Chapter 19:

It was a glorious day in the Fox household. Channing had graduated college, which called for a celebration. A small party with some family and close friends were going to be there. A lovely outdoor party by the pool was on the itinerary.

It's been a few months since the whole Nix/Marty thing. It was now a Nix/Alex thing. Everything was normal as a family should be, more or less. Mike was still playing gigs with Dane and occasionally Marty. If everyone who they invited showed up to the party, Mike may have a chance to talk to someone about a small tour.

The sun had set on a warm Saturday afternoon and the graduation party had begun. A few of Channing's friends had joined the family, as well as the McFly's. Well, only Marty and Alex.

"Damn Mike, I didn't know you were related to Jon Bon Jovi," Marty said to Mike.

"Not blood related," Mike said, "He's my brother-in-law. He's the only one on my ex's side I still talk to."

"You gonna ask him about the tour thing?"

"I wanna try to, if somehow, his kids don't screw it up."

"Why?"

"His son, Josh, is in a band," he pointed to a tall boy with black and blue hair talking to Nix, "And his daughter goes on tour with him sometimes."

"Well," Marty stood, "I'll be right back. I gotta tell Alex that the guy Nicole's talking to his her cousin, not anything else."

"He the jealous type?"

"He has no idea what he's doing," Marty laughed.

Marty walked over to his son, being the loner he was, who was sitting on a lawn chair by the pool in his swim trunks. He explained that the guy Nix was talking to was her cousin. That caused Alex to jump up and run over to her. Marty smiled at the gleam in Nix's eyes as Alex hugged her.

Marty walked back over to Mike. They went on about talking about previous cases for the lawfirm, music and the future marriage of their kids. After a while, Jon decided to pay his brother-in-law a visit.

"Hey, Mike," Jon said with a smile.

"Long time no talk, Jon," Mike smiled and shook his brother-in-laws hand, "Jon, this is my friend Marty."

"Hey," Jon said.

"Hi, great music," he said shaking his hand.

"Thanks," Jon smiled, "Ya know Mike, I got a bit of a dilemma. My guitarist just recently broke his hand and can't finish off the tour. Could you do family a favor and take his place? It's only for a few shows on this coast."

"You bullshitting me, Jon?"

"You know I wouldn't kid around like that," Jon said, "I'm desperate."

"Daddy! Did you ask Uncle Mike about the concert?"

"Yes, Lea," Jon said, "I just asked him."

"Uncle Mike, please? Can you take over?" his niece begged.

"Go for it Mike," Marty coaxed, "It's just the kinda thing you need. I can get you out of the lawfirm for a few cases. As for the kids, they can handle themselves."

"I'll do it," he shrugged, "Marty, as long as you check up on them once in a while."

"My son will probably be over here most of the time, so no problem."

"Jon," Mike said, "You gotta deal."

"Oh thank you so much," he gave his brother-in-law a man hug. It was a bit awkward for Mike, for he was on the shorter side. Genes weren't on his side.

"Anything for family," Mike said.

Just breaking the moment, there was a huge splash from the pool. Everyone around the pool was a victim of getting soaked. Parents, pissed off, looked into the pool and saw all of the kids in there, cheering and clapping.

All at once, all the parents began to bitch at their kids for not warning them that they were jumping in the pool. It was Mike's mother that broke them up.

"The kids were just having fun! That's why we're all here, isn't it? to celebrate Channing's academic achievements."

"Yeah!" the kids cheered.

"Mom," Mike began.

"You shush. Michael, you're the one telling your kids to just be kids and that's what their doing."

"Crazy lady has a point," Marty whispered to Mike.

"You're right, mom," Mike sighed.

"Thanks grandma!" the Fox children called.

The tension dispersed and the adults went back to talking as the children swam happily in the pool. The sun disappeared and the stars shone brightly one after another. Fireflies began to awaken from their naps and dance brightly through the back yard.

Channing, Logan and some of Channing's friends got out of the pool to chase the little bugs of light. They were such kids. Nix and Alex got out of the pool next to get food. Alex was absolutely loving Nix's black bikini. Such a guy.

Nix sat down on the one picnic table and Marty decided to talk to his younger friend for a few minutes.

"Did you hear about your dad?" he asked.

"Yeah," she smiled devilishly.

"Did you have something to do with that?"

"Maybe," she smiled.

"You did a good thing there," Marty said, "Well sortta. Not cool breaking the guys hand, but congrats for your dad though."

"Well, after I traveled back to one of their tours, I smashed the guys hand in the bus and wrote a phony letter to my Uncle Jon about getting my dad to play. It was fool proof. Besides, I know he wants to get out and play."

"You guys just want him out of the house," Marty laughed.

"That too, Marty, that too," she giggled.

"Can I ask you a serious question?"

"Shoot," she gave him her undivided attention.

"When we first met, as in younger me, did you have feelings for me?"

"Yes," she said honestly.

"Have you gotten over them?"

After pondering over the question for a few heart beats, she let out a deep breath, "at first, no. but after I ran into Alex, I forgot about the illegal thing I guess we had going on. Alex is just like you, but better. No offence."
"None taken. I was hoping you'd find him after I saw how upset you got leaving me."

"Marty, the younger you was a sweet guy and all, but there were too many time paradoxes to worry about and legal reasons. Besides, you weren't as smart as Alex, I can tell you that much."

"Older you get the wiser you get," he said defensively.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Marty. Honestly, I was really upset leaving you that first day, but now, now I'm not. Alex is the best thing that ever happened to me, right before meeting you for the first time."

"I'm glad to hear that," he smiled.

"If it hadn't been for you getting hit by that car when you time traveled here, I never would've met you and I wouldn't've ever traveled back to make my dad a musician. And from all of that, he wouldn't be going on tour with my Uncle Jon. So really, thank you for getting hit by that car."

Marty smiled, "You're welcome, I guess."

She took off the ring she had on and put it in her hand. Then she gave Marty a hug.

"Thank you a billion times," she said.

"Dad? Why are you hugging my girlfriend?" Alex asked.

"Thank you for finding my ring, Mr. McFly! It means so much to me!" she gave him a wink.

"Oh, you're welcome Nicole. I'll leave you two alone then."

Marty stood from the bench and smiled back to Nix before walking up to Mike and plunge into conversation. Alex sat down where Marty was just sitting. The two love birds held hands under the table as Dane and his girlfriend Jessica sat down across from them.

Nix had feelings for Marty still. She had lied about that. But the feelings that remained were of friendship. Nix knew she couldn't be any more than friends with Marty, but for Alex. Well, Alex and Nix were a whole different story all together.

Keep time travel alive, Nix and Marty thought.