Disclaimer: BTTF is the best thing going. This is just my tribute to it, so please don't sue me!

Chapter 5

January 27th 1986
9:45 a.m.
Oak Park Cemetery, Hill Valley, California

A cold, weak breeze engulfed the mourners at the cemetery. A light frost covered the grass within the graveyard, adding to the sorrow of the atmosphere this particular day.

Within the large confines of the cemetery a small congregation stood. All present wore black clothing in mourning for the figure lying within the coffin at the centre of the funeral.

Lorraine McFly sat to one side of the coffin containing the body of her youngest son. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her face wore an expression of shock and confusion. George McFly stood respectively behind her, one hand resting on her shoulder for reassurance and his head bowed. David and Linda McFly stood to one side of their parents, David with his arm around his sister to help support her as she grieved.

Jennifer was also present, near to where the McFlys were positioned. Her head remained low in sorrow as the tears streamed down her face. She silently cried to herself, too afraid to really admit to herself that this was all for real; that this was happening and wasn't some sort of nightmare that she was soon to wake from.

Emmett stayed on the opposite side to the McFly family with Clara, Jules and Verne. Although the McFlys now accepted Doc as the person he was (thanks in part to Marty's insistence, not to mention the havoc he had created when he had been sent back to 1955 and had screwed up his parents' first meeting), he still felt they should have their own private space. After all, not everyone in Hill Valley had fully accepted him - yet.

The reverend stood at the head of the gathering, reading aloud to everyone present for the burial upon a small podium. He opened the book in his hands and began to read a selection of passages. Doc began to reflect in his own mind as the reverend spoke:

"I am the Resurrection and the life, saith the Lord..."

Well, this is it. This is the last time I will see my friend, forever…

"…he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."

…I wonder if Marty can see or hear what's being said about him? I wonder if he's present at all…

"I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth…"

Emmett looked to his wife and gently took her hand in his. He felt useless somehow, and ashamed to even be present as he still felt an immense guilt for allowing this to happen.

"…and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another."

A tall man, stood beside the reverend. He subtly shifted his weight and flicked what appeared to be a switch by his feet. The coffin almost immediately began to descent into the earth beneath as the reverend continued.

"We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out..."

Doc felt his heart sink as the coffin dropped further and further into the depths of the ground. Lorraine began to sob harder as finally the mechanism ground to a halt and the coffin reached its limit. A couple of men stepped forward to undo some straps that had been fastened to the coffin, then gently stepped back to allow two more men to begin the process of burying. Concluding, the reverend closed his Bible softly as he made a sign of the cross with his hand.

"The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. Amen."

Lorraine stood from her place and knelt down to pick up some of the soil. She peered down into the earth, her arm frozen over the hole dug into the soil. She whispered something to herself – a sweet prayer – before allowing the soil to drop from her hand and fall into the opening. George swept her up into his arms as he guided her away from the opening, and gradually the congregation followed behind. Doc led his sons in the direction of the crowd, not wishing to stay as the burial was completed.

The two gravediggers set to their task as the crowd disbanded. Within a few minutes the hole was no more, and as Doc turned to look at the place where Marty now lay to rest, he saw a final reminder that this was the end for sure. He closed his eyes, and turned back to join his family, as the lasting image of Marty's headstone died away from his mind:

Here lies:
Martin Seamus McFly
Born 9th June 1968
Died 22nd January 1986
Aged 17 years

May he rest in peace.

First thing's first. I am NO good with html files, so the above six or so lines should really be in the centre. Sorry it loses its effect. If anyone can give me some advice I'd be grateful. Also thanks for all the reviews so far, glad you like it since this is my first fic!