AN: Longest chapter yet! Only have the epilogue to do now! He's dreaming this by the way.

Darkness. I'm surrounded by darkness. I'm hot and I hurt everywhere. I'm tired. So tired.

In front of me there are flashes…memories…or my life. My childhood in Pennsylvania…my short time in the Navy and then being first mate of the Minnow…the years on this island…

I see all of my mistakes and feel tears in my eyes. All of my mess ups. They would be home by now if not for me.

They don't need me at all.

The tears trickle down my face as I fall to my knees and bow my head.

The scene changes as I feel rain fall on me. I glance around to find myself in the jungle.

Alone.

All of a sudden the rain stops falling on me and I look up. There standing in front of me is the Professor holding an umbrella over me.

"Gilligan you'll catch your death out here…"

I watch as he kneels in front of me and puts a hand on my shoulder. "What about you?"

"I'm not the one with a hundred and four degree fever," he said gently. The Professor frowns and puts a hand on my cheek. "You're crying. Why? You can't give up."

I sigh and look down. "You guys don't need me…I'm not important…"

I blink in surprise as he yanks me into a hug. "I need my student. I need my brother that I adopted in my heart. Please come back to us Gilligan."

"Professor…" I say astonished. I have never heard this much emotion out of him before. He's always so level headed! "I ruin your experiments."

He pulls away and stands up pulling me up with him. He gives me the umbrella. "You are my best student."

I blink again taken aback! "Huh?"

He chuckles and pats my shoulder. "I need you."

I watch in shock as he turns and walks off through the rainy jungle. All I can do is stand there before going the way he came. Unfortunately I find myself hopelessly lost…which is strange because I know the island like the back of my hand!

I keep walking not recognizing a thing I was passing. That is until I get to a beach and see the Minnow! It looked just like it had before the glue…my glue I might add…tore it apart! I go over and run my hand over her hull.

Then jump as a blanket is draped over my shoulders! I turn around to see the Skipper. "I'm sorry…!"

He only smiles and wipes away my tears. His sky blue eyes show nothing but love….love for me. "I'm right here little buddy."

The Skipper puts an arm around me and leads me to where the anchor was laying against the ship. He motions to it and I blink as I realize something.

The name on the ship is not the S.S. Minnow. This ship is named Jonas Grumby.

I looked at the anchor and see my name in gold letters shining on it. I think I stared at it for several minutes but the message was clear. I feel myself choking up.

"I need you," Skipper says before he walks to the jungle and disappears as well.

Gosh…maybe I was wrong after all! I wipe my eyes look back at the ship and anchor. I then hear something on the other side and rush over. I stare in shock at what I'm seeing! Seven dolphins swimming in the lagoon! I can't fight the smile that spreads across my face as I watch them frolic and play!

One of them is especially playful and I notice something. It has my hat on its head! "How'd you get my hat?"

It just chittered playfully before it flipped it in the air and caught it in its mouth. It swam towards the shore and I went over to it. It dropped my hat and I scooped it up. "Heh thanks lil guy!"

I chuckled as I put it on my head. I then looked at the dolphin…its eyes were the same shade of blue as my own. For a moment we stared at each other before they all swam away.

It was then that the rain stopped. I looked up to see the clouds starting to part. I undid the umbrella and went back into the jungle to find everyone.

After what seemed like hours I found Mr. Howell in a clearing with one of his makeshift golf clubs. He looked over and saw me before smiling. "Ah Gilligan! Come over here my boy!"

I went over to him and realized we were on his putting green. "Mr. Howell what's going on?"

He looked at me. "Why you're dreaming my boy. You're terribly sick."

"I am? I feel fine!"

He shook his head before putting a hand on my shoulder. "My boy do you remember when we adopted you?"

I nodded. "Course I do Mr. Howell. I'm real sorry I…" I stopped when he put a hand on my cheek and patted it.

"No Gilligan…I'm sorry. I trapped you and forced you into something you didn't want. Letting you go was the hardest thing I have ever done but it was for the best and I don't regret it."

I looked at him softly. "Mr. Howell there's nothing to apologize for. I'm sorry I disappointed you."

He only smiled and pulled me into a hug startling the heck outta me! "My boy you can never disappoint me. You are a priceless treasure."

I felt myself blush! "Mr. Howell I…"

He chuckled before pulling away and putting his hands on my cheeks. "I need you."

"You're the third person to tell me that…" I said softly feeling my mouth curve into a small smile.

He chuckled before letting me go. "Run along now my boy."

I nod as I watch him return to his golf game. I smile as I turn down the path and walk on.

Eventually I wound up at the stage. Ginger is up there doing a scene. I go over and sit down to watch her.

She sees me and stops. "Gilligan!" She practically glides down and rushes over to hug me!

"Gack! Ginger!"

She giggled and kissed my cheek. "I have a song I want to sing for you." Ginger pulled away and went back to the stage. Within seconds she begins to sing one of my favorite songs: "Over the Rainbow"!

I smile as I listen to her sing. She has such a pretty voice…when she's not trying to kiss me!

Once finished she smiles again at me. "Gilligan please don't go over the rainbow yet. We love you…"

I blush shyly. "I…I know that now…I'm not going anywhere…!"

"I need you…"

I sat there and watched her for a moment. "Why?"

Her eyes filled with tears. "Because without you we'll fall apart."

I was taken aback by that! "But Ginger…! You keep our hopes up!"

"You keep our spirits up," Ginger said with as a smile came back to her face. She then left the stage and walked off.

I sat there for a minute thinking about what she'd just said. Was that really what I did? I didn't see how to be honest. Maybe I should ask the next person I see.

I get up and go down another path deep in thought. I was sick and dreaming. So far everyone I've seen has said the same thing. They need me.

What DO I contribute to the others? I'm just Gilligan. I'm nothing special.

I looked around and spot something shining in a bush. I went over and pushed the branches away to reveal what looks like broken glass. I gather it up, mindful of the edges, and begin to piece it together. There's four small pieces but it's not complete. The shape is strange.

"Yoo-hoo! Gilligan dear boy!"

I blinked and look up as Mrs. Howell comes over to me. She smiles. "Oh how marvelous you found it!"

I stand up. "Found what Mrs. Howell?"

"Why…the glass Dear Boy! It's broken! You need to fix it!"

"What is it?" I ask.

She only smiles and pats my cheek. "Well dear this glass was broken the moment you became sick. It needs the glue to put it back together. You need two more pieces." She reached into her purse and pulled out one. "Here you are dear!" She put it in my hand before kissing my cheek. "Dear, sweet boy. I couldn't love you more if you were my own child. That never changed."

I smiled softly. "I'm glad Mrs. Howell…"

"I need you dear."

"I'm starting to get that," I said with a chuckle.

She laughed! "Good! Now run along!"

I nod before leaving.

Minutes later I arrive at camp and find Mary Ann placing a coconut crème pie on the table. She's wearing her red checkered dress and has her hair halfway pulled back with a clip.

It's my favorite outfit on her. I don't know why but to me she looks so beautiful in it and her hair is so shiny. She looks up and smiles at me. She has on a little make up but not much. She doesn't need it.

Mary Ann comes over to me. "Gilligan you told me one time that I would find my prince."

I nodded. "He'll be perfect and treat you right." I had always wanted her to be happy.

She looks me in the eyes and takes my hands in hers. She hugged them to her and her eyes bubbled over into tears. "Gilligan, there's something I have to tell you. I…I love you as more than a friend. I fell in love with you a long time ago. You mean more to me than anyone else in the whole world. Oh Gilligan you're the prince I want! You're the happy ever after I want!"

I stared at her in disbelief! "B-but Mary Ann…!"

She shook her head and threw her arms around me in a hug before kissing me! All I can do is hug her and return the kiss in surprise!

She stops kissing me and lays her head on my chest. "Please come home! I need you!"

I wrap my arms around her and feel tears in my eyes. "How? What do I do?"

Mary Ann pulls away and reaches into her skirt pocket to pull out another shard of glass. She puts it on the table. "Put the glass together."

I nod and go to the table. I dump all the glass and start arranging it to make it all fit.

The shape becomes that of a heart but with a big piece missing in the middle of it. I look up at Mary Ann. "There's a piece missing. A big one."

She nodded. "Keep looking Gilligan."

I turn back and see gold writing appearing on the six pieces: Roy Hinkly "BRAIN", Jonas Grumby "BRAWN", Thurston Howell "WIT", Lovey Howell "WISDOM", Ginger Grant "MORALE", Mary Ann Summers "HEART".

"You hold the last piece."

I looked up to see the others. "Skipper?"

He only nodded to me. I looked through my pockets until I found a cloth with something wrapped in it in my back pocket. I unwrapped it to find the missing piece. I put it in the middle and watch in fascination as the gold lettering appeared.

William Gilligan "SOUL"

The pieces then began to meld together until the cracks were gone. The names faded and one word was spelled out.

FAMILY

I sat there stunned before putting a hand over my mouth as realization finally hit me. After all this time I should have known. We've lived together for so long.

Ever since we landed I often questioned whether I truly belonged or not…whether I was really worth anything.

Those questions were answered. I am wanted. I am needed. I am a part of this makeshift island family and…and they do love me.

I shut my eyes as I feel something…lift off of my shoulders. I didn't have to prove anything. I didn't have to change after all. I was fine the way I was.

"Gilligan…little buddy wake up now…please wake up…"

I open my eyes to find the world around me fading…