Disclaimer: I don't own charmed

Chapter 4: Life Isn't a Walk in the Park

"Anybody home?" Piper called once they were back at the house.

"Piper?" Michelle asked coming down the stairs. "Wyatt and I were just about to go to the park. How'd the vanquish go?"

"He got away. I wanted to come back and make sure he didn't attack again. Listen, I don't have to be at the club until four, and it's eleven now. Why don't you take a little time off, and I'll watch Wyatt. Chris, why don't you show Michelle around the city?" Piper said, turning to her whitelighter.

"But the demon-" he started.

"Paige and Phoebe are at work, so we can't vanquish him anyway. If he shows up, I'll call you," Piper said with finality, and exited the room carrying Wyatt.

"So," said Michelle. "Listen, I understand if you want to keep working on this demon thing." She started.

"No. How about we hit Golden Gate Park?" Chris asked holding out his hand.

"Sounds good to me."

It was a beautiful day to go to the park. The sun was out, and there were only a few clouds in the vibrant blue sky. The birds were singing, and the grass was the most brilliant green. Chris couldn't help but think that this was everything his future was not.

"What's wrong?" Michelle asked, slightly worried at Chris' sudden change in demeanor.

"I was just thinking about the future," Chris started as he sat down in the grass. "It's so different from this."

"It must be pretty bad for you to risk everything and come back here like this. You're very brave," Michelle said laying down next to Chris and looking into his eyes. Again, Chris was struck with the feeling that he knew her from somewhere, but pushed it away.

"I wouldn't say brave. What about you. Why'd you move to San Francisco?"

"I just needed a change. I come from a huge family, and I just needed to be free of them for a while. Don't get me wrong, I love them, but you know a bird's gotta learn to fly sometime," she laughed. "What?" Michelle said when Chris suddenly turned to look at her.

"It's just, well, you remind me so much of someone. I had this friend in the future, her name was Alexandria, but I called her Andy. I don't know what it is. You don't look like her, or act like her. It's just that sometimes I get the feeling that I know you. It's ridiculous though, she's been dead for years," Chris said, no longer talking to Michelle, but to himself.

"I'm sorry," was all Michelle could say. "It must be hard to loose someone."

"Yeah, sorry I'm kind of being a downer here. Why don't we get something to eat?" Chris said trying to change the pace.

"Way ahead of you. Because hungry are us two, I know just what I have to do. Lay before us a great buffet, to eat here on this gorgeous day." Michelle recited. Once she was done a checkered blanket appeared filled with all the goodies anyone could want. "Don't worry," she said off Chris' frown, "I checked that no one was around. Just dig in."

"Ok, but I think this may constitute as personal gain," Chris said as he dug into the feast.

An hour later the two had finished their meal and were laying on their backs staring at the clouds. "That one looks like a monkey," said Michelle. "See? He's going after that banana," she pointed.

"Yeah, I see it," Chris said turning towards Michelle. "Listen, everything I've told you today, do you think that could stay between us?" Chris still couldn't believe how much he'd told her about the future. They'd talked about Wyatt turning evil, and Bianca's death. He'd nearly told her he was Piper and Leo's son, but stopped himself in time.

"Sure. What?" Michelle asked when Chris suddenly straightened.

"Piper is calling. We've got to get back," Chris said and hurriedly grabbed Michelle to orb back to the manor.

"Hand over the baby," Groglak ordered. "We have your sisters. You can't win."

"I don't think so," Piper cried defiantly. "Wyatt, danger," she called, putting him down on the couch, and standing in front of him. Wyatt's shield went up and surrounded the baby. Around the room, there were about six other lower level demons. Four of them held Paige and Phoebe.

"Piper what's going on?" Chris asked once he had orbed into the room. "Duck!" he yelled as a fireball zoomed towards Michelle. "I need to get you out of here," he said to Michelle.

"Don't bother Chris I can take care of myself," she said stepping towards the demon. Suddenly, a great wind engulfed the living room. As the demons fought to stay upright against the wind, Michelle began to change. Then, a bright ring of light formed around her ankles, and started to move upwards. As the ring moved up, her white sandals turned into knee-high leather boots. Then her adorable yellow sundress transformed into a black leather jumpsuit. The most amazing change, however, was once the ring moved over her head. Her round freckled face became thin, oval, and tan. Her short, curly, blond hair became long, brown, and straight. All of this took only moments, and then the wind cleared leaving only the new Michelle.

"Wha-" was all Groglak had time to say. Then the ground began to shake and fire blasted from Michelle's arms and chest engulfing the demons in flame. Though the encounter lasted only minutes, it seemed like hours to the girls and Chris who stood watching in awe at the amazing display of power. Once the wind and fire died down, nothing was said for several minutes.

"Andy? But what are you doing here, you're, you're dead?" Chris asked bewildered.

"Chris what are you talking about. She's Wyatt's babysitter, Michelle," Piper said, slightly off guard from the change in Michelle's appearance.

"Hold on. You know her? Oh my gosh, she's from the future, aren't you?" Paige asked turning who she thought was Michelle.

"I am. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you earlier. I can't tell you why I'm here, but I will assure you that it is to help save Wyatt. My name is actually Alexandria, or Andrea. And what do you mean I died?" she asked turning to Chris.

"I, uh, we shouldn't talk about this here," Chris warned. "Let's go," he said extending his hand toward Andrea. She reluctantly took it, and they orbed out.

"What just happened here?" Phoebe asked.

"I think we just got the brush off. So Michelle is Andrea from the future, dead, and knows Chris. This is way too complicated," Paige said.

"Great, now we have to evasive future people to deal with," Piper complained. "I wonder what they're hiding."

Because the sisters were engrossed in trying to decipher who Andrea was, they didn't notice the long black snake slither out from behind the couch and into the foyer. "They want to know their whitelighter's secrets, well, that can be arranged." Then Groglak laughed evilly and shimmered out.

"I can't believe it's you," Chris said once they had materialized at P3. "So why are you here, and why didn't you tell me it was you? I could have helped."

"First things first, what do you mean I was dead?"

"Well, you were killed by a demon about a month before I came back. It was the hive demons, but I guess when the girls vanquished them, you were ok. I had hoped it would have fixed things, but I didn't think it really would."

"You had the girls vanquish the demons that killed me?" Andrea asked. "Why Chris, I didn't know you cared," she teased.

"Yeah yeah, I've answered your question now answer mine."

"Well, you've been gone for months, and I was worried about you. I just wanted to make sure that you were doing alright. I needed to know you were safe," she said slightly evasively.

"You're not telling me the whole truth. I know it. What aren't you telling me?"

"Chris, a lot has changed since you left, and there's something I need to tell you," Andrea said as she laid a calming hand on Chris' arm.

"Wait a second. This is Piper's wedding ring. Why are you wearing it?" Chris asked as he grabbed Andrea's hand.

"Well, that's what I need to tell you," she started, gently extracting her hand from Chris, and rising from the couch where they were sitting. "I suppose since I was dead in your version of the future things were different. Well, Chris I don't know how to say this," she said as she looked into his eyes. "I married Wyatt."

"What!" Chris exclaimed in shock. "How could you? He's evil. He killed your entire family. Why?"

"Listen Chris, I know this is a lot to take. You have to believe that I had my reasons for what I did. I can't explain it, but can't we just have a few moments without talking about the future. I've missed you, and there's so much to tell you. Please, just one night of being like it was," Andrea begged, her eyes full of pleading. She sat back down on the couch next to Chris.

"Ok, but tomorrow morning, I want all the details," Chris said, snuggling down next to her. "You remember the last time we were on this couch?" Chris asked with a grin.

"Yeah, that's the night I got my first kiss, among other things. Everything used to be so simple. What happened?" Andy asked.

"My mom was killed, and my brother turned evil," Chris said. "It really is weird to be back here. Everything seems so perfect, and unspoiled. I just wish I could stay here forever."

"I know," was all Andy said. After a few moments the pair drifted off to sleep.