Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or concepts from BTVS and ANGEL, they belong to Joss Whedon e.a., I don't own CHARMED either,  I'm just borrowing them for this non-commercial fanfic, so no need to sue anyone.

Timeline: This story takes place after Season 2 CHARMED and  Season 1- ANGEL-Episode "Hero", but there is also one reference to BTVS Season 4 episode "The Harsh Light of Day"

Spoilers: see Timeline

Synopsis: Cordy's cousin is getting married, and Cordy asks Angel to accompany her to the wedding. He meets Prue Halliwell, who seems to be fascinated by him until she learns he is a vampire. Her sister Phoebe has a vision about a vampire who is after the Power of Three. Prue realizes too late that Angel is not their enemy, and the only one to stop the vampire now is the Scourge of Europe himself...

Protagonists: Prue, Angel, Angelus

Rating: PG

Author's comments: Please excuse my mistakes, I am not a native speaker of English.
I've wanted to write a crossover for quite some time, since Phoebe's remark at a cemetary "Why is Buffy never there when she's needed?".
I chose Prue and Angel as protagonists because I think their characters have much in common, both of them are artists, both had a major conflict with their fathers, and both tend to be very serious, believing they have to take on the world's problems.
I  know this may be not exactly a perfect story for Buffy/Angel shippers, but I'm asking you to read until the end before you make a judgement.
 
 
 
 

"Angel, please, do me the favour!" Cordy was beginning to get on his nerves.

"No, Cordy, stop looking at me like this."

"You just have to say one word – YES, and I'll get back to my work right now! You're going to like it!"

Angel sighed. "I don't like weddings, and, besides, you wouldn't expect me to go to church, and the ceremony is at ten in the morning. Vampire, remember?"

"You needn't go to the church, just to the party, you could make an excuse for the ceremony. And, besides..." She stopped abruptly.

"What?" Angel asked, prepared for the worst.

Cordy smiled innocently. "... and besides I told Ann Marie you were coming."

"You did WHAT?"

"Please, understand, she's my cousin, she's obscenely rich, and since Daddy lost his money, she's been looking down on me – my career prospects as an actress haven't been too bright so far, and she knows! So I had to tell her about my boyfriend, a successful private investigator, a hero, good-looking – I couldn't possibly show up with Wesley, could I?"

Angel sighed again, deeply. "Just because we're friends, Cordy, and just this once!"

The door swung open, Wesley entered. "What were you two talking about?"

Cordy made desperate signs telling Angel to keep silent.

With a sidelook to Cordy, Angel explained: "Cordy was just telling me about her cousin's wedding, in San Francisco. She's just invited me to accompany her."

Wesley gave Cordy a bright smile. "Great! When are we going?"

"Cordelia, darling, so good to see you!" Ann Marie embraced Cordy and kissed her on the cheek. "Hope you had a good trip."

"Thanks, Ann, it was okay, apart from the driver." She shot a poisonous look at Wesley. "My colleague, Wesley. But we're here at last!" Cordy took a deep breath. "May I introduce you to Angel?" The trip had already paid for Cordy when she noticed the admiring look Ann Marie gave Angel.

Angel smiled at her. "A pleasure to meet you."

For a moment, Ann Marie was enchanted, then she became again the perfect hostess she was expected to be. "Come in, Toussaint will take care of your baggage. We've prepared a room for Wesley, and a double room for you and Angel. Take your time to refresh a little, we're having an informal dinner tonight, with some close friends only."

Later in the evening, Angel found himself in Ann Marie's spacious house, together with about two hundred of her closest friends.

He did not find many of them worth knowing, except maybe Ann Marie's fiance Henry, who seemed quiet, but determined, rich, but modest, clever, but not overly intellectual, in short, someone who might be a friend among all these strangers.

Angel tried to spot him, he was probably the only one here who would not make a conversation completely annoying.

Henry was standing near the buffet, talking and laughing with three young ladies, probably in their twenties.

Angel stood there, watching them for a couple of minutes. Henry seemed especially familiar with one of them, dark-haired, rather small and fragile like a doll. Though her movements were calm, her eyes were watchful, keeping an eye on everyone and everything, as if nothing escaped her. She might be an artist, a painter maybe.

"Nice girl," Angel heard Ann Marie suddenly behind him. "Her name's Prue Halliwell, she's my Maid of Honor. Henry went to college with her. The others are her sisters, Piper and Phoebe."

Angel nodded. "Is she a painter?" he asked curiously.

"No, why do you ask? She studied archaeology, if I remember that correctly. Worked for a big auctioneer here at Frisco. It's a shame she gave that up. She's got a job for some magazine, I think."

I would have sworn she was an artist, Angel thought with regret, then he prepared to support Ann Marie's plain chattering.

"Who's that over there, talking to Ann Marie?" Prue asked.

"That?" Henry looked around, then saw Angel. "Oh, that's Angel, I only just met him today. You remember Ann Marie's cousin Cordy? He's her boyfriend."

"Oh. I see." Though Prue sounded a bit disappointed, she kept watching. There was something strange about Angel, something that called on all her witch senses. Even when he smiled, there was a dark air about him, an almost frightening melancholy. Prue saw him with a camera's eye, and as there hadn't been too many people at the party she considered worth being photographed from an artist's point of view, she decided to take a photo of him. She thought about the great effects she would get out of this picture in black and white, how solarisation would give his face perfection, when she was hit in the back.

"Attention!" Piper saw a man - who had stumbled over his own feet and was about to spill his drink on Prue's new dress. Instinctively, she freezed time.

Everybody freezed, except the three sisters.

"Thanks," Prue said, moving out of his reach. "Hold it just a moment, Piper, I have to take a photo!"

"For Ann Marie's album?" Phoebe asked.

"No, for occupational purposes." Prue took her camera and photographed Angel from several perspectives.

Phoebe followed her direction. "Occupational purposes," she said meaningfully, then sighed, "Do you think he goes in for psychology?"

As they took their positions, Piper let time go on.

"Sorry!" Wesley exclaimed, "I had almost spilled my drink on your dress, I'm incredibly sorry, are you alright?"

Angel was standing in the hall, away from the noise of the party and its superficial guests. He was looking at a large painting which did not seem to fit the style of the furniture and the other decorations. While admiring the use of colors and lighting, a female voice brought him back into the real world.

"Thought I was the only one to prefer Monet's company to people's."

He looked around, seeing Prue Halliwell standing there. She smiled. "Every time I visit Henry and Ann Marie, I find myself standing here for minutes. I think I love this picture more than they do."

"You shouldn't," Angel said, "It's not his best one. Looks like a bad copy of Courbet. Claude could do better than this."

Surprised, Prue stepped nearer. "How can you say this? It is just a different style from his later work. Why do you even think that way of him?"

"Monet would never have become independent if I hadn't introduced him... I mean, if he hadn't been introduced to Manet. He would have drawn cartoons for all his life."

"Who are you, an art critic? You have no idea about art!"

Angel could have told her about his long discussions with Claude when he was in France about a hundred years ago, but of course this was impossible. So he just smiled and said: "But you do, I suppose."

"I've worked for Buckland's for almost all of my professional life, I studied at college, I know everything about Monet!"

Angel had a sharp reply at hand, yet he decided against it. "May I ask what you studied?"

"That doesn't matter," Prue avoided the question, "I'm an expert, my opinion is founded on knowledge."

"Don't you think art is a matter of taste, more than knowledge?"

"That's what people say who don't have any cultural education."

Angel's face was unreadable. "Try me. Ask me a question on art."

Prue smiled viciously. "Don't say I you haven't been warned. A painter whose favorite motive was the interior of a flower."

"Georgia O'Keeffe."

Prue was astonished. "I bet you don't know..."

"... that she was a precisionist?" And that she painted best when she had sex before? But I guess I can't tell her that one.

"I didn't expect a professor of arts here – who ARE you?" Prue asked, clearly impressed.

"I'm not, it's just a hobby. I'm a friend of Ann Marie's cousin, Cordelia Chase. My name's Angel."

"Prue Halliwell."

As their hands touched, Prue felt a sudden chill. She looked at Angel as if something disturbed her. He waited for her to remark how cold his hands felt, yet Prue said nothing of that kind.
 
 

"Did you talk to him?" Phoebe asked with curiosity.

"Briefly," Prue replied, "He seems to know quite a lot about art."

"Sounds like you have a lot in common."

"Maybe." Prue went over to the bookshelf.

"Looking for something special?"

"No, just a few details on Georgia O'Keeffe."

"Georgia who?"

Prue smiled. "A painter. We got to talk about her."

"Did you really?"

Prue did not like the sound of this and looked away, yet not fast enough for Phoebe not to see that her sister's cheeks were burning. Phoebe enjoyed to see her elder sister blush once in her life, since she had always been the 'cool one' in the family. "Interested?"

"Yes... in ARTS."

"Of course." Phoebe smiled to herself. Since her ex-boyfriend Andy's death, Prue had been all too melancholic. A little cheering up might be exactly what she needed, photography had been the first step, maybe this stranger would be the second.

Prue skimmed the pages of the book. There were beautiful illustrations of the interior of flowers. For a moment, Prue felt tempted to go to her darkroom in the middle of the night and develop the photos she had taken, yet she forbid herself. Though the study of faces were always a challenge to her skills. There would be enough time the next day. No need to rush. After all, she was not interested. Was she?

"I'm sorry for their giving us just a double room," Cordy apologized as she came out of the bathroom, her wet hair wrapped in a towel.

"That's okay," Angel replied in an absent-minded tone. He sat in an armchair and was drawing something.

"What're you doing?" Cordy asked curiously, "Can I see that?"

Before Angel could protest, she had taken the paper. She

saw a coal sketch of a portrait. "That's pretty good," she said, impressed.

"I'm glad you appreciate it," Angel replied sarcastically.

"Prue Halliwell, Ann Marie's Maid of Honor, right? Do you know her?"

"No, I just saw her at the party. Thought she had a perfect face – from an artist's point of view."

"Of course," Cordy remarked. As she handed him back the drawing, the vision struck her with full force.

Angel jumped from the armchair to support her. He led Cordy to the bed very carefully. Cordy sat down and held her head.

Angel handed her a glass of water. "Are you okay?"

"I'll never get used to this! Again, thanks, Doyle!"

"What did you see?"

"A young woman, Prue's sister, I think. I'm not sure which of them. I could feel her fear, there was a demon, a vampire. She was dragged away by him, drained... and turned." She hesitated.

"Turned. That's strange indeed. Most victims are killed, vampires don't usually take the responsibility for another's unlife. What could be so interesting for a vampire to turn this girl? What else, Cordy?"

"That's it."

Angel could feel that was not everything. He knew how Cordy looked when she was hiding something. "What else?"

"I'm not sure," she said, "Maybe nothing, it was just a picture, very vague, and very briefly only. I thought I saw Angelus, but I'm sure it was not him. I'm sure I imagined this."

Angel did not answer. He sat down and continued his drawing as he saw Prue Halliwell in the mind's eye.

"Are you going to the wedding with Leo?" Phoebe asked inquiringly.

"I don't know," Piper responded and blushed.

"Maybe you catch the bouquet, wouldn't that be romantic?"

"You're talking nonsense, shouldn't you be upstairs studying?"

"That's what I'm doing, I'm studying the human mating rituals," Phoebe said and picked up on of the roses Piper was arranging in a vase.

"Give that back!" Piper tried to wind the rose out of Phoebe's grip. Their fingers touched. That instant, the vision struck Phoebe.

Prue was in the darkroom.

She had been working on the photos she had taken the night before. First she thought her camera had been affected by Piper's freezing time, as she could detect Angel nowhere in the pictures. Then she looked closer and recognized there were pictures with only stairs, furniture and background – she would never have taken those, and their order on the material were exactly fitting her recollection of the evening – Angel should be on them! She was staring at them in disbelief when she heard the noise from outside. The photos still in her hand, she ran into the kitchen.

Phoebe was sitting on the floor, still in a state of shock, her face speaking of terror.

"What happened?" Prue asked concerned.

"I had a vision," Phoebe replied, her shoulders still shaking. "It's Piper. She will be kidnapped by a demon, a vampire, I think. I saw how he drained her, and turned her into one of them, though I couldn't see his face. Prue, I fear for Piper's safety. So far, all my visions have become true."

"Less than improbable this time. We've had only little experience with vampires so far," Piper added.

"Looks like we get our chance." Prue handed her sisters the photos she was holding. "These are the pictures of last night's party."

"The ones you took of that good-looking guy when I freezed the time?"

"Exactly those. Yesterday I wondered about the dark shadow that seemed to hang over him, now I understand."

Phoebe stared at the photos. "There's nothing on them. Just guests, and stairs."

"Precisely. Here we have our demon. Vampires don't have any reflections in a mirror, so they can't be photographed."

"What do you suggest?" Piper asked, worried.

"You stay at home with Leo, as long as a vampire is not invited into our house, he can't enter, you're perfectly safe here. I'll call Henry and ask him, Ann Marie and their... friends to meet us at the P3 tonight. Phoebe, you will go upstairs and take a look at the Book of Shadows, if you can find anything about our enemy. Don't be afraid. We'll slay him in no time."

"At the P3 - The Power of Three," Angel said thoughtfully. "Yesterday I wondered about the watchfulness in Prue's eyes, and for a moment I felt as if time stood still, yet I didn't know why --- but when Henry told me of the name of their nightclub, I understood. That explains why any vampire would be interested in Prue, Piper or Phoebe Halliwell – if this well-known prophecy is true, and the Halliwell sisters are The Three, they possess the power to make time stand still, to see the future, and move things by telekinesis. They would make powerful allies for the dark side." A shadow ran over his face when he added, "Angelus would love to sire all three of them. He would be their lord and control them."

"But YOU are here, not Angelus, right?" Cordy sounded uneasy.

Angel did not answer. "We have to meet with them. I must warn them."

"Of what? Of Angelus? We don't even know if it was him I saw. And why should they believe you?"

"Prue will believe me."

"Be careful, Angel. I'm serious. If she suspects you're a vampire, she'll kill you,"

Prue felt sick as she listened. "And I talked to him about painters – no wonder he knew so much about them, he probably fed on Monet!"

"He is rather extravagant in the choice of his victims, with a sick sense of humor. Among his most famous children, there are William the Bloody, who is among the strongest vampires on earth, and Drusilla the Insane, who can see into the future. When he sired others, he chose only those with a special talent they could use for murder."

"That would be me," Piper said, "Imagine a vampire freezing time, releasing the victim the very moment he could sink his fangs into an innocent human being – they would be dead before they knew what happened." She shuddered at the thought.

"Don't worry, Piper, we will prevent this." With a grim smile, Prue added, "I'll be delighted to dust this would-be artist and send him to hell."

As Ann Marie and Henry entered the disco with Angel, Cordy and Wesley, they were greeted by two of the Halliwell sisters. Whereas Phoebe's outfit was less stylish, Prue wore a tight black neckholder top over a dark leather skirt. As Angel saw her, he thought the picture he had drawn did not really match the woman that was facing him now, no longer the conservative, serious businesswoman, rather a vixen whose actions could not be foreseen.

The music was playing too loud for any kind of verbal introduction. Ann Marie gestured from one to the other, then saw how futile her efforts were, and disappeared to the dancefloor with Henry.

It didn't take Cordy long to find a target at the bar. She knew she could not count on Angel to dance with her, nor did she want Ann Marie to see her with Wesley, so she made a sign of excuse and headed towards a good-looking guy talking to the bartender.

Phoebe and Prue exchanged a quick look, their eyes speaking louder than any words could possibly have done. Angel noticed their silent conversation with uneasiness, especially as Phoebe took Wesley's hand and, to his complete surprise, drew him to the dancefloor.

Prue began to move to the rhythm of the music. <I'll punish you for causing me to like you.>

Angel felt relieved that she made no efforts to persuade him to dance.

As he watched her, she became slowly surrounded by several young men, who seemed interested in her. Prue danced in front of them, almost touching them, but not quite. She moved in a teasing way and was very sexy. Yet her eyes were fixed on Angel.

He felt strongly remembered of the night he saw Buffy dancing with Xander at the Bronze, when he had felt like killing both of them for it. He always felt uncomfortable being among so many human beings, he smelled the heat of their bodies, their burning blood and sexual instincts as they moved to the rhythm, but Prue's behaviour added to the feeling and increased it.

No longer able to support the déjà vu, Angel decided to leave the P3 and get out of the noise and the crowd of people. The music was audible even here.

As a vampire, he was not in need of fresh air, yet he noticed it was considerably cooler outside, though it was a warm Californian summer night. He realized how long he had been without blood, it would soon be necessary for him to feed.

Piper sat at home, reading a book. It was somehow ridiculous: the others were in her club, and she was sitting here with a novel that could not have been more boring. She had to be outthere, going after the vampire. Though her reason told her it would be impossible for that Angelus to enter the house without an invitation, she did not feel safe in the least. She had not seen Leo for almost a week, he had told her he must protect a girl who was to become a Watcher of Light. Piper would have felt more secure and less bored had he been with her.

She decided to feed the cat, at least something to do. Piper realized she had not seen Kitty that day either.

"Out to get some fresh air?"

Angel recognized Prue's voice at once. She must have been dancing for a while, her hair hang loose down to her shoulders, and she was sweating.

"Yes," Angel said and tried to smile. He felt tense and knew he was in need of blood.

She walked up to him in a challenging way. "It's hot in there," she said and tried to do her hair with her hands. "I'm sweating. You see?" She bared her neck.

Against his will, Angel approached her. He was so close he could smell her skin and the pulsing of blood beneath it, the wild beating of her heart. Prue's breath was directly in his face as she whispered: "Dancing's heated me up. Feel my pulse."

Angel lifted his hand to touch her.

Prue turned her head quickly and unexpected. She shot a glance at him and threw him to the wall with all the power of her telekinesis.

"Nice try... ANGELUS."

Piper was worried. She had not been able to find Kitty anywhere in the house. It was totally untypical for the cat not to be home during her feeding time.

The sound of the doorbell.

Piper opened the door.

A man was standing outside, a desperate look on his face.

"Dan!" she said with surprise as she recognized her ex-boyfriend. Then she saw tears were running down his face.

"Piper... I'm sorry to disturb you... Piper, where's your cat?"

"I haven't seen her.... why?" Piper asked in an alarmed tone.

"I'm sorry... I didn't see the cat, it ran before my car, I... I...think it's dead."

"Oh my God!" Piper shrieked. She grabbed her cardigan and rushed out of the house. The car was in the middle of the road, and under it, the lifeless body of a small animal.

Piper bend over the cat, seeing with relief it was not Kitty.

The vampire had waited for this moment. He sank his fangs into her neck before she had a chance to freeze time.

"I can explain that," Angel said as he gathered his bones from the trash containers.

"I'm sure you can," Prue shouted, "Scourge of Europe!"

"It's not the way you think! If I were Angelus, I could have killed you last night before you ever suspected who I was."

"So you deny you're Angelus?"

"Yes... and no. I mean, I was Angelus, but I'm not right now. Let me explain."

"Stay where you are."

"Listen to me, Prue. You and your sisters, you're in danger. Some vampire is after the Power of Three."

"You are."

"No, I'm here to warn you. I'm not your enemy. I can help you defeat the vampire."

"Of course," Prue laughed, "What do you take me for, a fool? The Scourge of Europe helping three good witches to kill a vampire."

"I have a soul."

"That's nonsense! There are no vampires with souls, you're a demon with a handsome face, that's all."

"Ask your sister who can see the future. Is it Phoebe, or Piper? Ask her to touch me, her vision will confirm my story."

"You're just seeking for an opportunity to have all three of us, I'll kill you right now!" Her eyes whirled a piece of wood into the air.

"Wait! Don't make a mistake! Ask your watcher – you have one, don't you?"

Prue hesitated. They had had no chance to speak to Leo since Phoebe's vision.

Phoebe was sitting at the bar with Cordelia. She did not know how to say it. "Cordy, there is something I must tell you."

Cordy looked at her in anticipation. "Yes?"

"About Angel. How long have the two of you been together?"

Cordy looked around carefully to make sure Ann Marie wasn't near. "To tell the truth, we're not together at all. He's my boss. Just wanted to show off. I've seen your sister's interested, that's okay with me."

"That's not it." Phoebe sighed. "Don't take me for a fool. I'm not mad. Cordy, stay away from him. He's a vampire."

Cordy was shocked.

"I know this must be difficult for you," Phoebe began.

"No," Cordy said, "I'm just shocked that YOU know!"

"Are you saying... you KNEW what he is, and still you're working for him?"

"Nobody's perfect," was Cordy's only reply. "But tell me how you found out!"

Phoebe was stunned that working for a vampire seemed perfectly normal for Cordelia, and she hesitated to tell her more.

"It's okay," Cordy assured her, "I'm from Sunnydale, California, the Hellmouth, you know. You can tell me everything."

"I'm a witch," Phoebe said reluctantly.

"What a coincidence! I went to school with one," Cordy chattered along, "Left my ex-boyfriend, a total loser, 'cause he slept with her... or at least almost."

"Shsh," Phoebe said, "Bartender's coming!" She smiled at the bartender. He returned the smile.

"Hi, Phoebe. Is Piper here?"

"I'm afraid not."

"Would you please give her back her shawl? She left it here yesterday."

"Of course, thanks."

As he handed Phoebe the shawl, a shock went through her body. She saw Piper in her vision, as she bent over a dead cat and was snatched by a vampire from behind. She still could not see his face, but his gait and shape told her it was not Angel.

"Oh my God," she said.

"You have visions?" Cordy asked suddenly.

"It's not Angel who wants to harm Piper," Phoebe concluded.

"What? Of course not, Angel doesn't kill, he has a soul! I had a vision yesterday of some vampire biting your sister, Angel came here to warn Prue."

Phoebe jumped from the stool. "My sister's outside trying to slay him!" Holding her head, she ran towards the side exit.

Cordy tried to follow. "Do you also get those terrible headaches?"

"Prue!"

"Stay away, Phoebe!"

"I've had a vision, it's not Angel who is our enemy, he's on our side. Cordy has visions, too. They tried to warn us. Prue, we mustn't lose time, Piper may be in danger!"

Prue hesitated, then dropped the stake with her mind.

"Thanks, Cordy," Angel said, "This was really close."

"We must hurry. Let's go home," Phoebe urged her sister.

Prue looked at Angel. There was still no trust in her eyes, but pure suspicion, when she said, "Sorry."

"I understand. I don't have exactly what one would call a good reputation. Can we help?"

"Piper!" Prue was already shouting from the street.

"Over here," Angel said. He picked up a red rose lying on the street, next to the body of a dead cat. The street was stained with blood. "It's witch blood," Angel said, "He's got her."

"And he's bitten her," Phoebe said anxiously, "That's a disaster. A witch's power is in her blood, so he'll develop the power to freeze time within a few hours if we don't find him."

"It's worse than that." Leo had appeared out of nothing.

"Leo!" Phoebe ran up to him and embraced him.

Angel, Wes and Cordy looked at Leo with curiosity.

"Leo, our Watcher of Light," Phoebe began the introduction, "This is Cordy, Wes and Angel. He's a vampire, but..."

"I know," Leo interrupted her, "My bosses are talking about him a lot these days."

"You call the Powers your bosses?" Angel asked confused.

"Yes," Leo said, "You Warriors are taking the whole thing pretty serious. We Watchers of Light are a bit more relaxed in our relationship to them."

"Can the two of you exchange your working experiences later?" Prue asked sharply.

"She's right," Leo said, "This is serious, and we're running out of time. It's not only that we must prevent Piper from being turned, and not only that our enemy will be able to freeze time since he drank her blood. He's a vampire, so he has a demon within his body. With demons, everything is inverted. He won't have Piper's power as you knew it. If he freezes time, it is not just human beings, but good witches and Watchers of Light who are frozen – demons will no longer be affected."

"THAT is a disaster," Prue said. "We'll never be able to defeat him if he can freeze us."

"I will," Angel said, "I'm a vampire."

"True," Leo admitted, "But you'll freeze, too. You have a soul, you are not evil any longer, it will affect you as much as anyone who fights for Light."

Angel looked away. "Well done, brother," he said desperately.

"What do you mean?" Prue asked.

"There was a vampire lady called Darla, she sired me. And it was her who turned this vampire, too. I recognized him by the rose and the dead kitten he left. That's his hallmark, he always does this. We called him Dead Juan therefore. You see now why I must try to destroy him? I'll go, if he freezes and kills me or not, but I must try."

"Don't be an idiot, you'd be dust in a minute," Cordy protested.

"Let him go if he must prove he's a hero," Prue said provokingly.

Angel ignored her and got into the car.

"Doyle was a hero," Cordy said, trying to suppress her tears.

"There's no other way," Angel said softly.

"Oh yes, there is, without that Guerrilla tactics of yours," Prue replied matter-of-factly. "Let's go inside, I must research something in the Book of Shadows."

Angel was nervous. He hated sitting there, watching Prue Halliwell reading, when he knew he had to act. Prue noted down some lines on a piece of paper, then closed the book. "That's it."

Angel sat opposite of her in the Halliwells' living room. He looked Prue straight in the eyes. "Now, what's your solution?"
 
 

"Sleep with me."

"WHAT????????"

"You've heard me correctly. The curse. The book says it is lifted that way, a moment of happiness. Dead Juan can freeze YOU, but he can't freeze Angelus."

Phoebe could not trust her ears either. "Are you sure you have to do this?"

"There's no other way." Prue took a deep breath. "I must talk to Angelus and convince him to destroy Juan."

"Demon, remember? He won't even listen to you, it's useless," Angel protested, "And I'm not willing to give way to him once more. I can't lose my soul again."

Anger flared up in Prue's eyes. "But you're willing to let Piper become a vampire? You should be the first to understand what it means to be turned, and especially for a witch! If she is turned, with her ability to freeze time, you'll have the lives of thousands on your hands – just imagine her freezing time, and then armies of vampires draining human beings!" A bit more gently, she continued: "It is safe for you. The Book of Shadows gave me the exact words to curse Angelus after he's done his due. With my telekinesis, I can stop him for long enough to cast the spell. Please, let me try."

Angel kept pacing up and down the room. They could almost see his inner conflict when he finally said: "I don't have any choice."

Prue looked relieved. She was fixing his eyes with her gaze, one could almost feel the tension in the air when addressed him. "Thank you," she said. "I mean it. Thank you for trusting me. Though we had a bad start. Let's go. We're running out of time."

They left together into the darkness.

As the door closed behind them, Cordy looked sceptical. "Can't you lift the curse with a spell?"

Phoebe shook her head. "Gypsy curses are very complex. Getting the ingredients for the ritual alone would take us hours, and we have everything but time."

Cordy still didn't look convinced. "Prue is more intellectual than passionate, isn't she? I mean, aren't you afraid they will talk about some French painter long since dead all night? Do you think this will work?"

Phoebe sighed. "She's the only one who can do it, the only one who can defend herself properly against a potential attack by Angelus." She sighed again. "Did I already mention how much I wish I had an active power?"

Prue took her time to close the door very carefully. They stood before each other, at an armlength's distance, trying hard to avoid each other's eyes.

"The door's closed," Prue said.

"Yes."

"Do you think I should lock it?"

"I'm not sure."

To make some time, Prue locked the door very carefully. As she turned the key, she felt shut away somehow, shut away from the world, and somehow at the mercy of a man... a demon she hardly knew.

"It's locked," she said, unnecessarily, nervously.

"Yes."

"Do you need a drink or anything?" Prue asked, realizing while she spoke how absurd the question must sound to a vampire.

"No, thanks."

There was silence. Again.

"Is this room okay? I mean, we can go somewhere else, if you..."

"I think it'll do."

"Well..." Prue felt incredibly embarrassed to take the first step. She laughed nervously. "It's ridiculous, isn't it. We behave like highschool kids, renting a hotel room during Prom night, don't you think so?"

"When I was that age, I didn't have a Prom, so I'm afraid I don't know."

"Of course. Sorry." She took a deep breath. "No, I'm not sorry. Listen, Angel, I can't do this. It's got nothing to do with you. We'll find some other way to contact Angelus. Really, there's nothing wrong with you, it's just..." Prue fought hard for her self-control. "I can't do this without having certain... feelings for the person. Every time I get too close to someone, it turns out to be a catastrophe. The last time..." Prue broke off, her shoulders were shaking, and she began to cry silently. The memory of Andy lying dead in her house, the red rose she had laid on his coffin, it was simply too much for her.

Angel said nothing. As he embraced her, he realized how fragile she was, strong and determined as she seemed. "I know how it feels to lose someone you love," he said and kissed her on the forehead. "Always having to avoid people, so they don't get to know you." He handed her a tissue.

Prue dried her tears. She looked at him in astonishment. Understanding from a vampire? She felt a tide of affection overwhelming her.

Angel noticed the change in Prue's behaviour towards him. She seemed much more relaxed, and when she looked at him, it was no longer with embarrassment, there was something else now.

"I'm sorry," Prue said at last. "I'm sorry for what happened at the disco. I did it because I took you for Angelus, and I was angry, I felt betrayed."

"But you trust me now?"

"I do. We have a lot in common. When I saw you at Ann Marie's party, it was through the eyes of an artist, I thought at once of taking a photo. The light and shadows of you."

"And when I first saw you, I thought of a coal drawing." He gently touched her face. "The lines of your countenance..."

Prue closed her eyes as Angel leaned over to kiss her.

<The last time someone kissed me like that, it was Andy.>

<The last time I kissed someone like that, it was Buffy.>

When they faced each other again, their relationship had changed.

"Do you think there is still a sensible way to end this?" Angel asked, his voice no more than a whisper.

"No," Prue replied and drew him close to her.

Angel felt her breath in his face, her trembling hands as she touched him. He knew what this would be leading to, the awareness was always present, yet there was no way to turn back now.

Angel laid his hands on her neck, gently unfastening the top she wore. She hardly noticed as it fell on the floor. Her hands slid over the silken surface of his shirt, slowly opening the buttons, while she fixed her eyes on his pants. He only realized what she was doing when they began to move.

Prue had never used her telekinesis for anything other than fighting, the experience was completely new to her, yet on the other hand there had never been a man in her life she could have explained that without revealing what she was.

Though Angel's body felt cold at hers first, his kisses seemed to burn her skin, as she could feel him everywhere, around her, then inside of her. Whatever she did now, she had already succumbed to him, was no longer driven by intellect and reason, but by passion. She noticed with surprise how little she cared. Her world as she had known it dissolved into a symphony of colors.

She felt as if she was lifted towards the ceiling, and it took her a moment to realize it was she herself who had lifted the bed and spun it around, again and again. Her telekinesis seemed no longer in her power as she followed her emotions.

He was raging, as if in a fever, kissing her intensely, moving violently.

Prue saw an expression of agony in Angel's eyes, he fought in desperation, tried not to lose control.

"Let go," she whispered.

"I can't." If he got any pleasure out of this, she would die. Her telekinesis would not stop Angelus. He would kill her. "I won't."

He pressed her on the bed so hard she could not move. She had the strong wish to embrace him, to make things easier, but he held her wrists, so she could not. Prue felt how she left her body. "Trust me. Let go."

Angel was taken completely by surprise as he felt Prue behind him. Though she was clearly pinned down on the bed, unable to move, he felt her body press against him from behind. He shuddered as she ran her fingers slowly over the tatoo on his back. "How...?"

"Witch, remember?"

It was the last thing he heard before he was carried away.

Then everything was dark and silent.

Prue lay in his arms, relaxed, but watchful. She wanted to fall asleep in the arms of her lover, yet she knew it might cost her life and Piper's, so she lay there in the dark, waiting.

He bend over her face and kissed her passionately. Suddenly his kiss changed, it became fervent, demanding.

As she opened her eyes, Prue saw his demon visage.

"Never fucked a witch before."

She held his gaze. "Angelus, I suppose."

"You're dead right."

"They've been up there for so long now," Wesley said, sounding worried.

"I think they're okay, otherwise I would have had a vision," Phoebe explained.

Prue hesitated to show the vampire her full powers, she wanted him to do something, so she had to play his game. She lay still, trying to look determined and brave.

"Not too bad, witch. Never fucked anyone who knew telekinesis or astral projection. Never thought a good witch would have the guts to do that, knowing she'd evoke me with it." Angelus drove his fingernails into the flesh of her arms. Prue called on all her self-control not to scream.

Instead, she managed to say: "Obviously you've underestimated me."

With one hand, he pushed her head aside and bared her neck before him. "Mind your speech, you're not irresistable or something. Give me one good reason not to kill you."

Prue knew she would have to throw him off her body if she could not convince him soon. "My blood."

"How did you think I was gonna kill you?"

"If you drink my blood, you'll have my powers. True. You could kill me and take what you want. But if you don't, and we make a deal, I'll teach you how to use my powers correctly, efficiently and to their full potential."

"And if I turn you, you're gonna tell me anyway."

She smiled, despite her situation. "Why should I? Because you're irresistable or something? Don't you think I'd be even more stubborn if I were a vampire?"

"Why are you doing this?" Angelus inquired, suddenly suspicious. "I saw how powerful you are, you could throw me at the wall any time, as long as I don't tear your eyes out and cut your hands off --- would be fun, by the way. So why do you offer me a deal?"

"Why do you care? We both get what we want." Prue felt she had won. "My powers, and you slay Dead Juan."

Angelus chuckled. "You want me to destroy that wonderful creation – my brother for your sister, and for a bit of telekinesis?"

"And astral projection. If you don't know what sets the powers free, they are useless. Do we have a deal?" This was the crucial moment.

He smiled viciously and showed his fangs. "This is gonna hurt."

"I'm a big girl."

Prue didn't want to grant him the pleasure of screaming or showing any signs of pain as his fangs penetrated her skin. It hurt like hell, she felt her life being drained as he drank her blood. She felt he'd had enough and thrust him away from her body. The powerful Angelus was shocked for a moment as his head crashed against the wall, he lay for a second, naked and dazed, then he got to his feet. "Admit it, Prue. It turned you on. You want it."

Prue felt for the wounds on her neck. They were deep, blood spilt over the bed, but they were closing already. She shot a poisonous glance at him. "Never touch me again."

Prue came down the stairs. Phoebe screamed as she saw her pale face and the wounds. She rushed up to her sister.

"Prue, are you okay?"

"Fine, thanks. He'll do it."

"Why?" Cordy asked. "What's in there for him?"

"My blood. And my powers."

"Prue, how could you consent to that madness?"

"I suggested it. It was my only chance. He's evil beyond imagination, he'd never have agreed without it. If we succeed, Angel will have the powers, and he won't do any harm."

"What do you mean, IF?" Cordy asked frantically.

"Don't worry, it'll be okay." Prue seemed weak as she sat down.

"Where is he?"

"Gone to fight Dead Juan. He told me where to go. I'll join him in a second."

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah. It's just... they have nothing in common. Angelus is the Devil. It was hard to be that close to Angel, and face Angelus right thereafter."

Cordy lowered her voice as she said to Wesley: "Maybe she and Buffy should found a self-aid group, Angelus anonymous."

Angelus knew Juan's preferred manner of killing. He always chose the most expensive place to stay at, so the top five hotels of San Francisco were probably relevant.

She did not talk while they were driving to the SF Plaza together. Her thoughts were with Piper.

"A fang for your thoughts," Angelus said.

"I was thinking about how much fun it would be to have a bath with you," Prue said. As Angelus looked surprised, she added... "... in HOLY WATER."

He laughed scornfully. "And kill your dear Angel? No, Prue, I don't think so. I'm curious, what was it like for you to enjoy yourself with a vampire while your sister is suffering?"

"I did not."

"Well, a matter of position," Angelus replied, "Of course you'd have enjoyed it much more if The Soul hadn't been in control, I could have done better."

"Of course," Prue said with unconcealed sarcasm.

"Admit it, Prue, witches and vampires go together. You have your dark sides, too. What about your little episode as Miss Hellfire?"

"How do you know?"

"I have my sources. And I know your sister Phoebe was bad in a former life. Witches always have an affinity towards evil. You're sure you don't want me to turn you?"

"You're sure you don't want me to slay you?"

He laughed. "You need me, Prue Halliwell."

"As a fish needs a bike."

"How very charming."

Prue turned the engine off. She saw Phoebe's car in the parking lot. She was waiting with Leo, Wesley and Cordelia. "Here we are."

"You don't expect me to take those losers with us, do you? Watchers are annoying. Wesley's not even good for a drink, and Cordelia I can imagine better in my bed than on demon hunt. Same for your sis. No, Prue, just the two of us."

"I don't trust you."

"But you agree."

"I have no choice. Let's go."

"Show time."

"Focus your eyes on the door. Concentrate. Watch it open slowly in your mind's eye. Focus again. Now."

Angelus focused on the door with all his mental energy. The door fell to pieces.

In the middle of the honeymoon suite, there was a large bed. Piper was lying on it, dressed all in white, unconscious, a bouquet of red roses in her hands which were chained to the bed. The dress was spilt with blood, her blood was still running from Dead Juan's mouth. As Prue saw his demon visage, he seemed familiar somehow.

"Angelus!" A bright smile went over Dead Juan's face. "Haven't seen you for a hundred years! Didn't know you were after the Power of Three as well! What's up? Heard rumors you were cursed?"

"Long story, Juan. I see you've been busy. Any luck yet?"

"Drank blood, didn't do anything. You already know telekinesis?" Dead Juan said with a sidelook towards the door. He then became aware of Prue's presence. "Hi, Prue," he said as he turned into his human face again.

Prue felt a chill – now she saw why he had looked so familiar to her. "Dan... That's impossible, I mean, I saw you walk in sunlight..."

Angelus sighed. "I'd thought you were clever! With all your useless work, you never get to see movies --- you didn't see 'Blade', I suppose. Juan is a daywalker. But how come you know his human face?"

Dead Juan – or Dan – laughed. "I was unliving next door for almost a year, playing nice human neighbor! Had hoped Piper would give me her power of her own free will if I seduced her. Tried everything. But she preferred that Watcher of hers, that damned Leo." He spoke with great bitterness. "So I took what I wanted."

Prue was shocked. Dan was her enemy, a man they had trusted. No wonder Piper did not expect an attack from him. Prue felt threatened. Who told her Angelus would keep to his promise, now he knew how to control the power?

"Your strategy was more successful?" Dan asked.

"She explained to me," Angelus said, the incarnation of self-assurance. "I can steer the power with my eyes and hands. Try your hands as well."

"No!" Prue said, throwing Dead Juan against the wall. She shot an angry glance at Angelus. "We had an agreement!"

Angelus shrugged. "Broken."

Prue took a stake from the remains of the door with her telekinesis and whirled it through the air. Angelus stared at it and stopped it. It remained in the air, half way between them.

"You'll never learn how to use it!" Prue exclaimed.

"I know enough to stop you. I'm a fast learner. Who needs projection? I'll teach myself."

Dan/Juan got back to his feet. "Want me to freeze her for you, partner?" he asked, sounding pleased.

"No," Angelus said and took complete control of the stake. He glanced at Dan and drove the stake right into the stunned vampire's heart. "I already have a partner."

Dan/Juan turned to dust.

Prue let her breath out with a deep sigh of relief. Then she rushed to the bed to look after Piper.

"I don't like this," Wesley complained, "We can't trust Angelus. He's evil."

"He's obsessed by Prue," Cordy said, "As it was with Buffy. That's an advantage."

"Prue knows how to deal with him," Phoebe agreed. She leaned against Prue's car. Suddenly she saw pictures, visions, fought to remain on her feet. "He's betraying her!" she screamed, "He wants to take our powers and turn us! We mustn't lose time."

Piper slowly regained consciousness. "Prue," she whispered, then closed her eyes again.

"It's okay," Prue said gently and rocked her in her arms, "Don't speak, we'll take you to hospital. You're still weak. It's okay. It's over."

"No," Angelus said.

Prue turned around. He showed his demon face, a vicious smile on it.

"Angelus, you..."

"I told you our agreement was broken," he said.

Prue looked at him with disbelief and anger. "You told Dan you already had a partner!"

"And I meant it. You'll be the best partner I could possibly have as soon as you're my creation." He scratched his skin so blood was dropping from one of his veins. As he made a step towards her, he recited pathetically, "'Drink from me, and live forever!' Oh, sorry, I'm forgetting you don't go to the movies."

Prue tried to thrust him away from her through the window, but Angelus only made two steps back, then he regained control.

<He's blocking my mental powers with his, > she thought in panic.

Angelus made an attempt to draw her near to him, but Prue only made a step towards him, then she managed to block him.

"Give up, Prudence," Angelus said, "You have a human constitution, I have a demon's. How long do you think you can resist?"

"Piper!" Prue cried for her sister's help.

"She can't hear you," he said with triumph, "She's too weak now to freeze anyone. Nobody's here to help you." He made an attempt to draw her nearer again, and this time she stumbled forward. She was only a few inches out of his reach.

<Damn, he's getting stronger every minute!">

"You're getting weaker, and you know."

That instant, the others rushed into the room, bearing crosses and stakes.

"Stay where you are!" Angelus shouted, holding up his hands, and held them in their place.

"He's betrayed us," Prue shouted.

"We know, but what are we to do now?" Cordy cried.

"Prue," Phoebe asked, "Can you block him till dawn?"

"I doubt that," Angelus replied instead. "By dawn I will be master of The Power of Three."

"The spell," Prue shouted, "We must speak it out now!"

"Will this work without Piper?" Phoebe asked doubtfully.

"I don't know, we must try!"

Angelus burst into laughing. "Try what you want. I'm not sure, whose blood will I take first, Piper's, Phoebe's? Wish I could be in two places at the same time!"

"No!" Prue screamed in despair.

Shocked, they watched as two images of himself left Angelus' body. He still stood there, with his hands stretched out, but his head had sunk upon his chest.

Without any idea what was to be done now, they watched the power of his projection.

"Two images, I never managed that," Prue whispered. She stared at the two images of the same man – or demon. One was smiling at her, viciously, self-assured, arrogant. The other one looked sad, melancholic, desperate. "Something's different," she realized.

"They've parted," Wesley realized with astonishment.

"Famous last words," Angelus said.

"Kill us while he's helpless," Angel pleaded. "Prue, hurry,

"No," Angel said, "She hates you enough for both of us."

"Hatred – such a word from you is blasphemic."

"As is love from you. You killed my family."

"Your father who beat you. Your mother who stood and watched."

"You let down the only girl I ever loved."

"Who like a bitch threw herself at the next guy she met."

"You killed innocent people like Jenny Calendar."

"Who was charged with making you unhappy till doomsday."

"Which YOU wanted to bring about!"

"Would that have made any difference?"

Angel's voice was trembling as he said: "Probably not. You've ruined my life."

Angelus smiled. "You've ruined my unlife."

Prue just stood there, the eyes fixed on the stake dancing in the air before the empty body both of them had shared for so many years.

Angel turned from Angelus and looked at her. "Prue, please. You see what he is. You see what I am. Put an end to this for all of us."

Leo suddenly lifted his head. Phoebe knew the expression on his face meant he was receiving orders.

Prue sank down on her knees, tears streaming down her face. The stake dropped to the floor. "I can't," she cried. "Forgive me."

Angelus did not even try to conceal his triumph. "I knew she wouldn't!"

"She needn't." Leo stepped forward. His hand was glowing as he touched Angel's/Angelus' body.

"What's he doing?" Angelus asked suspiciously. Then he felt how his image was dissolving.

"Famous last words," Leo said coldly.

"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Prue watched with a bit of envy how Ann Marie and Henry kissed. She stood there with a bouquet of flowers in her hands, in the pink dress Ann Marie had chosen for her Maid of Honor.

It was a bright Californian summer day. The sun made Ann Marie's beautiful white wedding gown look even brighter as she stood in front of the pavillion they had installed in the park of their estate for the wedding.

The guests applauded, and everyone got ready to follow the newly wed couple to the loads of food that had been prepared.

Everyone except the figure that was leaning on a tree in the shadow. Prue went over to greet him.

"Hi, Angel."

"Prue. Hi."

"So you've come."

"I had promised Cordy."

"Of course."

"Not taking any photos today?"

"No, they have someone else to do that today. Are you coming to the reception?"

Angel smiled shyly. "I don't think so. Actually, I just came to say good-bye."

"You're leaving." It was more a statement than a question.

"I'm on my way."

Prue embraced him. "Thank you, again. For everything." She blinked away a tear. "There was so much I wanted to say, and now I'm standing here like a fool, and my heart is a living beat."

"Mine too." He stepped out of the shade into the sun. "I tried to thank Leo for reviving me, but he just said it was his job, and The Powers had told him to. Prue, you know, my mind says I'm rid of Angelus for good, but part of me says he'll be there forever."

Prue took his hand. "Our memories are always with us, good or bad. We have common memories now, and anytime you need someone to talk, you know where to find me. You're not a vampire any more, this will take time. So what are you going to do with your freedom? Enjoy Californian sun? Eat tons of ice-cream?"

Angel did not have to answer. Prue knew what was on his mind. She sighed.

"So this is good-bye. You're going home."

"At least I return to something that gets close to what one would call a home." He paused. "Do you think she'll understand?"

"Well, her life has changed, your life has changed. Both of you will have to accept that."

"Do you think she'll still love me?"

"Angel..."

He looked away. "Forget what I said. It was foolish and tactless to ask you that question, after... last night."

Prue put her hands on his shoulders and met his eyes. "Don't worry. If she sees you the way I do, she will."

She saw Angel leave.

When she came home after the wedding reception, she was surprised to find an envelope under her door.

She opened it and saw a coal portrait of herself. The back side was signed:

THE END