Gilligan got up very early his first morning as a married man. He wanted to say goodbye to Gladys the gorilla, Herman the turtle, and all his other animal pals.

"I'm sure gonna miss you guys," he told them. "You've always listened to me, even when the other people didn't. I wish I could take at least some of you along but there's no room in the canoe." He thought about offering to have the rescue ship pick some of them up, but he knew the animals would be happiest on the island. He did hope that he and Mary Ann could get some pets when they got settled, wherever they ended up living. She had grown up on a farm, so she was used to animals.

Emily quacked and Gilligan smiled. "I know, you could swim along next to the canoe, but even so, you'd better stay here." If he took Emily along, Mary Ann's family might end up serving the duck for dinner some night!

Gilligan assumed that he and Mary Ann would meet the in-laws once they got back to the United States. Oh, that reminded him. He had to be sure to pack the shirt he'd borrowed from his brother years ago.

He said goodbye to the animals and headed back to his hut. The Skipper was just waking up when he arrived.

"Gilligan! Were you out all night?"

"No, Skipper, I thought about what you said about sleeping with Mary Ann draining my energy, so I came back here and slept in my hammock."

"Glad to hear it."

Gilligan had been looking forward to cuddling with Mary Ann, but he supposed he could do some of that on the canoe voyage, as long as they didn't sleep at the same time.

He started packing his duffel bag (not the one that Ginger made into a dress years ago, a different one). He'd been so busy getting the wedding raft ready and all the other stuff he'd had to do in the last couple days, he hadn't time to pack. But then he didn't have that many clothes, and they were mostly identical.

As he was folding his third red shirt, the Skipper said, "Well, Little Buddy, do you want any last minute advice before you set out?"

Gilligan shrugged. "I don't think so. You and the Professor have told me a lot about the tides and everything. And there are maps and a compass in the canoe, so we should be able to make it to Hawaii if we don't get sighted in the meantime."

The Skipper hesitated as if he wanted to say something very serious, but he just patted Gilligan's shoulder and said, "Good man."

Gilligan felt self-conscious at the breakfast table. With all the shuffling around of who slept where, so he and Mary Ann could spend their wedding night together, the others probably wondered what happened. But it seemed personal to Gilligan whether or not he slept with his bride. He'd told the Skipper since the Skipper was his best friend, but he didn't want to say anything to anyone else.

Well, Mary Ann knew of course, and she probably told Ginger. And then the Professor knew because Gilligan had to kick him out of his hammock. But the Howells, who seemed to have spent the night at the Professor's, likely didn't know that they'd given up their hut for no reason. Well, Gilligan sure wasn't going to tell them.

Mary Ann had made a delicious breakfast, as always. It was funny to think that she wouldn't be cooking for him for awhile. Well, she'd make meals in the canoe, but she wouldn't be able to use fire. It was nice to think of them having a little house somewhere, with her in the kitchen, pets in the yard.

Of course, he didn't know where that would be. Maybe in Hawaii, if she didn't mind living on another island. He wasn't sure what he'd do for a living. Maybe the Skipper could get another boat with the insurance money on The Minnow. They could give tours again, since the odds of another freak storm like the one in '64 were pretty low. That'd be fun. Maybe Mary Ann could make the free lunches they served the passengers.

But first they had to get rescued of course. And that meant paddling the canoe. When his plate was clean, he and Mary Ann looked at each other and nodded. It was time to get going.

The others of course followed them down to the lagoon to say goodbye. They'd all meet again, but this was the last time they would be gathered on the island as the group of seven who'd gone through so much together.

Mrs. Howell hugged him and kissed his cheek. She was the closest thing they had to a mother on the island. He never would've guessed that he'd get so close to one of the richest women in the world. Not that he knew her well, even after eight years, but he would miss her kindness and positive thinking.

Then Mr. Howell came over and shook his hand. The millionaire wasn't as nice as his wife, but Gilligan had learned over the years that he wasn't the tough businessman he sometimes pretended to be.

The Professor shook his hand, too. Gilligan had the feeling he'd never meet anyone as smart as the Professor for the rest of his life. He also admired the Professor's honesty. The Professor always meant what he said, even if Gilligan didn't always understand what he meant.

Then Ginger gave him a hug and a kiss, less maternal than Mrs. Howell, but much less flirty now that he was a married man. It was something to think of how Gilligan had gotten to know her as a person, so she wasn't just a pretty face on the big screen.

The Skipper's hug was warm. Of the five people Gilligan was leaving behind, he would miss this one the most. The Skipper had been like a father to him, sometimes disapproving and impatient, but good-hearted and loyal.

Mary Ann was getting her goodbye hugs and kisses, too. And everyone was wishing them luck of course. Gilligan didn't know what to say. He wasn't really good at making speeches, even informal speeches.

Then Mary Ann, with tears in her eyes, said, "I'm going to miss all of you so much!"

"Yeah, me, too," said Gilligan.