today has nothing to do with any of my university learning and studies and teachings. This... well, this is new ground for me too, as well as Mary Ann."
"You mean, you... ?"
Roy blushed this time. "Well, okay, not entirely 100 percent NEW, but, um... close, very close to a new thing for me."
Gilligan's head began to hurt with all the innuendo and double entendres flying about. Why can't the Skipper and the Professor speak plainly? he wondered.
Gilligan stood to exit the hut, but turned around one last time. Jonas and Roy waited for him to say something.
"Professor, I have to admit, I'm not 100 percent sure I even know what we've been talking about for the last few minutes. All I know is this: You love Mary Ann. She loves you. We all love you both. Today will be one the best days of your lives, and you two are going to be happy for many years to come!"
And with that declaration, Gilligan turned and left the hut, going to prepare breakfast for the menfolk.
Jonas and Roy were stunned by Gilligan's little speech.
A soft smile spread across Roy's face, and the Skipper, seeing it, chuckled in response.
"Leave it to my little buddy to sum it all up so easily, huh, Professor?"
"Yes, like Occam's Razor."
Jonas' blank look told the Professor that the Skipper wasn't quite sure how razors got into the situation.
"Sorry, Skipper. It pretty much means, often the best solution to a problem is the simplest solution. Gilligan's right: after all's said and done, we love one another, and we both appreciate everyone working so hard to make our big day so special!"
"Ah, now THAT I get! C'mon, the ladies are waiting for us to get our breakfasts and high-tail it out of here, so they can eat and start to get your bride ready for you!"
The two men, smiling, went to join Gilligan, to see what he was preparing for them all.
After a refreshing dip and shave at the 'falls, and thankful the walk back didn't make him all hot and sweaty again, the Professor retired to his hut to finish getting ready. He didn't have as much to do, of course, as the bride. When he returned to the compound, the men were there waiting for him.
They didn't hoot and holler at him as he'd expected, being decked out as he was, in the white dinner jacket and his single pair of nice slacks. They only smiled and Gilligan motioned him toward the lagoon, where the float awaited.
When the Professor saw the final preparations Gilligan had made, he couldn't help but whistle, impressed.
"This is great, Gilligan! Couldn't be lovelier than if we were back home!"
"Thanks, Professor!"
Jonas smiled and indicated to the Professor that it was time to step on the water, where the ceremony needed to be performed.
"Professor, to be fair, it'll only be you, me and Mary Ann on the float. We didn't want all seven of us loading on here, and I know you and Mary Ann wouldn't be able to choose who you wanted to stand up here with you! So the others will watch from shore."
"I understand, Skipper, yes. Don't want to risk going into the drink again like I did a few days back!"
While the Professor was turned, facing Jonas, the Skipper looked over his shoulder and saw the women approach. His eyes went wide at the sight of Mary Ann; he was convinced he'd never seen such a vision of loveliness in his life.
When Mrs. Howell saw the Skipper's gaze on them, she motioned with her finger to mouth, that he was to keep quiet for a moment while they got closer.
Jonas gave a slight nod of his head, and kept the Professor chattering with him, keeping him distracted. When the Skipper saw the girls were in place, Mrs. Howell nodded her head, telling him it was okay to have Roy turn around.
Jonas interrupted whatever the Professor was going on about, who'd been gabbing mainly to mask his increasing nervousness.
"Um, Professor? It's time. Your bride is here."
Roy's heart-rate almost doubled, and he hadn't even turned around yet. When he did, all he could do was gasp, his mouth agape, and stare.
The two ladies, each holding one of Mary Ann's arms, led the young woman to the ramp leading to the raft.
Roy had no eyes for anyone but his intended. He simply stared as they approached the float.
Mary Ann was wearing a simple white dress that was embellished with tiny delicate flowers on the trim, neckline and hem. Her hair, which Roy normally saw secured in two ponytails, was a flowing, wavy mass of brown, almost glowing as the sunlight beamed off of it. He'd never realized her hair was so incredibly beautiful, and it framed her sweet face. A band of tiny flowers wreathed her head, keeping the hair back. The wind was blowing it around, giving her a sense of wildness that Roy was finding more and more intriguing.
The simple white shift did not detract from her beauty; indeed, Roy thought, it added greatly to it. She looked like a nymph, a faery, a creature of myth and legend to him. Is this my love, the woman I've known for all these years? he wondered, still so overwhelmed by her beauty that he was unaware that the Skipper was trying to get his attention.
By this time, Mary Ann had joined the two men on the float. The other four were lining the shore, as close as they could so they could hear the ceremony.
Mary Ann gazed up into Roy's glowing blue eyes, as he stared into her own dark brown eyes, and the two were lost in one another.
"AHEM!" Jonas finally said, loud enough to ring around the lagoon.
The lovers were startled, and broke out of the hypnotic gaze they were locked in.
"Oh, yes, Captain," Roy said, blushing as he turned to face Jonas.
The Skipper looked at them both, having caught their attention sufficiently, and smiled one more time before he began. His deep bellowing voice had no problem reaching the folks on the shoreline.
"Since the days of wooden vessels, shipmasters have had one happy privilege - that of uniting two people in the bonds of matrimony. We are gathered here today with Mary Ann Summers and Roy Hinkley in the sight of our friends and God, in accordance with international nautical law, to join the two in marriage."
He turned to face the Professor. "Roy, do you take this woman to be your wedded wife? Do you promise to honor and cherish her, protect her and love her, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"
Roy turned to Mary Ann, smiling sweetly down at her. "I do."
Jonas turned to Mary Ann. "Mary Ann, do you take this man for your wedded husband? Do you promise to honor and cherish him, to keep him above all others and love him, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"
Mary Ann, her eyes misting with love and joy, smiled up at Roy. "I do."
The Captain smiled at them both, then glanced at the four on the shore. Turning back to the couple, he said, "By the power vested me by nautical law, as Master of the SS Minnow, I know pronounce you husband and wife! Professor, you may kiss your bride!"
Roy drew her to him, wrapping his arms around her narrow waist, and they were lost again. He'd so longed to have her in his arms, as his wife, and it was finally happening! The yelling, whistles and claps from the shoreline broke through their indulgence in one another, and the two turned to wave at their friends.
Roy took Mary Ann's shoulder and turned her to him once more.
"Mary Ann, it's not much, but I'd love you to wear this for me."
He pulled out his university class ring and slipped it on her left ring finger. It was way too big for her, but she didn't mind at all! She could wear it on her neck or something; all she knew is she never wanted it apart from her.
"Oh, Roy, thank you! I know how much this ring means to you!" She flung her arms around his neck, and the kiss resumed until Jonas broke them up.
The Skipper put his arms across them both, steering them toward the ramp.
Mr. and Mrs. Howell, Gilligan and Ginger were waiting for them, and they all drew the wedded couple into their arms for a group hug.
Mrs. Howell took over after a few moments of kisses, hugs and hand-shakes.
"All right, Professor and Mrs. Hinkley, your gear awaits!"
The two looked at her, confusion on their faces.
"We've got you all packed and ready to go! You've got a bit of a hike to get to your honeymoon suite, after all!"
They all laughed as they guided the newlyweds back to the compound, where they found the gear they'd used previously packed neatly and ready to carry.
Roy smiled at them all and said, "I hope you'll forgive me if we check them over?"
"Of course, of course! We know you need to assure yourselves that everything's in order for living in the wilds of the island for a week," Mr. Howell said.
Roy slipped the fancy dinner jacket off and handed it back to Mr. Howell. "Thank you so much for the loan of your jacket, Mr. Howell! I really appreciate it!"
"You're quite welcomed, my boy! It was a pleasure to see you both up there with the Captain, looking so grand! Now, check your gear, and Lovey and Ginger will help your wife with her final preparations before you leave in a bit."
Before the women led Mary Ann away, Roy ran to her and drew her close, his mouth next to her ear.
He whispered, "Please tell me you're going to look that way tonight, my love? I can't tell you how beautiful you are to me right now."
She smiled and whispered back, "Sure, I can pack it all along with us. Not like it weighs anything!"
She gave him a sweet kiss and ran back to the women, who'd been waiting for her.
Mary Ann returned with Lovey and Ginger in only a few moments. She slipped the neatly folded dress into her pack, and put the headband of flowers over it. Roy had checked the gear, confirming his signaling mirror had been included, and was wearing his own.
Their five friends waited as Roy helped Mary Ann on with her backpack and bedroll. When the newlyweds were ready to begin their hike, the five of them went to them one final time to bid them farewell for a week.
Ginger leaned to whisper to Mary Ann, "Now, don't forget! Backrub!"
Mary Ann giggled and said, "From what Roy said about me in this dress, I doubt we'll need an icebreaker! But a backrub will be fun, and make sense after the hike, so we'll do just fine, thank you!"
Ginger laughed, straightening up and saying aloud, "I'm sure you will!"
"Will what?" Gilligan asked.
"Oh, never you mind, Gilligan!"
Mrs. Howell piped in, "Mary Ann! You forgot to throw the bouquet!"
The older woman trotted to her, handing her the flowing mass of vibrant flowers.
After setting her gear down, Mary Ann took it and spied Ginger, then glanced at Jonas, who was beaming ear to ear.
"Well, Ginger, you're the only single lady to catch it. Maybe it'll bring you some luck this year! But you're going to have to work for it!"
Mary Ann turned her back on the small crowd, concentrated on where Ginger might be, and threw the bouquet over her shoulder.
She was startled to hear a squeal, and she turned in time to see Ginger tripping as her hand lashed out for the bouquet, and falling onto Jonas.
The Skipper, stunned by the impact of his favorite redhead piling into him, lost his own balance. He instinctively grabbed Ginger around the waist, so she wouldn't continue in her dive and bang her head on something, and he hit the ground, hard, with a mighty thud.
Time seemed to pause as the two remained on the ground, Ginger on top, Jonas' arms around her, and the five other castaways stunned into silence.
"Jon- Cap- Skip- " Ginger stuttered, at a loss of words on what to say as her blue eyes stared down into the Skipper's own.
He grinned up at her, surprised and very pleased that her first utterance was his own first name.
"So, which is it, Miss Grant?" he asked quietly.
"Oh, I... um, that is... um..."
He took the initiative and carefully hefted her off him. She squeaked again as she was abruptly lifted so effortlessly and set standing on her own two feet.
The two glanced at one another for a quick second, both blushing, both with downcast eyes. Mary Ann and Roy gave one another a telling look, like, Won't be long for them, will it?
Gilligan ran to Ginger first, assuring himself she was unharmed, then turned to help Jonas up.
"You okay, Skipper? That was quite a thump your hindend took!"
The Skipper was still blushing furiously as he turned to his first mate. "I'm fine, Gilligan, just fine. Just a tumble, nothing to write home about. Now, we were seeing these two off, weren't we?"
Roy again helped Mary Ann with her pack, and after a quick round of farewells, the two set off on their hike to their honeymoon suite.
After the newlyweds were out of sight, the five turned back to the main dining table to take a breather before cleaning up the aftermath of the nuptials.
Mrs. Howell was the only one who noticed the continual glances and peeks Jonas and Ginger were sneaking between one another, and she smiled softly to herself. She knew.
(A/N: A portion of the wedding ceremony was taken from an episode of Star Trek, "Balance of Terror," in which Captain Kirk has the privilege of marrying two of his crewmembers. Next chapter: the honeymoon. I'm going to try my darnedest to keep it within the T rating; forgive me if I go over the line a wee bit. It'll all be tastefully done, of course. This is Roy and Mary Ann we're talking about, after all!)