6:15 AM.

Within seconds, the inventor heard slow footsteps, and the front door was opened.

"Yeah, whatever you're bothering me for this morning, it better be good! You're not another salesman, I hope!" shouted the unpleasant, slightly slurred female voice, which sounded like it was getting up in age.

Doc knew who it was. He steadied himself and talked in a low voice.

"Um, Mrs. McFly? I'm sorry to be a disturbance at this hour, but I felt it was of importance. Anyway, can you tell me where your son, Martin McFly can be found, or at least a phone number?" He realized calling him would actually be the better option. The older Marty seeing him face to face might be a bit of a shock, even if he did know it was coming.

"It's Ms. McFly now, and who the h*ll are you? You sound a little familiar, but I'm too tired to care."

He didn't know of any other older friends Marty had. Sure he had a few that were a little older, but no more than their mid to late 20s, and even they would still only be around 50 now – too young to be believable as Doc. He'd better tell the truth, but decided to speak softly (he did have a distinct, loud voice, after all) and walk slow, so as to make it seem that he could pass for 2010 Doc as well.

"I'm Marty's old friend, Emmett Brown. I'm sure you might remember me."

"Yeah, yeah, Brown, I do. I didn't like Marty spending all his time with you back than. I guess who cares now, though. I haven't seen you for a few years. Marty mentions you now and then, but I didn't know you lost touch."

Emmett took a second to grasp all his mom was saying. "Yes, well, how is he these days?"

"Could be better, but he's good enough. Look, I know you're going to ask if you can come in and call him, so just do it. I've still got old-fashioned touch tone phones, but he has these new video screen phones or whatever you call them."

As he was let in on another piece of technology and nodded an okay, Lorraine Baines McFly fully opened the also aging front door to let Doc in. He had to frown at what he saw next – she was a mess. She was 72, almost 73, but looked easily older. Not at death's door, but not in the best shape, either. Her hair was heavily graying, only a slight trace of its nice light brown remained. Her once pretty face was now lined and haggard looking. What really came close to breaking the scientist's heart was just how overall sad she looked.

Doc slowly walked in, noticing the house a bit more barren than when he'd been in it before. Some of the technology looked newer in comparison, but still much of it looked to be not too far past the 80's. He figured nothing in that house was from before 1995 or 2000. There was a TV and VCR in the living room, and some other electronics, as well as a couple couches and other household objects. So far, the interior of a 2010 house didn't look too different, but he knew he'd have to see more contemporary styles to judge that.

"Excuse me, may I ask something?"

Lorraine shrugged. "Well, I don't get too much company or visitors anymore, so yeah, fire away."

"I appear to be a bit behind on a few things. If you don't mind my inquiry, what did you mean that you're not a Missus anymore?"

"For sure, I thought Marty would've told you, but here goes. I divorced George back in 1994, a few years after the kids had all moved out. After almost 40 years of being with him, I just got so sick of his s**t! That guy just doesn't have any b*lls. Everything in life was always an obstacle and he'd complain, 'Oh, now, Lorraine, that might be difficult,' or 'What if something were to happen?' you know?" she said, doing a pale imitation of him.

Doc felt extremely sorry for her. "Listen Ms. McFly, we all have weaknesses in life. I just feel that George is in a shell. He's uninspired and he fears what others will think of him. I think there's more to him, he's just too uncertain of himself. Marty always used to tell me about the problems he had. Why couldn't his dad just ever pay attention to him, or stand up for himself?" After a pause, he asked, "Does he still live in the area?"

"Uh-huh. He's living with Dave in Grass Valley now, since those two always got along best, but he comes in to town a lot. We still talk, and deep down, I think I'll always love him, but I can't stand the thought of living with him for another second! I've actually been happier on my own. I've had a couple boyfriends, and have just been trying to catch up on the life I had taken away from me since I was 17, just because I felt sorry for the little coward! Marty and I get along much better, too. I used to get mad at him for having girlfriends, being in a rock band, and any little thing you can think of. I didn't really mean what I said, but I was just frustrated that I didn't have a life, so I guess I didn't want him to, either. George just depressed me, that's all. If I had stayed with him, I probably would've gone deeper into alcoholism and been dead by now."

Before too much time elapsed, he offered another condolence. "I'm very sorry for the events that transpired. You and George, evidentially, just had your differences."

"Thank you, Dr. Brown. Almost nobody ever pays attention to me anymore. Well, nobody except that lowlife Biff Tannen, still comes over here, asking if he can take me out to dinner or go somewhere with him. Last time, I had to throw a glass at the wall and break it just to get his ugly a** out of here."

Slowly but surely, but not on purpose, he was finding out a lot more about the future than he thought.

"Yes, I can concur, I never much cared for Biff myself," he decided to change the subject. "Now, would it be okay if I went into one of the bedrooms to phone Marty?"

Feeling considerably more comfortable with the 'stranger' than she had in the last 28 years, her voice warmed up a bit, and agreed. "Yes, you can even use Marty's old room. There's a phone in there, and his number is 555-8120. I'll be in the kitchen."

The scientist thanked her and went into his friend's former bedroom. He half expected it to look as it always did, but it was plain as a prison cell. Well, not really, but, compared to how he had always seen it, it sure was. For years, it had been easily the most happenin', hippest, coolest place in the house: Posters of girls, trucks, various rock artists were on the walls. Electric guitars, a skateboard, constant music, cool movies and more had once often filled this corner bedroom. Now, the only trace that a teenage musician had ever been in there were some teeny holes where posters or the like had been hung.

Now, all that was left were some boxes and an old chair sitting at a desk with a phone. It looked much more like a room in an old lady's house. The thought itself saddened Doc a bit more. However, he also felt a bit of irony and humor in the fact that the very place Marty had always answered his calls is now where he was as he was calling Marty.

~~~

Across town, 42 year-old Marty McFly was in his 3-bedroom Hilldale home. When it was completed in 1984, it was a really desirable place to live. In the past couple years, the houses had begun to age, and there was a slow wave of crime there, mostly spray painters, mailbox smashers, stuff like that.

Being the musician he was, he was strumming an electric guitar to the tune of Bruce Springsteen's "Cover Me," one of his favorites, while in the den as he got ready to go to work.

"The times are tough now, just getting tougher! This whole world is rough, it's just getting rougher, cover me! Come on baby, cover me!"

His enthusiastic, youthful rocking out was interrupted by the ringing of an old-fashioned phone. He still had a couple of those, since videophones were in their infancy and many people still had the old ones, mostly as teeny cell phones by now, though.

"D*mn! Just before the next verse. Oh well, it might be important, I better go get that," said Marty as he stopped the cassette and turned the stereo down – that looked surprisingly normal. In fact, it was a 1992 boombox that still worked! He kept that in his den, partly for sentimental value.

"Hello?"

One word was all it took. Doc almost certainly knew who it was. "Um, hello, is this Marty?"

"Yeah, sure is. Who's there?"

"Listen, sit down Marty," Doc began, still slightly disguising his voice. "Do you remember back on 1985, you asked me to look you up? It's me, Doc."

"Holy s**t! Y-you mean, you, from 1985? I just talked to you last night, I mean, you from this year."

Even the speaking pattern was similar to his old friend, just with the voice a little deeper and more seasoned with age. No one would ever mistake it as the same person, though. "That's right Marty. In fact, I happen to be calling from your former residence. I didn't know where else to go, for risk of some other people in town seeing my whereabouts, not knowing of my past 25 years."

"My house? So you seen mom? Is she feeling okay?"

"She told me a bit unhappily about the divorce from your father, and living alone. She seems okay, now."

Marty then wondered, "Yeah, I know. So, Doc, you haven't talked to dad yet?"

"No, this was the first destination I had upon arriving here. Listen, even though you told me to look you up, I hope this isn't a bother, but would you mind meeting me somewhere, or would my coming to your new residence be alright?"

"Sure, like I'd ever say no, Doc. I'm actually in Hilldale, but it's not quite as good as I thought before. It's 3793 Oakhurst Drive. Look, though, you'll have to do a good make believe for Jen & the kids. I never told anyone about the time machine. They'll get more than a little suspicious as to there being two of you here."

So Marty ended up marrying Jennifer and having kids. He'll be glad to hear that.

"Certainly. We can talk more when I arrive. I won't run into me from this year in town, will I?"

"You're actually in Sacramento this week, so I think we're cool. So, I guess I'll see you soon."

"Yes, I should be over there within 20 minutes. Goodbye," said Doc as he hung up, making sure Lorraine didn't hear the conversation! He made his way out to the living room, where Lorraine was making what looked to be a little breakfast.

"Excuse me, Lorraine? I just wanted to thank you for letting me here. I'm on my way to see Marty, now."

"Oh, Mr. Brown, I'm just making breakfast, and I hate being alone. You could stay here for awhile and call him back."

He was shocked and delighted at what he saw. Lorraine actually now seemed much happier and more agreeable than she did a few minutes ago, or even 30 years ago. It was as if she turned into a whole different person. There was a spark to her. The scientist compared this to what he usually recalled, when sometimes she would get mad at him calling Marty at a late hour, and the like. He got a little sad at the idea of leaving so soon. He figured Lorraine was just extremely happy to have someone else she could talk with and who would pay attention to her, as her ex-husband obviously didn't.

"Well, I should go visit Marty before he goes to work. But, it's been nice talking with you. I suppose I could come back at a later time."

"Okay, just try to promise me you will."

Now knowing he would still be alive this year, he prayed he would remember it in 25 years. What an acting job he would have to do than. "Definitely, I'll see you shortly."

As Marty's mother shut the door behind him, he headed back to the DeLorean feeling a lot better than he did when he got here. He would pass the Courthouse Square on the way to Hilldale, so he was excited to see how the town looked.