January 4, 1973

9:15 a.m.

Doc's POV

I was flying around in the De Lorean when my walkie-talkie came to life.

I heard Annie, who sounded like she was crying, "D…Doc?"

I asked, "Annie, what happened?"

Annie answered, "Ah, Doc. It was awful! When I told her about her future and why I couldn't see her in our time, I hit a heart string. I…I couldn't stay there after that so, I just left."

'Poor Annie and I thought Timmy had it rough,' I thought.

My thoughts were disrupted by Annie who asked, "Doc, can you pick me up? I….I just want to go home."

I responded, "Sure, Annie. Do you know where the empty lot is on Fredrick Avenue?"

Annie answered, "Yeah, I know where it is, Doc. I'll meet you there."

With that, Annie hung up on me and I headed to the empty lot. I had arrived and in five minutes, Annie arrived. She was crying up a storm. I went over to her and hugged her.

I told her, "There, there. Don't cry, Annie."

Annie told me, "At least I was able to give my younger self some advice as well as Marty."

I rubbed her arm and told her, "Well, at least some good came out of this, huh?"

Annie nodded as I let her cry out the last of her tears.

I asked, when she was done, "Feeling better, Annie?"

Annie answered, "Better now thanks to you, Doc."

I smiled. I loved it when she called me "Doc" and I loved it when Marty and Timmy called me that too.

I told her, "Come on, let's get ourselves home."

Annie nodded and she got in the De Lorean. I punched in our destination time. The time circuits read, "January 14, 1990 at 9:10 p.m."

I warned, "Annie, prepare yourself for time dispersal."

At those words, we headed into the future. For the rest our trip, Annie was awful quiet.

I pulled up to her house and she jokingly asked, "Are you that we are in the right year?"

I started to say, "Annie…."

Annie interrupted me and told me, "Look, Doc. You don't have to tell me. I know that my expectations were pretty high about this whole thing and that I should've expected it."

I told her, "That's true but I was going to say that I'm very proud of you for trying."

Annie perked up and asked me, "Do you mean that, Doc?"

I answered, "Damn straight."

Annie and I had an embrace.

After she let go of me, she opened the door and added, "Oh, Doc."

I asked, "Hm?"

Annie asked me, "Thank Timmy again for me, will you?"

I nodded and answered, "You bet."

With that, Annie left and I headed home. The next morning, I woke to Clara making breakfast. I walked in and there were my family: Jules, Verne, Einy, Timmy, and Clara.

I said, groggily, "Morning, everyone."

Clara kissed me on the cheek and responded, "Good morning!"

Jules asked me, "How did it go last night, father?"

I just shook my head as Verne said, "Poor Annie."

Timmy asked, "Is it okay if I swing by there, Doc?"

I answered, "Sure thing, Timmy. But, after breakfast, okay?"

Timmy nodded and added, "It will give Annie sometime to sleep, anyways."

I smiled at the fact that he was thinking forth dimensionally now. My thoughts went to Annie. I couldn't help but wonder if her appearance in 1973 caused any time ripples.

AK1028: Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!