Their days fell into a pattern now. They'd wake up and hug and kiss. They might touch each other a little, but they'd mostly save that for later, so their energy wouldn't get drained. When it would get too intense for him, he'd jump in the water. Then he'd get back in the canoe and she'd make breakfast.

After breakfast, which now included less of the vegetables and fruits, which were starting to spoil, and more of the canned food, and whatever fish was left over from the day before, they would paddle until their arms hurt and then rest, before starting again, till it was time for their lunch. As near as they could tell from the compass, they were still heading towards Hawaii, but they never saw any other boats, or planes flying overhead. Still, they kept going, because they had no choice. They had to reach land some time, even if it wasn't Hawaii.

Sometimes he'd fish in the mornings, sometimes in the afternoons, and Mary Ann would nap. When he napped, she would bathe and sometimes do the laundry as well as she could with a bar of soap and salt water.

Dinner was like the other meals, except that they both knew that afterwards they would "canoe-dle," as she called it, so it was the meal they ate most quickly.

Gilligan would strip down to nothing, while Mary Ann would strip to the waist. He was curious about what she looked like below the waist, since he had the feeling she must be at least as different from him as she was above the waist, but she said they should wait till they were rescued, and he was fine with waiting. He was still savoring her breasts, especially when she let him touch them when she was playing with him. And the island had definitely taught him patience.

Even if she weren't bringing him sweet release every night before they fell asleep in each other's arms, he would've been happy to be with her. But now he couldn't imagine any greater happiness. OK, he would've liked to have this and all the joys of civilization, too, like skateboards and hot dogs. But it wasn't like he'd have to give this up once they were rescued. It would just mean they wouldn't be doing this in a canoe.

Every time was better than the last, but he knew that that wouldn't go on forever. For now though, they were learning what the other liked, the ways to be touched and kissed. Mary Ann had always been kind to him, not just making his favorite food but believing in him when no one else did. And now she did her best to make him happy, and he did what he could to make her happy. And making her happy made him happy because he liked to see her happy, and it was a fun way to make her happy. It seemed to be the same for her.

One night they talked awhile afterwards instead of going right to sleep, although they were tired.

"I don't see why married people aren't happier than they are, if they get to do stuff like this."

"Oh, Gilligan." She kissed his cheek. "This is wonderful, but you know there are things like worrying about money or having arguments. Marriage isn't all fun."

"Well, I can't picture us arguing because we get along so well. And as for money, I don't need much, do you?"

"No, not much, but some."

"Well, the Skipper will probably hire me again when we're all rescued, and maybe that'll be enough to live on. And they say that two can live as cheaply as one, right?"

"What about if we have children?"

"Well, the Skipper can hire them, too."
She laughed. "Oh, Gilligan."

"Mary Ann, what do you want to do when we get rescued? I mean, first thing."

She sighed. "I don't know, there are so many things I've missed. Well, it might be fun to go to the movies."

"Yeah, and get popcorn and candy!"

She laughed again. "Do you always think of food?"

"No, not always. But that's part of the fun of going to the movies."

"Did you ever hold hands at the movies?"

"Why would I want to hold hands with Skinny Mulligan?"
"No, I mean with a girl."
"I was too scared of girls to ask one out."

"Oh."

"Did you date much, Mary Ann?"

"Not a lot. Not like Ginger."
"But you're so pretty!"
"Oh, Gilligan. I dated some but there was no one I was serious about. That's why I made up that story about having a boyfriend back home."

"I wish I hadn't listened to Mrs. Howell about imitating Charles Boyer."
"Yes, I liked you better as you. Plus, I thought I was dying!"

They both laughed, remembering.

Then she sighed. "There was one boy."
"Oh?" He felt jealous all of a sudden.

"Well, when we were in high school, Herbert Rucker and I used to joke that if we were still single when we were 30, we'd marry each other."

"Then I'm glad I married you before you turned 30."

"Me, too, Gilligan. For a lot of reasons."

She kissed him and he was glad that he was the only one she'd ever kiss like this for the rest of their lives. She was definitely the only one he wanted to kiss like this.

She stroked his back and he caressed her breasts. Then to his surprise, he found that his condition was returning. "Mary Ann!" he cried in panic.

"Gilligan, what's wrong?"

"Look! It's getting swollen again already! And you just took care of it fifteen or twenty minutes ago!"

She smiled. "That's normal, too." And she calmly took him into her hands again to help him out. Well, she started out calmly, but then they began necking again.

When she'd cured him again, he said, "Herbert Rucker doesn't know what he's missing!"

She laughed and said, "Oh, Gilligan," again. Then she kissed his neck and snuggled up against him. They soon fell asleep.