Author's Note: The day after his final tour, Marty spends a day with his children.

August 29, 2005
10:30 AM PST

Marty McFly Sr felt excited, just as his two small children skipped beside him. Just four days ago, Marlene turned eight - while Marty Jr was quite about ten months younger. It really was a nice feeling, just spending time with his young ones. He felt happy with the prospect of being able to spend more time actually being a father.

It wasn't to say that Marty didn't enjoy his career of a rock star, of course. There was even a part of him, in fact, that would miss being on the road. Still, he quite valued his family - and he wished to be a big part of their lives. He simply wished to be a father.

"It's quite nice that you're home, Daddy!" squealed Marlene, with enthusiasm. "I must say, I've really missed you. Are you very sure that, next summer, you won't be going anywhere? That we'll have the whole summer to spend with you? I simply hope so!"

"I promise, sweetheart," replied Marty Sr, as he scooped up his daughter. "Your mom told me how much you kids quite missed me. I was rather thinking that, next summer, we could go on a little camping trip. It might be a very nice little family outing, and we can have a lot of fun. How's that sound, kiddos? Is that something you might enjoy?"

"Oh, I'd love that, Daddy!" exclaimed Marlene. "We could sit around the campfire, and roast some marshmallows. Perhaps, we could even make some s'mores. That would be so much fun! Perhaps, Mommy might even actually let us stay up past our bedtime!"

"I'd love that, too," agreed Marty Jr, as a smile spread across his face. "I'm looking so forward to next summer, now. The house just seemed so empty, without you in it. Of course, we still did have some fun! I just wish that you could've been there, as well."

"I understand, honey," replied Marty Sr, as he put Marlene down. Listing up Marty Jr, he added, "Here we are, kiddos! We're at Hill Valley Park. I suppose you kids are very happy. It really is a lovely day. I mean, it's sure hard to believe that summer is almost summer. Anyway, how would you kids feel about heading over to the playground?"

"We'd love that, Daddy!" exclaimed Marlene, as she began to skip. "Daddy, would you give us a push on the swings? I'd like an underdog. Those are simply fun." Noticing the portable radio, she added, "Hey, Daddy, did you bring any Led Zeppelin CDs along?"

"I want to hear Led Zeppelin, too," agreed Marty Jr. "This really is nice, Daddy. Thank you for taking us out. When I grow up, I'd also like to become a rock star. I sure want to be just like you. It might be very exciting, knowing that you have plenty of fans."

"Well, I sure do appreciate my fans," Marty Sr replied, smiling. While he felt thrilled by how his son wanted to follow in his footsteps, he didn't exactly want it to seem like he was rather placing pressure on his children. In a mock-hurt voice, he added, "You kids want to listen to Led Zeppelin? So, what's wrong with listening to your good ol' dad?"

"There's rather nothing wrong with that, Daddy," replied Marty Jr. "Your music is quite awesome. It's just that I... Right now, I'm just in the mood for Led Zeppelin. We could listen to your music, a little later. So, Daddy, are you gonna take us to McDonald's?"

"Sure, why not?" Marty Sr replied, laughing. "It'd be a nice little treat." Looking up, he added, "Here's the playground. Why don't you kids go hop on the swings, and I'll give you a push?" Marty Sr smiled, just as Marlene and Marty Jr headed for the swing set.

Marty Sr then placed the portable radio on a picnic table, as he placed a Led Zeppelin CD inside. Black Dog began to play, as he headed over to the swing set. He saw that his children were both smiling. He gave Marlene a push, as she squealed. He then did the same with Marty Jr. The children certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves.

"All right, Marly!" called out Marty Sr. "I'm about to give you an underdog." He smiled, as he ran under his daughter - while giving her a huge push. "All right, Junior, it's now your turn." Marty Sr did the same with his son - who shrieked, with great excitement.

"This is fun, Daddy!" exclaimed Marty Jr. Marty Sr simply smiled, as he thought of how much his son was like him. At times, he sure found himself wishing that he could return to his own childhood. "Thanks for taking us out. I could swing like this, all day long!"

"Oh, I'm not so sure about that, sport," Marty Sr replied, chuckling. "I think you might really feel a little sick, after awhile." Still, he could understand his son's enthusiasm. "I think I'll go on the swing, myself - for a little while." He hopped onto the empty swing, which was next to his son. "Ah, this feels so relaxing. I see why you kids enjoy this."

"I enjoy the feel of the wind," Marlene commented, cheerfully. "I still have that edition of Rolling Stone magazine - where we're on the cover, with you and Mommy. I sure do hope to become famous, too - when I grow up. I think I'd like to become an actress."

"Well, honey, try not to think about growing up," Marty Sr suggested, softly. "Believe me! You should cherish your youth, while you still have it. I understand that you think adulthood is really all about freedom. However, it also entails a lot of responsibilities."

And political concerns, Marty Sr added, to himself. He really longed for the days, in fact, when he didn't even quite know what the difference between a Democrat and a Republican was. Political intolerance sure was one of his biggest pet peeves, as well as the War in Iraq. He preferred to not even think about politics, if he could help it.

"Are you okay, Daddy?" Marlene asked, softly. Marty Sr just swallowed, as he turned to his daughter. "You seem a little... Well, Daddy, it seems as if you're very disturbed about something. Are you feeling real upset about not being able to tour, anymore?"

"Not at all, honey," Marty Sr replied, smiling at his daughter. "It's nothing like that. In fact, I quite thrilled to be able to spend more time with you and your brother, in fact. It's just... Well, it's just some adult concerns. It's nothing you need to worry about."

"I don't really like to see you be so sad, Daddy," commented Marlene, as she stepped off the swing. Marty Sr smiled, as he realized how sweet his daughter really was. She did have his face, but she also had her mother's hair and eyes. Marlene just began to stroke her father's arm, as she added, "I love you, Daddy. I want you to be happy."

"Oh, sweetheart, I'm not sad," protested Marty Sr, as he lifted up the little girl. "I just feel a little... Well, I suppose I should just enjoy the day. Sometimes, though, I wish I can... Well, to be honest, I sometimes wish that I could go back to being a little boy."

"No way, Daddy!" gasped Marlene, as she burst out laughing. "I mean, I can't imagine why you'd want to go back to being a kid. After all, you do have a car - and you really don't have anyone telling you what to do. Also, you can stay up as late as you like."

"I guess I can't quite argue with that," Marty Sr replied, softly. As he thought back to his childhood, he simply did remember feeling the same way. "On the other hand, you don't exactly have the burden of paying bills. In addition, I don't have quite the same stamina a... Well, I'm not exactly a morning person... not like you and Junior are."

He thought of how his children woke him up, earlier that morning - and it was barely a little after the crack of dawn. What seemed to be rather ironic about the whole thing, was thinking of how the reverse might be true - after the children reach teenhood.

"How come, Daddy?" asked Marty Jr, as he hopped off the swing. He stepped into the sandbox, as Marlene joined him. "I just wish Mommy would let us stay up, a little later. I simply don't understand why Mommy makes us go to bed at 8:30, on school nights."

"It's so that you do good in school," Marty Sr replied, gently. "Or else, you'd simply be crabby - and it'd..." Just then, the cellphone rang. "Don't go anywhere, kids. I have a phone call to take." Marlene and Marty Jr nodded, as he headed to the slide. He quite wondered who could be calling. "Hello," Marty replied, nervously. "It's Marty McFly."

"Hi, Marty," replied a familiar young girl's voice. "This is Emerald Green. I quite wanted to give you a little call. I can't stay on the phone, for very long - but I quite wondered how you were doing? School isn't too bad, but I certainly do miss being on the road."

"I'm doing rather great, Emerald," Marty Sr replied, cheerfully. "I'm spending time with the kids. They're both happy that I'm back, and they said that they've missed me. We are at the park, right now. For lunch, I promised that I'd take them to McDonald's."

"That sounds awesome, Marty," gushed Emerald. "I'm sure that you're a great father. I suppose I should let you get back to spending time with the kids. Well, you take care of yourself. I'm already starting to miss you, but it's very... Well, I've rather managed to make plenty of friends - so school is rather nice. At any rate, you have a nice day."

"You, too, Emerald," Marty Sr replied, cheerfully. "It was real nice of you to call - and, perhaps... Well, one day, we might simply get back together. Anyway, good bye." As he hung up, he smiled. He realized how much he would miss the energetic young girl.

He smiled, as he just headed to the sandbox. The children seemed to be happy. What seemed to be so ironic, was thinking of how he met older versions of his children. Time travel tended to make things so complex. Still, he realized what a lucky man he was.

He pondered over what his scientist friend, Dr. Emmett Brown, often said. Your future is whatever you make it. He really didn't even want to think about how his life could've turned out. The important thing was, he had two precious young children. He sure felt appreciated. He smiled at his children, as he realized that he made the right decision.