Disclaimer: I don't own the Future. Or, as it is now, the present.

Author's Note: A short story I found among my old ideas and figured I'd upload for today's occasion, even if it's not about BTTF II. Just something about how the future might have completely altered if Marty had just said one different word at a certain time in Part III.

Back On Time

The sound of the train's emergency breaks sounded throughout the locomotive. I felt my stomach turn as the Doc and I nearly fell over in their seats.

"What the hell" I muttered, softly. "Who on earth did that?"

The answer to that question came to me a few moments later as we heard somebody move through the train, trying to go forwards as rapid as he or she could. It was a woman, who apologized left and right as she rapidly moved past the seats. Her voice sounded very familiar. As she came into view, I strained my neck to see her, and gasped. "Ma'am!"

Clara Clayton turned to me, shocked. "Marty!" She looked past me, and gasped even harder. "Emmett!"

"Clara!" Doc appeared as stunned as I was, and couldn't come up with a coherent response. "I… you… why… what are?"

"Why are you here?" I asked, being slightly clearer-minded than Doc was. "Did you pull the emergency brake?"

Clara nodded. "I was going to leave Hill Valley forever because of what you did to me and then I heard those salesmen talking about you grieving for me, Emmett, and I realized that… that you really…" Her voice broke, and she sat down on the couch opposite ours.

"It's all right, Clara" Doc replied, gently taking her hand.

Clara stared at him, confused. "Why did you tell me those whoppers about time machines and then have genuine grief over me just hours later?"

"Wait a minute" I interrupted. "Doc told you about the time machine?"

Clara frowned. "He's told you about that, too?"

Doc and I exchanged glances. "Clara," Doc finally said, "I never intended to hurt you. I should have known you might react that way to me telling you all that without giving you proof."

Clara frowned again, her face a mix of confusion, anger, and genuine belief that her Emmett couldn't be lying to her, not after what she'd just heard. Of course, I then realized, if she thought further on that course, she might come to the conclusion that Doc had bribed the salesmen, and that would put her even further into disbelieving us. And I couldn't let that happen, not for Doc's sake.

"We really can prove it, ma'am" I told her. "We won't force you to believe anything, let us just show you what we've got and then you can make up your mind."

Clara stared at us, uncertain. "I'm not sure…" she whispered.

"We have to leave" Doc then spoke up, staring through the window. "Mar-Clint, the switch track is coming up." He stared at Clara, gently patting her hand. "In a few minutes, the train will come to a halt. Can you step out and join us then?"

Clara nodded, slowly. "I will, Emmett" she said. "I love you."

"I love you too" Doc replied, softly. I had to tug on his arm to get him to come along.

As we ran off through the train, Doc shook his head. "As if this day couldn't get any crazier" he muttered.

"Right" I replied. "The only way it could get worse if Buford Tannen got involved in all this, too. What time is it, anyway?"

"Somewhere around 8:15, I would think – forty-five minutes before your duel" Doc replied. "Thank goodness you had the common sense to move that 7 AM he proposed to 9 back at the festival. I really don't want to imagine what would have happened if that had gone wrong…"