December 25, 1885
3:30 PM PST

Emmett Lloyd Brown smiled - as he really glanced at his beautiful wife, Clara Catherine Brown. Even though it's been a little over three weeks, he still didn't quite feel used to the idea of being married. On top of everything, she was also pregnant - which he still had mixed feelings about. All in all, though - he certainly felt quite happy with his life.

He glanced at the Christmas tree that was sitting in the corner of the parlour, and he thought of how beautiful it was. This was his first time of celebrating Christmas in the Old West, and he had invited Seamus and Maggie to come over. He felt so excited.

Granted, this would also be his first time of celebrating Christmas without Marty. That did quite place a little damper on his happiness. Granted, he and Clara just came back from the world of Narnia - where he ended up meeting three versions of Marty.

However, two of the Martys simply had to return to 1985 in their respective universes - while the third Marty was native to Narnia. He suspected that one of the two Martys who returned to 1985 was even the Marty of this world. Still, the simple fact that Marty was not in 1885 to celebrate Christmas with him made him feel quite depressed.

"This is quite exciting, Emmett!" gasped Clara. She then noticed the sad expression on Emmett's face, as she added, "Oh, you must be thinking of Marty. Well, it's not like we didn't get to spend Christmas with him. We did just come back from Narnia, after all."

"Yes, I know," Emmett replied, sighing. "I'm rather certain that the Marty with the two little boys was even from our world." After a brief pause, he added, "I do wonder just who those boys were, anyway. Somehow, I felt as if I was... connected... to them."

"I know what you mean, Emmett," Clara replied, softly. "I felt the same way. I really wonder what would happen, if we stayed in Narnia a little longer - and then our child was born. It would be so... Well, it's sure a nice feeling - knowing that this will be my first Christmas as a married woman. Next year, we'll even have a child to join us."

"Oh, yes, speaking of which," gasped Emmett, "I've been meaning to ask you. Where do you stand the whole... Santa Claus myth? Do you believe that we should rather... act as if Santa is actually real? Or do you think it's better just to treat Santa as if..."

"Definitely make him real for our kids," Clara replied, with a wide smile. "It's sure been a long-standing tradition in our family, and... Well, childhood is supposed to a magical time - and I... Personally, I don't see any real harm in it - and it makes the season..."

"I suppose we can do it that way, then," Emmett replied, softly, "even if it does seem to go against scientific rationale. When I was a small child, I do recall how some of my classmates were a bit stubborn in believing that Santa was real - even if their parents themselves were against the myth. So, as such, some children are very resilient in..."

"I never really even thought about that," Clara replied, softly. "As a child, I was very imaginative - so, if somebody told me that Santa Clara wasn't real, I really think I just wouldn't've believed that person. I can't recall when exactly I stopped believing."

"For me, I was nine years old," Emmett replied, softly. "Man, I simply will never forget that Christmas. It sure was a grim time for so many people. There was a stock market crash, which had forced so many people into poverty. It was such a dreadful time."

"I think you told me about that," replied Clara. "I imagine how hard it must've been for you. I guess you actually figured Santa Claus would simply be particularly generous to those unfortunate children, is that quite right?" As Emmett nodded, she added, "What did your parents say? I mean, did you ever actually... say anything to them about it?"

"Indeed, I have," Emmett replied, as he felt a little sad. "My mother just decided to be upfront with me - so, straightforwardly, she told me that Santa Claus wasn't real. This crushed me, of course - and I felt so angry with the adults in my life, for lying to me."

"I had never thought of that side of the issue," admitted Clara. "My parents had never told me, straight out, that Santa Claus didn't exist. As I can remember it, I just went from believing in him as a real person - to him as... an embodiment of youth."

"I reckon that is very common," replied Emmett, softly, "even as of 1985. At any rate, my mother suggested 'playing Santa Claus' for these unfortunate people - which really seemed like a great idea. Nonetheless, I really still felt disappointed about Santa Claus not being real. I even swore not to tell my future children about Santa Claus - as it..."

"You seem to be reconsidering, though," Clara pointed out, gently. "Well, it's great to know that your mother has encouraged you to be generous. In this case, I rather am thrilled with the prospect of moving to the future - however much it... scares me."

"Indeed, I sure have been torn on the whole idea," explained Emmett. "Marty used to believe in Santa Claus, when he was younger. I rather can recall how happy he would get, around that time of year. I think Marty was almost eleven, when he stopped..."

"My heart quite goes out to the Peabody children," Clara commented, sighing. "I really can't believe how stodgy and unimaginative Harriet is. She is quite so dead set against her children believing in Santa Claus - or, indeed, being imaginative. I have a very bad feeling that the Peabody children are going to be in for a rough life, seeing as how..."

"Her husband, at least, seems to not be so uptight," pointed out Emmett. "Even after my devastating experience, I agree that it might not be that bad to have our children believing in Santa Claus. I mean, when I simply recall how happy Marty used to be..."

Before Emmett could really continue, there was a knock at the door. He smiled, as he and his wife headed towards the door. He saw Seamus and Maggie standing outside, with baby William in their arms. Indeed, the baby seemed to be quite getting bigger.

"Howdy!" greeted Emmett, as he smiled at the guests. "Why don't the two of you just step inside? We do have a kettle of hot cocoa boiling, and... Well, it simply is nice that you two could make it over. It's been almost a year, now - and I am... Well, I've quite come to see you as... as family. Especially in my case, since all of my relatives are..."

"Mags and I have come to feel the same about you," Seamus replied, nodding. "I think you rather have the place decorated, so nicely." As he glanced at the tree, he added, "I see you even put coloured lights on the tree. I've simply never seen that, before."

"Well, when heard about Edward H Johnson," Emmett explained, softly, "we decided that we'd do the very same. I do have a feeling that, one day, it will... catch on. It's certainly much safer than using candles, which we decided was not a risk that we..."

"I really think it looks beautiful!" gushed Maggie. "Well, thank you for inviting us. Well, Mrs. McFly, with you having a baby on the way... Well, I was hoping that our children would grow to become close. Willie is over half a year old, now - and... I sure do think you'll make a great teacher for our son. At any rate, I could go for some hot cocoa."

"Here you go," announced Clara, as she carrying two mugs of hot cocoa. As Seamus and Maggie accepted the mugs, she added, "Emmett and I were rather talking about if we'd... if we'd tell our children about Santa Claus? What is your attitude on the..."

"Seamus and I have also been discussing that," replied Maggie, nodding. "Since Willie cannot talk, yet - it's not quite an issue, this year. Well, me own parents have rather despised the Santa myth - viewing it as a great corruption of the great St. Nicholas."

"Me parents, on the other hand, were more laid back," added Seamus, "even though our family also happened to be very strong Catholics. I mean, they saw no real harm in letting us children have the... I do have many real fond memories of me childhood, and I... I figured that it would be nice to pass the tradition onto our own children."

"At first, I was quite uncertain of what to think," Maggie added, softly. "I couldn't help but think of what me parents... Then again, me parents sure seemed to disapprove of everything that I did. So, that being the case, Seamus had managed to convince me."

"That's great to hear," Clara replied, smiling. "It does sound like your parents were so hard on you, and... I was rather lucky to have parents that were more open-minded, and I... At this time, next year, we'll have a baby of our own to... to join your son."

"Oh, that would be very splendid," agreed Maggie, as she and her husband sat on the chesterfield. "At any rate, I am simply happy that we were able to make it - and, after thinking long and hard about it, I see no great reason not to do the... the Santa Claus myth. Sometimes, I feel as if I've been... robbed of my children. I wish not to put..."

"... our children through the same," finished Seamus, smiling. "This is a glorious time of year, and it makes me feel as if... Do you reckon Christmas will be every bit as magical - in about, say, a century from world? I reckon that a lot would end up changing in..."

Emmett pursed his lips together, as he quite began to mull over Seamus' query. In the future, Christmas was considerably more commercialized - and there did quite seem to be a little more cynicism. Nonetheless, many people still did seem to enjoy Christmas.

"I am certain that there will be some considerable differences," Emmett replied, softly. "However, I do not foresee that Christmas will be going anywhere. There really will be different ways of celebrating it, most likely - but it just... It does not necessarily mean that it will be a bad thing. Indeed, I think Christmas will stay with us for a long time."