Chapter 1

January 22nd, 1986
11:31 a.m.
Hill Valley, California

Marty McFly sat on the stool, watching curiously as sparks flew high into the air. He rested his head on his hand on the workbench beside him, wondering what concoction his friend Doc Brown was working on this time. The barn-converted-lab in which the scientist worked was quiet today, apart from the hissing caused by the blowtorch. Doc was intent on completing his newfound task before the end of the month, as he, Clara and their two sons were planning to go away on vacation – "somewhere tranquil and relaxing" Clara had specifically requested. She was still nervous about travelling great distances to places she found unfamiliar – even now, a couple of months after she had arrived in 1985 with her husband Emmett and their children, she still found it hard to navigate around Hill Valley.

Marty sat up from the workbench and stretched out his arms in front of him, content. He had to ask the question sooner or later, so why not now?

"Doc, why don't you just buy a new toaster? It's a lot less trouble, and it's guaranteed not to blow the fuse in the electrics if it's not wired properly."

Doc lifted his head to the teenager, his face hidden by a mask to protect his face. He lifted it back to address the question, switching off the torch. "Why not? It's economically better than going out buying new things every time something develops a fault, and with two sons to bring up now I need to spend as little as possible on replacing items if we can avoid it."

"Yeah but Doc, it's just a toaster! I mean, I could give you one of ours if you really need one."

"That's very kind of you, Marty, but it's not necessary. Besides, what can go wrong?" Doc smiled, his confidence high. He stood the toaster up on its base, and plugged it into the socket across from him.

His words had come too soon, however. As soon as the plug made contact with the electricity supply a giant surge of electricity travelled into the toaster's circuitry, causing an overload and a big explosion to rip through the unit. Both Doc and Marty jumped back from the bang as the toaster jumped into the air and fell gracelessly back onto the workbench top.

Doc and Marty warily walked back to where the toaster lay, smoke rising from the two slits where the bread slotted in. Doc picked up the electrical device cautiously with his gloved hands, turned it around several times as he examined it, then tossed it into the bin that stood to the right-hand side of the workbench.

"So much for that attempt!" Doc sighed. He was never one for giving up so easily, but this time he felt he hadn't the energy to try again to fix the toaster. Marty had joined Doc at his side, and he too had examined the toaster. He gave Doc a shake of his head to agree with Doc – the toaster had won this time.

Doc turned to his younger friend to speak when he heard a frantic "Emmett!!" come from the direction of the barn door, and the heavy footsteps of his wife running in their direction. Doc knew his wife was always worried about him whenever he was working on a project. Right on cue the door of the barn flew open to reveal a fretful-looking Clara. She stared at Emmett as she ran over to in between the two men.

"Emmett, are you alright? What on earth happened?!?!?! I heard this most awful bang come from out here and…"

"I'm fine, Clara. It was just the toaster overloading, that's all. I must've mixed up a couple of the wires…" Doc thought out loud to himself. Clara placed her hands on Doc's face, giving him her own thorough examination to assure herself he was telling her the truth. She looked deep into his eyes. Her concern gradually faded as she dropped her hands to his and smiled.

"Honestly, Emmett! You and your inventions! Are you sure you're alright?" Clara pressed her husband.

"Affirmative, Clara." Doc replied as he looked over to Marty. Clara herself turned to look at Marty, who casually waved his hand to assure her he was alright also, as though nothing had happened. Clara smiled in reply, as she gradually made her way back over to the barn door.

"Are you sure, Marty?" Clara asked.

"Sure, Clara." Marty walked over to where Doc stood and turned to watch Clara leave, reluctantly. She smiled her acknowledgement as she closed the door behind her. Both Marty and Doc knew she worried about them too much, but understood that to her they were the only friends she really had.

Marty stepped forward, placing his hands in the back pockets of his jeans and sighing quietly. His head was bowed as though he was relieved; something that caught Doc's attention. He seemed rather uptight whenever he was in Clara's presence, which Doc had noticed of the young man ever since he had returned home.

"Marty? What's wrong?" Doc could read Marty like a newspaper. He often forgot that although it had been hard for him to readjust to 1985 life after spending ten years in the late 19th century, it must also be hard for Marty to adjust to his friend's new way of life. Before the changes Marty had felt Doc to be like a father to him. Now that Doc had two children, Marty felt he had lost that part of their relationship. Doc had become more of a friend again than a father.

"It's nothing, Doc, really." Marty lied. Doc knew it also.

"Don't give me that! I know something's bothering you, and I think I know what it is," Doc told his friend. "I think it has something to do with the new 'arrangements'."

"What? I don't - " Marty spurted out as he whipped around to view Doc

"Marty, I know you too well. I know it must be hard to adjust to things, especially after all the adventures we had and how time has changed. Believe me, I'm finding it just as hard. Suddenly having a family around me is especially hard to adjust to after all the years of living alone, although I did have some wonderful times with you." Doc placed a hand on Marty's shoulder. "Believe me, even through all these changes you will still remain an important figure in my life – nothing will ever change that." Marty looked up to him. Yep, Doc could definitely read his mind. He shrugged as to confirm Doc's suspicions, but his head remained bowed.

"I guess I'm still getting used to things. I mean, having two lots of memories was hard to figure at first, but now things don't feel as heavy." Marty lifted his head to look Doc in the eyes. "Also…well, I missed having you around, Doc. Things weren't the same when you left that day with Clara, Jules and Verne. I missed having someone to talk to, someone to confide in. Jesus, I even missed seeing Einstein!"

Doc stared back into Marty's eyes, understanding every word his friend said. "I know – I missed you too." For a long moment the two friends studied one another as a smile appeared on each of their faces. Marty was the first to make a move as he embraced Doc close. Doc shared the hug, burying his face in Marty's shoulder. It had been too long for him – after all, ten years had passed for Doc before he'd travelled to 1985 to retrieve Einstein and meet Marty again on the rail tracks. He'd had to wait ten years before he could relate to Marty all the wonderful memories of living back in the Old West, of marrying Clara and having a family at last, and of creating a new time machine – out of a locomotive!

Doc pulled back and placed his hands on Marty's arms. They both smiled in contentment. Looking at Marty, Doc knew he had done the right thing when he'd decided to move back to Hill Valley with his family. Nothing – not even time itself – could keep them apart.

Doc turned his head away towards the workbench where the remnants of the toaster still lay. It was then that his senses picked up an unusual sound – something grinding heavily down the street in the direction of his home. He turned his head towards the direction of the unfamiliar sound he had heard – in the direction of the barn doors. Marty's face gained an expression of concern as Doc slowly turned to face the doors, but then he too heard the roaring of an engine grinding to a halt, followed by the opening of a van door and a set of rhythmic clicks. Almost like the cocking of machine guns…

But before either could turn to the other in question to the noises a heavy thud against the great barn doors broke the silence. The doors burst open from the force, leaving Marty and Doc frozen to the spot and wide-eyed in fear at what they saw…