December 31, 1885
11:45 PM PST

Emmett Lloyd Brown smiled, as he realized that the moment was almost there. In fact, it not only would be the beginning of a new year - but it would also quite mark the one year anniversary of when the blacksmith accidentally landed in the Old West. The fact that he had a special someone to celebrate it with made the event even more special.

The New Year's Festival was held in the same location as the festival that marked the beginning of the legendary clock tower. He smiled - as he quite glanced over the now fully-constructed courthouse, which was complete with the adjoining clock tower.

At last, the courthouse was finally looking just like the one that he had always known and loved. He turned to Clara Clayton Brown, his beloved wife - who really appeared to be every bit as excited about the occasion. Indeed, this was a wonderful time.

"This is very lovely, Emmett," Clara commented, in a near whisper. "After all, so many unexpected things have sure happened... throughout the last year. I mean, I have a husband - and we even have a baby on the way. Golly, I'm very happy that I offered to take up the teaching job. I cannot believe that I almost... that I almost left you."

"Well, Clara, that's all in the past," Emmett replied, softly. "We only had one other big fight, and that was almost three months ago. None of us are perfect, and... Well, I'm just happy that things worked out as they did. Even though, about the baby, I do..."

"You did predict that the... the you-know-what... would take you five years to build," pointed out Clara. "I'm not all that worried about that, and... Oh, howdy!" As Emmett glanced up, he saw Seamus and Maggie McFly. "You looking forward to next year?"

"This I certainly am," Seamus replied, smiling. Bouncing baby William, he added, "I just think this is so amazing. We'll be able to greet the new year with Little Willie, and... At last, this will be our first full year of having a son. It can really be astounding, thinking of how big our Willie is getting and... Before we know it, he'll be talking his head off."

With that, the quartet all laughed. Emmett realized that, at the next New Year's Festival, he and Clara would be going through the exact same thing. He really looked forward to becoming a father, and he planned to become the best father possible.

"This is really a special moment for us, as well," Clara replied, smiling. "So many things have happened to us, and... Well, for starters, we did survive that whole ordeal with Mad Dog Tannen, and... It seems like just yesterday, that I still lived in New Jersey."

"It was a big year for the whole town of Hill Valley, in fact," commented Seamus. "The courthouse is now complete, and we even have our own clock tower. I rather wonder what Hill Valley will be like, in about a century from now." His expression became quite sad, as he added, "It's a shame about poor Clint Eastwood, though. I quite miss him."

"I do, too," Emmett replied, a little nervously. In actuality, "Clint Eastwood" was really the assumed identity of Martin Seamus McFly - Emmett's teenage friend from the year 1985. Seamus and Maggie were Marty's descendants. "It is a shame that he's gone."

"He was a fine young fellow," Seamus replied, as he looked like he wanted to cry. "I'm entirely in favour of renaming the ravine after her. I reckon he really does deserve to be recognized for his heroic deeds. Well, I gather you would rather be alone - right?"

"Right, if you sure don't mind," replied Emmett, nervously. Seamus nodded, as he and Maggie walked off. Turning to Clara, he added, "I simply appreciate their company, of course - but I... Well, I really wished to spend the last few minutes of 1885 with you - and... Well, we can't discuss time travel related stuff around them - as it might be..."

"I understand, Emmett," Clara replied, softly. "So, uh, you said that you have some... very mixed feelings... about the ravine being named after your friend? You expressed concern about the event might... might quite affect the whole space-time continuum."

"That is correct," replied Emmett, softly. "In the future, we do also have an actor who goes by that name - but I do believe it's his real name. In fact, that's where Marty got the alias from. He acts in westerns, which are movies are set in... in this current era."

"Oh, I see," muttered Clara. "Now, you mentioned that movies are... are, essentially, moving pictures?" Emmett nodded, as he began to feel a little nostalgia. "It does quite seems as if... as if the future is very different. How does this event quite feel to you? I mean, 1886 isn't exactly exactly going to be a new year for you - seeing as you..."

"Well, this will quite be my first time of visiting the year," explained Emmett. "Besides, this will mark the anniversary of... I really can remember how Marty's ancestors were the first people that I... that I ran into. I was amazed by how much Seamus really..."

"There seems to be a slight resemblance," agreed Clara. "So, in other words, I guess the event sure will mark the fact that you lived in the era for... for exactly one year. So, for you, I guess it would be... The event will be meaningful for you, but in a..."

"... in a different way," replied Emmett, nodding. "Indeed, it will. While I sure continue to miss Marty, it's also nice to have you in my life. On one hand, I truly feel so pleased that the ravine will be renamed after him. However, I sure do also feel concerned with how the... I really wonder what Marty will think, when he finds out that the ravine..."

"I suppose that would be confusing," agreed Clara. "Although, didn't you say that the memories update - as changes are made to the timeline? If that's the case, I believe it would still seem surreal - thinking that he's the Clint Eastwood that the ravine was..."

"He would have his new memories," explained Emmett, "along with his old memories. It would take some adjusting, but I do not foresee that much else would change. It does take 24 hours for the ripple effect to bring him his new memories, so it would be a..."

"What about this... this actor?" Clara asked, nervously. "What do you think he would say, if he found out about the... the ravine. I can imagine that it might make him feel a bit... Do you think it might affect his... career? I mean, if the powers that be found out that... I don't wish to alarm you, Emmett - but I do want us to be cautious of..."

"I don't believe the first name will be that well-known," Emmett replied. "Before I went back in time, I simply did not even know the gender of the teacher who fell into the ravine. Besides, Hill Valley is barely a blip on the map - as our town is not..."

"Well, if you put it that way," Clara commented, sighing. "Goodness! I still have a hard time with thinking of how, originally, I was the one who fell into the ravine. I simply will admit that I feel a little disappointed that... that not too much else was remembered."

"I guess I can understand that," Emmett replied, nervously. "Let not think about that, right now. The big moment is almost here, and I just... I guess, technically, this would be my second New Year's Day in this era. I really was not able to fully appreciate the first one, though. I arrived at precisely midnight, and I was so tired out of my..."

"Do you ever miss the future?" asked Clara, softly. "Do you ever get quite... nostalgic about the future?" With a sudden laugh, she added, "That sounded very funny, didn't it? It's not usual for someone to get nostalgic about... what has not happened, yet."

"It does sound just a little funny," Emmett agreed, smiling. "That is the big thing about time travel, though. You begin to see things in a new perspective - and you can, quite comfortably, make statements... that would not make sense to an average person."

"I have yet to travel through time," Clara replied, nodding, "and even I am starting to become at ease with making such statement. I am looking forward to the day, though - when I can see the future. While I feel more than a little apprehensive, I also... I've always been interested in exploring faraway places, so this will also be an event... "

"Ladies and gentlemen!" announced Mayor Hubert, excitedly."As mayor of Hill Valley, it gives me great pleasure to ring in the brand new year - and it will begin our first full year of our beloved town's clock tower. May the countdown proceed, gentlemen!"

The drum roll began sound to sound, as the attendees began the countdown. "Five!" Emmett smiled at his wife, as they joined in the countdown. "Four!" He sure began to feel a real rush of anticipation - as the moment was close, now. "Three!" Indeed, this was a great feeling. "Two!" He leaned over his wife, as he knew what to do. "One!"

As fireworks were released into the sky, Emmett simply leaned over to kiss Clara. The Hill Valley Festival Band began to play Battle Cry Of Freedom. Indeed, this simply was the perfect way to celebrate his precise one year anniversary of landing in the era.

"Happy New Year, Emmett!" Clara replied, smiling. "Or, should I actually say... Happy New Old Year?" Clara and Emmett burst out laughing, as she continued. "I'm real excited to be celebrating the new year with you. Have you made any resolutions?"

"I hadn't thought much about it, to be honest," replied Emmett. "Well, I hope for us to not get into any more major fights. We only had two, so far - and I do expect that we will have our share of disagreements. I quite hope to be a good father, and I'll also be working hard on the time machine. I do not expect to finish within the year, but it..."

Emmett began to kiss his wife some more, as the band began to play Doubleback. For the current era, it was such an upbeat song - and it sure was a song that even Marty McFly was able to appreciate. Indeed, he really started to feel optimistic making 1886 a good year. He smiled, as he began to realize how much he certainly had to live for.