"You know Verne, Santa can't possibly exist. If he did, even allowing for the fact that he would not have to deliver presents to Muslims, Jews and Hindus since they do not celebrate Christmas, and also allowing for the time zones, he would still have to visit 41 houses per second to get it all done in one night."

"Maybe he has a time machine like us," Verne retorted. He looked at his watch. "It's 12.52am in London right now, so he's busy there, and then maybe he'll time travel back a few hours to deliver presents to Hill Valley."

"I don't think so, somehow."

Verne turned to his father. "Dad, what do you think?"

Doc thought for a second, trying to remember what he and Clara had previously said about Santa Claus. "Um, well, nobody really knows apart from St Nicholas himself," he finally said, glaring at Jules as he did so. Jules was now 10 and had learnt the truth about Santa Claus, but Verne still believed and his parents wanted him to have one last year believing before they told him.

The front door opened and Marty and Ritchie came in carrying groceries. "Jeez, it's cold out there!" Marty moaned as he shut the door behind him. "We got most of the list, but not all of it. Although I did get that new film for my camera, and that Turkish Delight Clara wanted. We went to 3 different supermarkets..."

"Not to worry," Doc smiled. "We've got everything we need anyway. These were just little extras we fancied. Clara has a thing for Turkish Delights, they were one of the first things she tasted when she moved to the present."

"Talking of presents," Ritchie smiled, "I've got everyone's presents in my car. I'll go get them in a sec."

"I'll help you carry them in!" Verne volunteered instantly.

"Just don't go feeling them and trying to guess what's inside," Doc warned, although he felt the warning would go in one ear and out the other. "Jules, go help your brothers."

As his three sons went out to the car, Doc watched them with a smile on your face.

"Here's your presents from Jennifer, Doc," Marty said, putting them under the tree. "Lucky her, spending Christmas in Sydney with her family. Must be weird though having Christmas in the middle of the summer." Marty joined his friend by the window.

"You must have been looking forward to this Christmas, Doc," he said. "Now that all your family is here."

"Indeed," replied Doc. "Having all my children here feels wonderful. And since this will be Ritchie's first one with us, it will be extra special." Doc and Marty watched as Ritchie gave his half-brothers piles of gifts from the car. "Ritchie must think so too. Look what he's got the boys!" Doc smiled. "You know, Marty, back before I got my family, I never really liked Christmas. It was just so lonely. I mean, I had you, but you also had your family to see. I just had Einstein or Copernicus or whoever my dog was at that time. But now, with my wife and 3 kids, I really look forward to it."

Marty smiled. "I'm glad to hear that."

"I especially remember Christmas of 1955. I was on such a high after meeting you the previous month and working on my time travel designs that I didn't really prepare for Christmas that year at all, and then suddenly it came and it was just me and Copernicus." He sighed. "I didn't even put any decorations up, I left it so late. I even had to cook my turkey dinner on Christmas Day itself, for I forgot all about it on Christmas Eve, which is when I usually cook it. Like now."

Marty felt sorry for his friend. His own family Christmases had always been happy occasions, even in the original timeline with nerdy George and alcoholic Lorraine. He and his siblings had never gone without, and there were always big family parties to go to on both the McFly and Baines sides of the family. Doc had had no-one. All of his living relatives were currently in the kitchen, where Clara was busy with dinner, or outside carrying presents. And they had either not existed, or they did but Doc did not know about them. Marty remembered Christmas 2 years ago, back in 1984, and how lonely Doc had been. Marty had managed to get away from his family long enough to say Merry Christmas to his friend, but hadn't been able to stay long. Marty wondered whether he had been able to stay longer in the Dad-is-an-author timeline than in the one he remembered. He doubted it somehow. Doc had probably had another lonely Christmas, no matter what the timeline.

An idea entered Marty's mind. It doesn't have to be that way, he thought to himself.

"Well, that's all in the past now," he said to Doc. "Anyway, I need to see Clara for a second. It's about your present."

"Oh, OK," smiled Doc. "She's in the kitchen. I'll go help my sons." He held the door open as Ritchie, Jules and Verne came in bearing gifts.

"Just put them under the tree," Doc told them. Marty went into the kitchen.

"Clara? Can I talk to you for a second?"

Clara turned her head. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Well, nothing, but it's about a present for Doc."

"Marty, the present you got him is good enough....."

"No, no, not this Doc, but Doc in 1955." Clara looked puzzled, so Marty explained. "He was just telling me about how lonely he used to be at this time of year before he met you."

"He's often talked about that," Clara admitted. "That's why he loves Christmas so much now, now that's he's got a family."

"I know," said Marty, "but I was thinking of making 1955 Doc feel this happy."

"Are you thinking what I think you're thinking?" Clara smiled. Marty nodded.

"Can you distract him whilst I use the DeLorean to go back to 1955?" he asked.

"Marty, I think you've got a heart of gold for doing this," Clara replied. "Yes, go for it! I'll just ask him to help me with something and let you do down to the lab."

"You'll have to let me in," Marty told her. Earlier that month Jules and Verne had borrowed the time machine and gone forward to New York on September 11th 2001 after Doc had installed the Destination Location. They remembered nothing of the horrors of that day due to the memory eraser, but Doc had installed a thumbprint security device from the future on the lab so only he and Clara could access it to prevent anything like that happening again.

"Sure," Clara said as she opened a pack of peas. "Could you pass me that bowl, please?"

Marty did so. "You know, I'll go to the mall first and buy him a present."

"That's a good idea. In fact, I'll come with you. I want to get out of this kitchen for a while." She and Marty grabbed their coats and went to the front door. "Emmett, Marty and I are going to the mall to.....sort out some presents we forgot. Can you keep an eye on the dinner?"

"Will do," said Doc as Marty and Clara left.

The mall was due to close in half an hour, but there were still lots of people trying to get their last minute shopping done. Marty and Clara battled their way through the crowds.

"Any idea what to get him?" Clara asked.

"No, I never have ideas like that," said Marty. "I always just look around until I see the perfect gift!" Marty noticed something. "Hey look, half price decorations!"

"We're trying to get rid of them," the man behind the counter admitted. "After tomorrow they'll be no good until next year."

"I'll take them," Marty told him, remembering how Doc had said he hadn't put any up in 1955. The man gleefully took Marty's money, and afterwards Marty looked for Clara.

"Clara?" he called.

"Over here," she called back. Marty wondered over to the shop where Clara was. "What do you think of this?"

Marty looked at the "this" and smiled. "That's perfect," he said. "That's the perfect gift for Doc! And it's the last one! This must be my lucky day!"

Marty quickly paid for the present and he and Clara headed home.

"Oh, before I forget, take these," Clara said to Marty, handing him a tin full of mince pies. "I'm sure Emmett won't mind us giving these to, well, himself."

"Right."

Clara let Marty into the lab and helped him load up the DeLorean, then whilst she distracted the family, Marty headed back exactly 31 years.

"It really does feel like deja vu," Marty said to himself as he entered 1955. The year was like a second home for him now, due to all the various times he had spent there. A slight storm was brewing, adding to the deja vu feeling. Marty flew as low as he could without being spotted, for fear of being struck by lightning. Just in case he was though, he typed 12 24 1986 18 03 in the time circuits, so he would go back to 1986 if it happened.

Marty soon realised he had nothing to worry about. His main problem would be wind, not lightning. Relieved, he flew the DeLorean over Hill Valley. He could have used the Destination Location to go straight to Doc's 1955 home, but he did not know the co-ordinates for it. Plus, it was only across town - was there any real need for it? Much easier to just fly there.

At last he saw Doc's mansion.

"Hello again," he said to himself. He landed the DeLorean outside the front door, picked up the present and decorations, and opened the door.

"Jesus!" he gasped. The wind was starting to get stronger and stronger. Marty had a hard time walking the few paces to the doorstep. Eventually he managed to get to the door and knocked it.

Barking was heard from inside. Copernicus had heard the knock!

"All right, all right," Marty heard Doc mumble from inside. "I'm coming." He opened the door. "Yes?"

"Hi Doc."

Doc screamed.

"Relax Doc, I'm not in any trouble. The DeLorean's out there, and it works fine. I just came to say Merry Christmas to you."

Doc calmed down. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. Merry Christmas."

Doc smiled. "Thank you, Marty. Come in." He looked at the DeLorean. "Although, I think we'd better move the time vehicle out of this wind. Let's put it in the garage."

"Right, Doc."

The DeLorean was soon tucked safely away, and Marty picked out the present, tin of mince pies and decorations before following Doc back to the house.

"Cup of coffee to warm up?"

"Uh, yeah, thanks Doc. No sugar."

"I remember just how you liked it," Doc smiled. "Take a seat!" Marty sat down in the sitting room. The room looked quite bare compared to Doc's place in 1986, which had decorations everywhere.

I guess that's what having a family can do to you, he thought. He wondered what his Christmases would be like when Marlene and Marty Jr would come along in the 1990's.

Doc came back in with the coffee. "Here you go, Marty," he said, giving the cup to his friend. "I'm sorry about the state of this place, but I've been so busy with the time travel theories that I haven't had the time to put up any symbolic decorations."

"I know, Doc," said Marty. "You told me about this in 1986. That's why I bought some with me."

"Marty, you didn't have to do this!"

"I know I didn't, but I wanted to. You told me in 1986 how lonely you were at Christmas and I thought I'd come back and see you. I bought some goodies as well."

"Thanks Marty, this really means a lot to me," Doc smiled as he looked through the bag of decorations. "Wow, some of these look quite futuristic!"

"They do?"

"Well, to us in 1955. I'll put these in my bedroom, where no-one else will see them. But these decorations over here" - he pointed to a large pile of them - "are perfect. Let's put them up now!"

"You're the Doc, Doc," Marty grinned as he put down his coffee and grabbed some lights. He looked at his friend and saw a twinkle in Doc's eyes.

"You know, when my parents were still around, we used to decorate quite a lot," Doc said as he hung up some baubles. There wasn't a tree, so Doc hung them up from the ceiling using string and nails. Marty smiled. That was just so Doc! "But after they died, I never really bothered. Why, I thought, when it was just me. But not this year!" He turned to Marty. "How long are you staying?"

"I thought for a couple of days, maybe go back on the 26th or something. I'll be here for Christmas Day."

"Good, good," Doc replied. "By the way, how is my future self?"

"He's - you're - fine," said Marty. "You're in good health, you're not in 1885 any more."

"So our mission was accomplished?"

"Sort of. You can't know the rest," Marty told him, "but it will be worth waiting for."

Once the decorations were up, Doc and Marty admired their work.

"It really makes a difference," Marty said.

"Indeed it does," Doc said. "Maybe I'll decorate next year as well."

"Here are some mince pies from the future," Marty said. "A....er, friend, made them for you."

"Thanks," Doc said. "Shall we have some now? After all our hard work?"

"I don't see why not," Marty said. Doc took the tin off him and opened it, and after giving Marty and Copernicus one each, he took one for himself. He took a bite.

"Delicious," he said, pleased. "Marty, tell your, uh, friend, that he or she makes delicious mince pies."

"She'll be pleased to know that," Marty said, before realising what he'd said.

"She?" Doc wanted to know. Marty decided to change the subject.

"Sorry Doc. Future stuff. Cant know it. Anyways, I got you a present as well, Doc," Marty said, giving his friend the parcel. "Don't open it until tomorrow!"

"I won't!" Doc grinned. "Great Scott, I feel like a little boy again!" He put it with a small pile of parcels.

"Who are they from?" Marty asked.

"Colleagues at the University, mostly, but this one is from my Aunt Esther," Doc explained. "Marty, I haven't got anything to give to you."

"Don't worry about it Doc. Seeing you happy is a good enough present for me." Marty sat down.

"Cookies?" Doc offered Marty a plate.

"Thanks," Marty said, taking a couple and sitting down. "So, what's been happening since I left at the drive-in?"

"Well, I did look around for a few minutes in case you came back again," Doc grinned, "but when you didn't, I figured everything must have gone to plan. I came home and it sure seemed lonely without you, but I was on such a high from seeing you that I worked on my time travel theories most of the time. They're safely locked up in the garage. I thought I'd take tomorrow off, because it's Christmas."

He took a bite of a cookie. "Oh, I saw your parents the other day when I went to buy a newspaper. They looked very happy together."

"Good to hear," Marty said.

"So what about you? Don't tell me about 1885, but tell me about afterwards when we returned home. Actually, Marty, when are you from?"

"Christmas Eve 1986. Well, after we returned home from 1885 - actually Doc, I won't mention you, because you'd never believe what happens to you. But I graduated high school in the summer of 1986, and I'm now in college studying Music with a history class in it as well."

"Good to hear," Doc said with a smile.

"I have a part time job in a music shop, and Jennifer and I are still together, still very much in love. She knows about the time machines but I can't tell you how she finds out." Marty noticed Doc's look. "Don't worry, everything was fine. She hasn't told a soul. She thinks it's quite cool." Marty took another bite of his cookie. "Oh, and the clocktower is still at 10.04pm, and the ledge you broke is still broken, in fact it will still be like that in 2015."

"Good to hear," Doc said once again.

The two talked for the next few hours about what their lives had been like since November 16th 1955, although Marty had to keep reminding himself not to give anything away. They decided to move on from that topic and talked about the holiday season, where Marty found out that Christmas shopping in 1955 was just as hard as in 1986!

Eventually it was time for bed. Doc showed Marty to his room for the night - the same room he had slept in last month. Or was it a year ago? Marty decided not to think about that. Time travel was confusing enough already.

"Goodnight, Marty."

"'Night, Doc. Get to sleep quickly or else Santa won't come!" Marty laughed.

"You know, Marty, I'd say he already has."

The weather had calmed down by the next morning, and although it was raining the wind was calm. Marty looked out of the window.

"We haven't had a white Christmas in Hill Valley since 1946," Doc's voice said from the door. Marty turned around. He hadn't noticed his friend standing there.

"Just as well really, I wouldn't like to fly home in snow," Marty said. "Merry Christmas, Doc!"

"Merry Christmas, Marty! I've got dinner in the oven right now. We're having turkey. I'm sorry it's a bit small, but of course I thought only Copernicus and myself would be eating it."

"That's all right, Doc."

Marty quickly got dressed. He noticed that his 1950's clothes, from his previous trips to 1955, were still hanging up in the closet, and decided to put them on just for today. Copernicus was there to greet him when he stepped out of the room.

"Merry Christmas, boy," he said to the dog, stroking his head. Copernicus barked and ran down the stairs excitedly.

"I don't think I ever saw him move that fast last time I was here!" Marty said to himself. He walked downstairs and saw Doc in the kitchen with the turkey.

"What vegetables would you like?" Doc called. "We have potatoes, peas, carrots or sprouts."

"Uh, everything except the carrots please. Can't stand them," Marty replied. He sat down on the couch and looked around once again at the decorated room. It looked very festive. Marty wondered if he had a career in interior designing ahead of him!

"Marty! Can you pass me that bowl please?" Doc called. Marty went into the kitchen.

"This one?"

"Yes, that's the right one." Marty gave Doc the bowl. Doc put some sprouts in it.

"Could you open up that tin of peas?" he asked Marty. "Put them in there." Marty did so.

"How's the turkey coming?" he asked.

"It's coming on fine," Doc said. "Smells good, doesn't it?"

"It smells great, Doc."

"Right, we can leave that for an hour to cook. The potatoes should be nearly done." Doc checked on them. "Yes, they are fine. Come on, let's sit down and relax." The two re-entered the living room and Doc turned on the radio.

"...adore him! Oh come let us adore him, Christ the Lord!" The song came to an end and the announcer came on. "You're listening to KKHV, the Christmas voice of Hill Valley. We're playing Christmas songs and carols all day. Next is O Little Town Of Bethlehem, sung by the Hill Valley Men's Choir."

As the song began, Doc smiled at Marty. "I found a present for you," he said. "I went to the garage this morning to pick up some things, and check on the time vehicle, and saw this."

"When did you do that?"

"When I awoke this morning! I've been awake for a few hours now! I guess I was too excited to sleep."

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

"I tried, but you were in a period of heavy sleep, and I couldn't wake you. Anyway, Merry Christmas Marty!" Doc handed Marty a box. On the box it said, "To Marty, Merry Christmas, Emmett Brown."

Marty took the lid off the box and looked inside. "Doc, you shouldn't have!" he grinned. It was the red wind up car Doc had used in his plan on how to send Marty home. It was still burnt out from when it had caught fire, but still recognisable.

"I thought you'd like that," Doc grinned.

"Now for your presents," said Marty. "Hang on a second, where's my coat?"

"Why?"

"There's something in my pockets I need."

"It's in the coat room."

Marty ran into the coat room and looked through the pockets of his coat. He finally found what he was looking for.

"Just as well I didn't leave this behind!" He produced his camera. He'd left it in his pocket after buying the new film for it whilst out shopping with Ritchie. Marty went back into the living room.

"Say cheese, Doc!"

Marty took a photograph. Doc was amazed.

"A futuristic camera! Amazing! It looks very similar to that portable television studio device you bought with you last time," Doc said, examining the camera. "May I have a go?"

"Sure, just press that button." Doc took a photograph of Copernicus with a party hat on his head. The dog looked so bemused by it all afterwards that Doc and Marty burst out laughing. Then Doc started opening his presents, Marty taking a picture of each one.

Doc got a notepad, some new pens, some socks and a small box of chocolate from his colleagues at the University, and from his Aunt Esther he got a new pullover - which was slightly too small.

"Aunt Esther could never remember what size I was," Doc told Marty. Eventually there was one just one present left - the one from Marty. Doc slowly unwrapped the present, noting the futuristic wrapping paper.

"Great Scott!" he exclaimed. "Marty, this is wonderful!"

"I thought you'd like it," Marty grinned. "I know how much you like inventing. Here's something to build in your spare time."

"Thanks, Marty!" Doc said with a smile. "This has been a wonderful Christmas! Come, let's go check on the dinner."

In all the time Marty had known Doc in the 1980's, he'd known Doc to be a good cook. Despite living next to a Burger King, Doc didn't use the place that much, preferring to buy and cook his own dinner. Since it had been just him and Einstein at the time, Doc had developed his own styles of cooking, a style which, Marty had to admit, had been quite tasty.

So it had been a bit of a shock to discover that back in the 1950's, Doc wasn't that good a cook at all. Marty guessed that Doc had taught himself how to cook some time before the 1980's. All those years of living alone must have forced him to do it.

"I must confess, I had my old cook come along yesterday morning and leave me instructions," Doc confessed to Marty. "She's quite a good cook. She helped out in the kitchen when my parents were still alive, and comes in occasionally these days."

"I didn't see her at all last month," Marty said.

"She normally only comes in on occasions like this," Doc told him. "I'm not the best cook in the world."

"You did OK in November, cooking for us then," Marty chuckled.

"Well, neither of us got food poisoning, so I must have done something right," Doc grinned as the two sat down to dinner. Doc was about to take a bit when he realised something.

"Marty, we haven't lit the candles. Pass me those matches please." Marty did so, and Doc took out a match. He tried lighting it, but it didn't want to know. After trying 5 times with no luck, Doc gave up and tried with another match. This one lit first time.

"Here we are," Doc said to Marty and Copernicus as he lit the candle on the table. Once it was lit, Doc pulled the match back, ready to blow it off - and the match snapped in half. Doc gasped as the lit half fell down onto the tablecloth.

"Great Scott!"

Marty quickly got up and fetched a damp cloth from the washbasin. He put the cloth over the small flame on the table, putting it out instantly.

"Phew, that was close," Doc breathed. "We wouldn't have wanted out dinners to be overcooked!"

Marty couldn't help but agree. He raised his glass for a toast. "To Christmas, and to good friends."

Doc raised his glass to Marty's. "For all time," he added with a smile.

The rain had stopped by the next morning. Marty was packing, making sure he had everything he'd bought back from the future. Doc picked up the camera Marty had bought with him.

"When I get back to the future," Marty said, noticing Doc, "I'll have that film developed for you."

"That would be good, thanks," Doc said. Once the DeLorean was loaded up, Marty got inside and turned on the time circuits. He remembered he'd already typed in the Destination Time on Christmas Eve, when he'd arrived, so there was no need to do it again.

"Safe trip home," Doc said, still wearing a paper hat that Marty had brought back from 1986.

"I will do," Marty grinned. "I'll be home in no time at all."

Doc grinned back. "Thank you, Marty," he said to his friend. "This has been the best Christmas for years."

"It is a magical time of the year," Marty said to him.

"I don't know about magical, but it certainly is special," Doc replied. "Especially with friends like you. Thank you, Marty."

"You're quite welcome," Marty said. "Merry Christmas, Doc. And have a happy New Year!"

"I will," Doc called as Marty started the DeLorean. He waved to his friend until the car had disappeared into the future. Once Marty had gone, Doc called to Copernicus.

"Come on, boy," he said to his dog. "We have something to be building."

Marty arrived back in his time at the exact moment he'd left 2 days before. He flew above the streets of Hill Valley, taking good care not to be seen by anyone from the ground, but still looking at the Christmas lights as Hill Valley's shops shut their doors until after the holidays. Marty smiled. When he was little, he'd loved walking around Lyon Estates and looking at the Christmas lights on the nearby houses. His family hadn't put up many lights outside the house over Christmas in the old timeline - Lorraine had never seen the point, and George would worry about what if their lights didn't work, or weren't as good as the other houses? The best thing to do, he'd decided, was not to bother. Best stick to keeping the Christmas lights inside, where it would be safer.

In the new timeline though, the McFlys did decorate the outside of their house. They didn't go overboard like some houses, but put enough up to brighten the street yet still look classy. Christmas last year, his first in the new timeline, had been a pleasant surprise for Marty.

Marty flew the DeLorean over Doc's house. Ritchie's car was there, next to the garage. Relieved that the timeline hadn't changed from his trip to the past, Marty landed the DeLorean in the back garden and then drove it straight into the lab, where Clara was waiting for him.

"How did it go?" she asked with a smile.

"He liked your pies," Marty said. He laughed. "It went great. I think I really made his Christmas."

"I'm sure you did," Clara smiled. "He told me all about this when we had our first Christmas together in 1885. I thought it was very sweet. He told me this morning how hard it would be for him to pretend that Christmas of 1955 was lonely when it was anything but."

"I have to thank you as well, for helping me out," Marty said. "Thanks, Clara."

"You're welcome," she said. "Now, let's get back to the others."

The two re-entered the house to find Doc and his boys sitting around the TV. It's A Wonderful Life was on, about half way through.

"Marty's back," Clara said to her husband.

"Hey, I didn't even know you'd gone anywhere," Verne said to him. "When'd ya go?"

"Oh, just back a few decades," Marty said, casually. Doc stood up. "Marty, may I have a word with you?"

"Sure." Marty followed his friend out into the hallway.

"Marty, I just want to say thank you, once again."

"That's OK, Doc. Merry Christmas. Oh, here's the film." He handed his friend the camera film.

"Thanks." Doc put it in his pocket. "I guess this means I don't have to hide your present from 1955 away anymore."

"You had to hide it?"

"I couldn't have you see it before you went back to give it to me," Doc told him. He opened up a cupboard and took out a box. "It took me a while to build, but it worked great!"

Doc put the small, model DeLorean onto the table for Marty to look at. Despite now being over 30 years old, the car looked brand new. Marty guessed it had been repainted recently.

"I nearly lost it in the fire of '62," Doc said, "but luckily I'd left it in my garage that night."

"I'm glad you liked it," Marty said. "When I saw it in the mall, I just thought you'd get a kick out of it." He looked at his watch. "Well, I'd best be off home. My grandparents will be over shortly."

"Right. Oh, say thank you to your family for the tin of chocolates they sent us."

"Will do. I'll be over tomorrow to see you all. I hope the boys don't wake you up too early."

"I doubt it," Doc grinned. "I think it'll be me waking them up early!" The two laughed.

"Merry Christmas Doc."

"Merry Christmas, Marty."

Once Marty had gone, Doc closed the door behind him and walked back into his living room. His sons were still on the sofa, watching the movie. Clara walked over to her husband and hugged him. The two smiled, watching their family.

Doc recalled his conversation with Marty back in 1955. He'd said Christmas wasn't exactly magical. Doc smiled. He'd have to disagree with himself on that one. For it definitely was a magical time of the year.

Last Revised: December 21st 2004

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