Chapter 3
Tuesday, November 12th, 1985
Hill Valley
6:50 A.M.
Doc picked the absolute perfect day to return to the present-day Hill Valley. Just as Marty was sitting down to breakfast, the doorbell rang. Lorraine frowned, puzzled. "It's a little early for visitors," she muttered, answering the door. "Hello?"
"Hi Lorraine. Is Marty up?"
"Doc!" Marty promptly forgot about his cornflakes and jogged toward the door. "Yeah, I'm up. How ya doin', Doc?"
Doc smiled at his best friend. "Feeling good that I can see you again, Marty," he said, unabashedly hugging his friend.
"It's good to see you too, Doc." Marty looked around. "Where's Clara and the boys?"
"At my garage, exploring. They wanted to take a look at it before I moved out."
Lorraine smiled. "Marty told us about your new family. When did you get married?"
"Just a little while ago, although we've been dating for about a year. Her parents didn't approve of me, so it was sort of shotgun. That's why I disappeared in October. I would have preferred it to be with all my friends, but you have to take what life gives you."
"Well, I think it's great you met someone who loves you."
"Thanks Lorraine. Is it all right if I bring them over for coffee today? I'd really like you to meet them."
"Well, we'd really like to meet them too! Coffee together sounds great. How does 3:30 sound?"
"Sounds good to me. I'll run it by Clara and call you beforehand." Doc turned to Marty, looking stern. "Now, Marty, about your amplifier. . . ."
Marty blushed. "Sorry, Doc, I didn't realize about the short. Your call came a little too late."
"It's all right. I know you wouldn't have done that on purpose. You weren't hurt, were you?" Doc asked, his tone switching to concern.
"Just a sore back for a little while. I'm fine now."
"Glad to hear it. Once I secure a house, you can help me build a new amp."
"I doubt Clara would like that," Marty chuckled. "How is everybody, Doc?"
"Oh, they're all fine. Eager to meet my best friend." Doc frowned a little. "Jules and Verne have taken to calling you 'cousin Marty,' however. They've somehow gotten the idea that we're related."
"Gee, I wonder where that came from," Lorraine kidded. Doc gave her a look. "Considering how close you two are, it's not a far off guess. Speaking of almost relatives, will you be bringing Jennifer, Marty?"
"Sure, she'll want to meet the family too."
"Okay, I'll be sure to prepare for everyone. I'm looking forward to meeting the newest Browns."
Doc nodded. "Thanks. I'd better get back. Clara doesn't like to be left alone in a strange place for too long. I'll see you this afternoon, Marty."
"See you later, Doc." The scientist turned to go. "Oh, and check the weather for tonight. I thought there was a thunderstorm coming."
Doc turned and grinned at him. "I'll be sure to do that. Bye."
Lorraine lifted an eyebrow at Marty. "I heard clear and cool," she said as Doc drove away.
"Since when can weathermen predict the weather," Marty told her with a grin. "I'll bet you five bucks it rains tonight."
"I won't take that bet. You'd better finish your cornflakes before you're late again. I'm sure you don't want detention today."
"No way. I'll see you right after school." Marty inhaled his cornflakes and raced out the door.
Tuesday, November 12th
3:25 P.M.
Shortly before Doc and family were to arrive, Marty found himself at home with not only Jennifer, but the Pinheads in tow. Upon learning that Doc was back in town, Marty's band-mates had insisted on meeting the wife and kids. Marty had finally figured they couldn't do any harm and let them tag along. Needles had also overheard and tried to finagle a invite, but Marty refused him in no uncertain terms.
Linda, sitting next to the band, looked uncomfortable. "I don't even like Dr. Brown that much. Why do we all have to be here?"
"It's only polite, Linda," Lorraine said firmly, setting out a plate of crackers and cheese.
"Your mother's right," George agreed. "Doc Brown is Marty's best friend. We may as well get to know his family." Linda shrugged and sighed.
"What's his wife like?" J.J. asked Marty.
"She's a sweet woman, but she has a lot of spunk. If she wants something, she'll get it. She's also an astronomy buff and loves Jules Verne."
"That figures," Rick smiled.
At exactly 3:30, the doorbell rang. "I'll get it," Marty said, hopping up and going to the door. He opened it to find Doc there, along with a nervously smiling Clara and two wide-eyed little boys. "Hey Doc. Hello ma'am."
"Clara, please," Clara said. "How are you, Marty?"
"I'm fine, you?"
"A little flustered, to be honest." Softer, she added, "The future's complicated. I don't know if I'll ever get used to living here."
"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll do just fine." He smiled down at the boys. "Hey guys."
"Hi Marty," Jules said softly. Verne just nodded, clinging to his mother's dress.
"Well, we're all waiting for you, so come on in," Marty said, stepping out of the way. The family thanked him and headed inside.
George got up and shook Doc's hand. "It's nice to see you again, Dr. Brown. Especially in the company of such a lovely young lady." Clara blushed while Doc glowed. "Where's Mrs. Brown?"
Doc blinked. "Pardon me?"
"Your wife." George frowned. "This is your new stepdaughter, right?"
Marty hit his head against the breakfast bar. "Sh-oot," he muttered, seeing Jules and Verne looking at him. "I'm sorry about that, Doc, Clara. It just never occurred to me to mention -- well--"
"My age," Clara finished for him, blushing.
"Yeah. Jeez, I feel terrible."
George was mortified. "You're Clara? Oh, I'm sorry, I just thought--"
"That I'd marry someone closer to my own age," Doc nodded, also blushing. "It's all right, George."
"No, it is notall right. I shouldn't assume stuff like that." He held out a hand to Clara. "I'm George McFly, Marty's father, and apparently a master at eating his own feet."
Clara smiled, trying to conceal her confusion over the last part. "Honestly, George, and Marty, it's all right. It's not like I haven't had to deal with people who are shocked when Emmett turns out to be older than me."
Doc put his hand on Marty's shoulder. "I understand you didn't think of it. You're used it to our age difference. It's fine." Marty looked dubious, but dropped it.
Lorraine shook hands with Clara as well. "It's very nice to meet you. I'm Lorraine, Marty's mother."
"Nice to meet you, Lorraine. Thank you for having us over."
"It's my pleasure. Your husband has been a very good friend to Marty." She nodded at Jules and Verne. "These must be your boys."
"Jules Clint and Verne Calvin," Clara said proudly. "Say hello to everyone."
"Hello," Jules and Verne chorused, keeping close to their parents.
Marty came over to make the rest of the introductions. "This is Dave, my brother, and Linda, my sister," he said, pointing them out.
"Hi," Dave said shortly, only glancing up from the stack of forms he had brought with him.
"David, please," Lorraine reprimanded. "You're not at work now. We have guests."
"Sorry, Mom, I just gotta finish this one." Dave signed the paper with a flourish. "There. Sorry about that, but I need to keep up with things with work. I'm slated for a promotion soon."
"Oh, where do you work?" Clara asked.
"Time Shore. It's a sci-fi magazine. I'm an executive assistant."
Clara frowned, obviously unsure what to say. "That sounds -- fun."
"Oh, it is," Dave grinned. "I get to read people's stories all day. Most of them aren't much good, but every now and then there's a gem. Dad actually sold his first story to them, way back when. Which reminds me, we want to run an ad for your new novel Dad."
"We'll talk about it later."
Linda shook hands with Clara, examining her. "Do you mind me asking how you two met?"
"Not at all," Doc smiled. "Last year, on a trip to Oregon, I was at the train station. I was studying how trains worked for my 'railroad car.' Clara happened to arrive on the 2:15. Our eyes met, and I knew she was the one."
"I'd come to take a teaching job in O'Hara," Clara elaborated, taking Doc's hand in hers. "I was obligated to stay the year, so I couldn't come home to Hill Valley with Emmett earlier." She gazed adoringly at her man. "I'd never believed in love at first sight before I met him."
"How romantic," Linda sighed.
Marty thought so too. He recognized the story as a modified version of what would have probably happened if he hadn't shown up in 1885. I bet Clara would have preferred that to nearly falling into a ravine. He continued on. "This is Jennifer, my girlfriend, and my band, the Pinheads -- Rick, J.J., and Spydo."
Clara blinked. "Spydo?"
Verne giggled. "That's a funny name."
"It's my nickname," Spydo explained, chuckling. "My real name's Samuel. Pleasure to meet you, ma'am."
"Oh, you can call me Clara. Spydo," she said, laughing as she said the name.
Jennifer smiled at Clara. "Marty's told me a lot about you, Clara. I think it's great you and Doc found each other."
"Suppose it was destiny," Clara agreed. She and Doc kissed.
"What did you think of Dr. B's garage?" Rick asked as the family sat down. "I don't know how all four of you are going to live in there. . . ."
"It's just a temporary arrangement," Doc said with a careless wave of his hand. "I'm going to sell the garage and put the money toward a proper house. Is that gift shop still interested in the land, George?"
"As far as I know."
"We could help you sell the garage, Doc," Marty offered. "Dad and I could get a good price out of those guys."
"Why thank you, Marty, I'd appreciate that a lot. That would allow us more time to settle our business in Oregon. I'll let you have a small share of the profits too."
"We couldn't take your money," George protested. "You need it."
"We do need extra cash," Clara said. "I don't know how much houses cost here, but I'm sure the prices have skyrocketed."
"I have money squirreled away for emergencies," Doc assured his wife. "And as for costs, I've got a place in mind that wouldn't break our bank. It's private too, which is a plus. Please, I insist we share the money."
"If you insist. But I refuse to take any more than five percent," George said firmly. Doc nodded his acquiescence to this plan.
Jules and Verne regarded Marty curiously. "How old are you?" Jules asked.
"I'm 17."
"That's old."
"Thanks a lot, kid," Marty said sarcastically.
Neither kid seemed to notice. "Can we see your room?"
Marty looked at Doc and Clara. "Is it okay with you guys?" They both nodded. "All right. Follow me." He led Jules and Verne down the hall and into his room. The two little ones gawked for a minute. "It's messy," Verne finally said. "Almost as messy as Papa's lab."
"Mama makes us keep our rooms neat," Jules said enviously.
"I bet she'll loosen up when you get to be old, like me," Marty assured him, gently teasing.
Verne went over to Marty's guitar, sitting on a chair, and gingerly touched the strings. "Is this your guitar? It looks kinda funny."
"Yeah. It's an electric guitar. You can plug it into something called an amplifier. That makes the sound louder."
"Papa told us about those. He said you blew one up, and he showed us the wreck. It was a big blow-up."
"That was an accident!" Marty shook his head. "I'm going to be hearing about that amp for the rest of my life."
Jules and Verne laughed. "Don't worry," Jules reassured him. "Papa was laughing when he showed us. He liked to tell us stories about you. Is it true you taught him how to boardskate? Will you teach us?"
"It's 'skateboard,' and I tried to teach your dad to do it," Marty said. "He's a pretty agile guy, but he just couldn't get the hang of it. I'll teach you, as long as your parents are okay with it."
Jules grimaced. "I don't think Mama will let us. She thinks the future is dangerous."
"Well, she has a point." Marty pulled a baseball cap from his closet, adjusted it, and playfully plopped it on Jules's head. "This place is more complicated than the Old West. What's Doc told you about it?"
"Cars and electricity and indoor plumbing and microwaves and fast food," Verne rambled off.
"Papa's told us a lot," Jules agreed. "He told us not to go running off anywhere without him until we're settled." He blushed. "We don't want to run off. 1985 is a little scary."
Marty patted him on the shoulder. "I understand, kid. I've been to my own future, and it was kinda scary for me too. If you think this is advanced, wait until 2015 rolls around. But you've got a really great Dad who won't let anything happen to you. I can swear to that." Jules and Verne smiled.
Clara poked her head in. "Boys, we're leaving now."
The boys looked reluctant. "Can't we stay a little longer, Mama?"
"Sorry, but we have a lot of things to do before we can get settled."
"It's okay," Marty told them. "You'll be seeing a lot of me once you're moved in." Jules grabbed at the brim of his cap questioningly. "You can keep that. I don't wear it anymore."
"Just don't wear it in 1892," Clara said as Jules lit up.
"I want a hat too, please," Verne said politely. Marty rifled around in his closet and managed to produce one. He proudly stuck it on Verne's head. "Thank you."
"Are the boys set?" Doc asked, appearing in the doorway.
"Yes Papa," they chorused. "Goodbye Marty." They quickly wrapped their arms around his legs.
Marty patted their heads. "See you later, guys." He extended a hand to Clara as they went over to her. "Nice seeing you again. Welcome to the 20th century."
"Thank you. It was very nice seeing you again too." She shook his hand firmly. "At least I'll know one familiar person in this time." They smiled at each other. "Stay safe now."
"You too." Marty turned to Doc and stuck out his hand again. "I'll see you in the future?"
"Or in the past," Doc nodded. He took Marty's hand, started to shake it, then abruptly yanked the teen into a hug. Marty was a bit startled at first, but gladly reciprocated. "I'm so glad to see you again, Marty."
"Me too, Doc." Marty began wiggling in Doc's grip. "Uh -- you're squishing the shit out of me--"
Doc promptly released him, looking embarrassed. "Sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. You all right?"
Marty grinned at him. "I'm fine." Doc frowned, as if unsure. "Seriously."
"Okay. I'll see you later, Marty."
"Bye Doc." Marty watched as they left, his smile turning into a puzzled frown. Doc had never been that concerned about hurting him before. Sure, he didn't want any harm to come to Marty, but this was also the guy who had forced him to stand in front of a speeding DeLorean on faith alone. Why he would act like Marty was fragile was beyond the teen. He shrugged it off and went to rejoin his family in the living room. "Well?" he asked.
"I can't believe I said that before," George confessed, turning red again. "His stepdaughter. . . ."
"Dad, it was a honest mistake. It's my fault for not telling you."
"I thought they were so romantic together," Linda sighed, smiling dreamily. "The way they met was right out of an old movie."
"You're a sucker for romance," Dave said, rolling his eyes. "I bet you would have been even happier if he'd saved her from falling over a cliff." Marty narrowly fought off a fit of the giggles.
"Clara was a very nice woman," Lorraine said.
"And what a looker," J.J. added.
"J.J.! She's my best friend's wife!"
"Ah, come on, you didn't notice?"
"No. All the 'look' I need is sitting right here," Marty said, sitting next to Jennifer. Jennifer blushed and kissed him.
George looked seriously at Marty. "They were very nice people. I'm glad Doc was able to find the love of his life and two kids. But I'm a little worried about you."
"Me?"
George nodded, face grim. "I hope you understand what this is going to do to your friendship. Marriage changes everything. When I married your mother, I lost a couple of my college buddies because they couldn't adapt. Now that he has a family, he's going to have a lot less time for you, Marty."
"What are you talking about? I'll be visiting him just to get to know everybody. We'll probably be spending more time together."
"You don't understand. You're not the most important person in his life anymore, son. He's married. He's going to want to be with his family, not with you. Plus, he's going to have to support four people now, instead of just one. He doesn't make a lot with E. Brown Scientific Services, does he?"
Marty had to shake his head. "Maybe this'll kick his butt into gear and he'll start selling some of his inventions. I bet Clara's been bugging him about that too." He sighed. "Dad, I know he's going to want to spend time with his family alone. I mean, I've been on the other side of that with you guys, remember? But I doubt he'd ditch me." Thinking back to all the time traveling they had done together, he added, "We've been through a lot together."
George smiled, although he looked a little sad. "I'm glad you feel that way."
Marty shrugged, and the conversation turned to possible layoffs at the tennis club where Lorraine worked. Marty was glad for the change. He knew his father had brought up some good points -- but he just didn't want to think about them right now.