Author's note: During Christmas, in the Hell Valley Timeline, Marty does some bonding with his mother.

December 25, 1984
3:00 PM PST

As Marty McFly was lying on his bed, he felt real depressed. He began to wonder why he even bothered to come home. It sure had been a long time, since he last quite had a proper Christmas. Granted, he really missed his mother - and this was his reason for coming home. However, his mother certainly didn't seem to be in a very joyful spirit.

The whole casino-hotel was actually devoid of any Christmas decorations. Maybe was also real certain that he wouldn't receive any Christmas presents. He didn't even care about presents, though. He just wished that this place could be a little more festive.

Tears suddenly came to Marty's eyes, as he found himself wishing that he had stayed in Switzerland. He thought of how the school was just beautifully decorated. He knew that Biff had never been to fond of the Christmas season. It made Marty feel so sad.

"Hey, Marty?" whispered a soft feminine voice. Lorraine stepped into the room, as she added. "I brought you a grasshopper." Setting the beverage down, she added, "Since Biff is out, I figured that you and I could... I understand that this really isn't much of a celebration, but... You and I can be alone, for a few hours. How would you like that?"

"That'd be great, uh, Mom," stammered Marty, blinking back tears. "I suppose there's one thing I could really be grateful for. I'm glad that Biff has other plans. I was a little worried that he would, uh, stay home... I was so worried that I would be in for a..."

"Everything will be all right, honey," assured Lorraine, as she placed her arm around her son. "Just enjoy your grasshopper. It was the least that I could do for you. You are a wonderful son. I understand that you probably weren't quite happy about..."

"I was so scared, Mom," admitted Marty, as he sipped at the mint beverage. "I wasn't looking too forward to coming home. Still, when I thought of you... Well, I really know that your life can't be too easy. Ever since Daddy died, my life has just gone downhill. It's probably even worse for you. You're stuck here, all the time. It can't be too fun."

"I simply do appreciate the thought, honey," murmured Lorraine. "Whatever you do, honey... Well, try not to let Biff get to you. I really worry about Dave and Linda. It's so sad... It's really hurts me, when I think of how easily they've given up. Please..."

"I don't want to give up, Mom," Marty insisted, sighing. "Life sure gets so depressing, though. It's been quite a long time, since I last had a happy Christmas. I mean, I was only four years old. I was so young back then. These days, everything seems too..."

"I don't know what to say, Marty," Lorraine replied, as she had tears in her eyes. "I'm not quite sure if I can... I simply don't know why Biff wanted to marry me. Oh, sure, I guess there were times... From time to time, Biff will act loving towards me. I think it's his way of... toying with my emotions. Oh, I know why he wants for me to be drunk!"

"Biff doesn't even pretend to love me, though," pointed out Marty, as he began to cry. "In fact, I sure don't remember any time - when Biff spoke kindly about me. It really hurts. I mean, Mom... Oh, Mom, why does Biff hate me? What did I do to..."

"Aw, my poor baby," murmured Lorraine, as she cradled Marty into her arms. "I know that this hasn't been a very good Christmas for you. I mean, I've heard the way that Biff has yelled out you. I wouldn't take any of what he says so personally, though."

"Oh, Mom, I'm sure that next year won't be any better," Marty sobbed, as he buried his face into his mother shoulder. "If it wasn't for you, Mom, I wouldn't've even quite bothered to come home. As long as Biff has all that... I'm afraid that things will really become worse. I wish that you could come with me, when I go back to Switzerland."

"I just can't, honey," Lorraine choked out. "Everytime I threaten to leave, Biff always threatens to cut you children off. As miserable as I am, I just can't do that to you. As a mother, it's my duty to look after you. It would be selfish, if I was to just put my..."

"Why is Biff like that?" cried out Marty, as he took a sip of his grasshopper. "He really has everything that he could ever want! Why does he want us to be so miserable? Is he really that... I know that I'm not supposed to hate anyone, but I can't stand..."

"Well, he simply takes care of all of us," Lorraine pointed out, softly. "He might not be the easiest person to get along with, but I believe that we should simply consider just how fortunate we are. After all, it's really better than living on the street. Maybe one day, we'll simply be able to have a happy Christmas. Try not to lose all hope, honey."

"I know that you're only trying to help, Mom," commented Marty, sighing. "I'm not so sure that I can believe it, though. The only thing we could do, Mom, is to simply pray for a miracle. I'd really like to think that, next year, we'd have a happier Christmas."

"If I could turn back time..." Lorraine started to say. "We can't, though. I actually do have something, though, that I think will just make you feel a little better. I shouldn't be... Biff probably won't be coming back, until... Wait here, okay? I'll be right back."

Marty nodded, as his mother left the room. His heart just went out to his mother. She really had her mood swings, when she would lash out at Marty. One would quite have to expect that, though. When considering the way that Biff treated her, it was a little hard to fault her. Lorraine put up with the abuse, because she cared for the children.

His thoughts turned to how he, at least, was able to spend most of his life in boarding schools - pretty far from Biff. His mother, on the other hand, had no such luxary. She simply ended up being abused by Biff, physically and verbally - each day of the year.

"I'm back, honey," Lorraine called out, as she stepped into the room. As she handed a package to Marty, she added, "I was able to buy you a little present. I sure hope that you like it." Setting a plate of cookies on the bed, she added, "These are quite good."

"Thank you, Mom," Marty gushed, as he began to open up the package. There was a lava lamp, three boxes of incense, and five potpourri sachets. He really felt touched, as tears filled his eyes. "You've really outdone yourself! These are so beautiful. I just love it all! I certainly was never expecting to get anything like... Thank you, Mom!"

"You're quite welcome, sweetheart," Lorraine replied, as she placed her arms around Marty. "When you go back to Switzerland, you'll really... I simply wish that I could've bought you something a little bigger... like a car. However, with Biff really being..."

"It's okay, Mom," assured Marty, sniffing. "It's not as though I would be able to bring a car to Switzerland. What you've bought for me... The thing is, I simply wasn't even expecting to... to get a present. Y'know, Mom, this day maybe won't be such a..."

"I'm so glad that you're home, Marty," commented Lorraine, sighing. "I mean, I'm sure that you aren't..." She handed Marty a cookie, as she added, "Anyway, Marty, I think it's best to really enjoy the little pleasures that we can get. I sure do miss my old husband. Your father would certainly want for us to, uh, make the best out of life."

"I quite miss Daddy," whimpered Marty, as his lips trembled. "I mean, I remember the summer... before he died... Do you remember, Mom? We went on this trip. We really had so much fun. We went to Oak Ridge Lodge, and it was simply a great summer."

"I still remember that," replied Lorraine, with a wistful sigh. "You simply wanted for us to move there. The thing is, Marty, I actually agreed with you. It really made me feel sad, thinking of how life in Hill Valley has gone downhill. It actually broke my heart."

"You wonder why this place is called Hell Valley," groaned Marty. "Come to think of it, I'm surprised that this town hasn't been renamed Tannensville. I sure wonder if there if any... Mom, what was the last time that we've seen our relatives? I'm pretty concerned that... I certainly don't know what my future will bring. I'm quite scared."

"Do you know what your father used to always say?" Lorraine asked, as she began to rub Marty's shoulders. "I quite feel as if it's a rather meaningful expression. If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything. A very special person taught him that."

"I'm simply not sure, Mom," Marty replied, sighing. "I remember that he was the leader of Coalition Against Biffco. However, he ended up getting killed. I really don't know if I can... As long as Biff is alive, I'm rather not certain that there's hope for either of us."

"Oh, honey," murmured Lorraine, as she drew Marty closer to him. "I'm rather certain that Biff didn't kill your father. Granted, I understand that he's a hard-nosed man. As far as killing anyone, though... he wouldn't quite go that far. Do you think that I would marry someone who killed your father? George meant the world to me!"

"No, of course not!" replied Marty, nervously. "I mean, I'm certain that you wouldn't knowingly marry someone who killed my father. Still, I really can't help but think that... that he had something to do with it. I know that he never liked my father."

"I understand that you don't like Biff," Lorraine replied, softly. "I really don't think that it's fair to him, though, to accuse him of something as heinous as murder. I really think that we should try to enjoy our time together. I mean, don't even think about Biff."

Marty forced a smile, as he wanted his mother to be happy. He appreciate the items that she bought for him. He still felt that Biff was rather responsible for the death of his father, but he sure didn't wish to upset his mother. Even though he didn't feel so hopeful, he figured that he would do best to make his mother's day be a bit easier.