I want to thank everyone again for all of your kind reviews and for your support. It's kept me going and inspired to create more stories. A special thanks to Maximan and DRHarlow and to oldmoviewatcher on AO3! Your kind words have meant so much :) Thank you for reading!

"You really think we should go through with telling everyone?"

"Do you think this is something we can keep hidden?" the Professor countered, gripping her hand tighter as they waited for the Skipper and Gilligan's boat.

With a sly grin, Mary Ann kissed his cheek before saying, "Not at all."

"I think the Skipper might have suspected something over the years. In my own way, I suppose I've mentioned my feelings in passing."

"Ginger definitely suspects something. Or, I should say expects."

"Expects?"

"She knows. And she isn't going to let me forget how right she was about this trip."

"Well," he chuckled, now wrapping his arm around her, "that explains a lot."

"It does?" she questioned.

"She was acting peculiarly before we left and saying odd things. In retrospect, all that happened makes perfect sense."

"Guess I should have listened to her. She warned me about inviting you."

"Don't be daft! We're together now."

Mary Ann smiled. "And I'm so grateful for it… speaking of which..."

"Yes?"

"Don't you think now you can tell me about your project?"

Rolling his eyes, the Professor said, "You're not big on surprises, are you?"

"Only when I don't know about them."

Taking both of her hands, he said, "Mary Ann, it's not that exciting. At least not now that we've reconnected with civilization. It is, however, nostalgic in its way. You were the inspiration in a sense."

"I was? Well, now you have to tell me!"

At last, the Professor surrendered, though not without a hint of disappointment. "Laundry detergent."

Mary Ann's victorious grin turned into bafflement. "Laundry detergent?"

"Specifically, organic laundry detergent."

"I was the inspiration for laundry detergent?"

With a chuckle, he said, "I knew you were building it up too much in your mind. You helped me make the original formula. I guess I got to reminiscing one day and the idea came to me."

"No, no," she corrected. "I think that's great, I just don't understand. We came up with the recipe years ago. Why has it kept you so busy? And why did you want to keep it from me? It's so sweet..."

"It wasn't so much that I wanted to keep it from you more than I didn't want to look like a failure again should the investment fall through. We've seen more than anyone how fast the world has changed and is changing. It worked wonders for us while stranded but that doesn't mean the average American family will feel the same way. I've been experimenting with and testing some of the chemicals used in common products such as soaps and they can wreak havoc of materials as well as the human body."

Eyes wide, Mary Ann replied, "I never thought of that."

"Most people don't, which is why I'm not sure what the end result of this product will be."

"When will you find out."

Nervously, the Professor answered, "I need to call them Monday."

Reaching up and resting her hands on his shoulders, she said, "Good. Then that leaves you the rest of the weekend to not think about it. There's no reason to think it will fall through. I think it's a brilliant idea. I think you're on to something. You certainly have enough formulas to work with. But never mind those now. I want you to myself until then. At least as much to myself as the others will allow." Lightly, she kissed his lips.

The Professor smiled, pecking her back. "I will try."

A couple of minutes later they heard the wail of the charter's horn as it came into port. Nerves and excitement rushed through both of them. It'd been a marvelous journey from Kansas. Long, but flew by in a flash side by side. Now they would be able to share their happiness with their friends… their family.

To their surprise, they were greeted by the five other castaways, showering them with hugs and kisses as though they'd been away for a good year. All were eager to hear about the trip, but as expected, Ginger and the Skipper were the most curious — and the first to notice that the Professor and Mary Ann kept reaching for the other's hands.

Pulling Mary Ann aside, Ginger said in a hushed tone, "Something happened."

With a bashful smirk, Mary Ann replied, "Perhaps."

Playfully slapping her friend's arm, Ginger said, "Don't be coy! What happened?"

Having noticed the girls whispering, the Professor sneaked up behind Mary Ann, pulling her into a bear hug as he kissed her cheek.

"Talking about me, hmm?" he said.

"You owe me ten dollars, Skipper!" Ginger called, pointing at the couple.

"Ah, you couldn't have waited 'til you got back?"

"You don't look very surprised," Mary Ann said, moving to the Professor's side.

To this, Ginger and the Skipper laughed.

"Don't tell me you two were the last to know," Skipper said.

The Professor and Mary Ann looked at each other. By now the rest of the group came to huddle around them.

"Ooh, is this what I think it is?" Mrs. Howell sang.

"I guess so," the Professor laughed.

"Darn," Gilligan said, "I owe you ten bucks, Ginger."

"I'm glad you all had your fun at our expense," Mary Ann half-scolded.

Ginger shrugged. "Neither of you take hints well. Betting is all we had left."

"How about a congratulation?" the Professor said.

All at once the others exclaimed their praises. Along with another round of hugs came a horde of questions of when and hows. Their answers took the length of the boat ride back to the island, something they were both glad for. As happy as they'd been the last couple of days, both were counting the minutes until they could have a proper sleep. (Not that they tried hard to rest while on the plane rides.) Their excitement for tomorrow was too great for any more celebration. If a real relationship was as wonderful as a fake one, they couldn't wait to begin.