Blue Moon Love continued...
Angel growled and lunged across the enclosed space of the car and grabbed
Xander by the scruff of the neck. < I'll teach him to mock me. >
Xander squealed and in his frenzy to escape Angel's grasp, upended the Pepsi
and it landed in Angel's lap.
Angel jumped back as the cold soda soaked his privates and swore, " Fuck!
Fuck! do you how hard it is to clean leather, your dead."
Xander knew that he had pushed the vamp too far and as soon as Angel let him
go he opened the door and in his hurry to get out of the car tripped over
another loose soda can falling forward, catching his head on the corner of
the open door. Xander saw stars and ended up kissing dirt.
It was know Angel's turn to laugh at Xander's clumsiness. < I won't have to
kill him, he'll manage that all by himself.
Xander stood and brushed himself, "Look deadboy, you got blood on your nose,
and I most certainly didn't piss on the seat. Must be you brushed up against
something when you were playing Tarzan the blood sucking vampire."
Angel wiped the soda off the front of his pants and the blood of his nose. "
Just get in the car, I want to find Spike before I die of old age." Angel
and Xander both brooded silently for the next hundred miles.
~~~~~
Spike took to the strip in search of food. He feed off four different
people, but he took no pleasure in it. His mind keeps thinking about Willow.
< I'm a pathetic weak willed vampire. Why is it I get involved with women
and then obsessive over them. Maybe I need to see a therapist or talk to
Oprah or something.
I wonder what she's doing right now. Does she miss me? I hope she's
feeling all right. What if Angel is trying to take advantage of her? She
too kind hearted. He'll try and woo her with his soulful cryptic guy
routine... wanker... or Scrappy Doo.. He hump her leg if she let him... what
about the watcher... all proper and goody two shoes in that Duddly Do Right
way, thats the kind of guy you really have to watch out for. > Spike in his
deep thoughts about Willow practically stepped in front of a moving taxi. He
was brought back to the present by the sound of the blaring horn and the
driver shouting, " Get a life,"
< I'm worse than pathetic, shit. >
~~~~~~
Giles awoke to the sound of glass crashing. He jumped out of bed and opened
the bedroom door. He felt cold air and saw in the dim light a funnel of
debris swirling. < What in the world> He needed to get to Willow's room. He
covered his head and hugged the wall and dodged most of the flying items.
Something sharp scraped his cheek and he felt a hot stinging sensation.
He yanked open Willow's door and turned on the light. He blinked and saw
her lying in bed, the covers on the floor and her face bathed in sweat. She
was speaking in Gaelic and it sounded like she was repeated the same phrase
over and over. Giles's heart was in his throat; < She possessed. > He moved
to her bedside and tried to wake her. Her body was ice cold. He shook her
and called her name, "Willow, wake up." Giles shook her shoulders and
touched her face. Willow opened her eyes and called out "Daire."
As Willow opened her eyes Giles heard a loud crash as the debris flying about
outside the room crashed to the floor. " Willow, can you hear me? " Giles
asked softly. Willow blinked sleepily, " Giles, what's the matter?" Willow
felt cold, she sat up slowly and noticed Giles was pale as a ghost and
wearing only a pair of boxers. He had a cut upon his cheek that was bleeding
heavily. "What is it?"she asked afraid.
" Willow, what do you remember?" Giles asked.
" Nothing.... Giles your bleeding... what's happening?" she asked her voice
filled with concern.
" You were having some kind of dream or trance" he explained.
" What was that crashing noise I heard did someone break in?" she asked her
eyes darting to the open bedroom door.
" No, I'm not sure exactly what happened. Perhaps some type of poltergeist
activities" he theorized.
" We've got to get you cleaned up," Willow said moving her legs to the floor.
Giles noticed that Willow must have woken after he had put her to bed because
she was wearing a nightshirt. A nightshirt made even shorter due to her
bodies changes with her pregnancy. The nightshirt was pulled taunt over
Willow's every increasing breasts and abdomen.
Giles swallowed hard as took in Willow's long legs and backside so nicely
outlined by the tight nightshirt, as she picked up her robe from a chair and
slipped it on.
" Come on Giles, let's get you cleaned up and clean up the mess."
Giles sat stiffly on her bed very aware of another part of his anatomy that
was very stiff. . < God if I move, it could slip out or at the very least
she might notice and be more horrified that I already am. >
" Um Willow, I think you should come back to bed... I mean... well. .. stay
here and I'll go and check things out and get a band aid and come back.." he
stammered blushing
" Giles.. I think.."
"Please Willow," he said harshly.
" Sure" she walked back to the bed and sat down. Giles jumped up and
practically bolted from the room. In his hurry, he forgot he was barefoot
and stepped on some of the sharp debris that had fallen in the hallway.
" Judas Priest " he swore.
" Are you OK, " Willow called from her room.
" Yes, Yes, stubbed my toes. No problem." Giles limped down to his bedroom.
He pulled on his pants and chatisized himself for his adolescent behavior.
He picked out a piece of glass from his foot and hobbled to the bathroom and
tended to his injuries. A few minutes later he went back to check on Willow,
she was fast asleep with the light still on. Giles collected a broom and
dustpan and cleaned up the mess. He was very concerned what had really
occurred. With Willow's time travel, her pregnancy and Wiccian powers, and
last but not least this being the hell mouth any and all of these factors may
have been the cause of her 'trance' 'possession'. Giles went to the
mansion's library and wrote down the Gaelic phrase Willow spoke. He hadn't a
clue as to what the words meant. He wished Angel was here, he would probably
recognize the language. Giles went looking for a text that might help him
translate. Just before sunrise Giles felt confident in his translation,
however, the words themselves made no sense:
Slide back to feed the dragon
with the moon.
The word ' Daire' appeared to be a name of someone. Was Aaron somehow behind
this? He wished again that Xander and Angel were here. Willow could be in
danger.
~~~~~~
Angel and Xander had reached Pedro's Pub around 2:30 a.m.
" Why don't you wait in the car Xander." Angel said.
" I didn't come all this way to wait in the car." Xander retorted.
" Look this place, is very seedy and dangerous.. your out of you league."
Angel explained.
" I can handle myself" Xander replied defensively.
" Look just stick near me and for both our sakes keep your mouth shut." Angel
dictated.
Angel, walked towards the dimly lit bar. Xander made a face and gave him the
finger behind his back.
The bar smelled of cigar smoke and unwashed bodies. Angel took a seat near
at a table near the door.
Xander walked in and stood over Angel. " Hey.. I don't see the Blond fang..
Don't you think we should ask.." Xander suggested.
" No sit down so I can scope this place out." Angel scowled.
" I'm getting a drink" Xander stated and headed for the bar.
Angel rolled his eyes.
Xander, took in the odd assortment of men ringing the bar. Several looked as
old a mummies, One guy had no teeth. Two regular looking guy's were talking
quitly. Xander stood next to them at the bar. " Barkeep how's bout a
tequila?" The bartender poured the shot and took xander's money/ Xander
downed the drink and puffed out his cheast in a macho peackock way. The
two men closeest to Xander moved closer. One stood on either side of him.
"Hey, gringo, what you doing here?"
"Well actually, I'm looking for a... < not a friend> guy.. yeah.. a blond
guy.. short hair so tall.. likes leather.>
" Your not too particular are you,?" The man to Xander's right laughed. The
man to his left slipped his hand down and grabbed Xander's ass. " I bet we
can help you forget all about blondie."
" Hey Xander's squealed.."
" Hands off.." Angel growled, shoving the man up against the bar. He grasped
Xander's arm and pulled him towards him. Angel grabbed Xander's face
between his hand and gave him a big kiss. Xander's eyes flew open and he
opened his mouth to protest, and Angel thrust his tongue in his mouth before
pulling away. Xander just stood there in shock. He had never been kissed
like that before, he wasn't sure if he felt aroused or if he was going to
vomit. His brain tried to process this.
" This one's mine and so is the blond!" " Have you seen him lately."
Angel
growled.
" No both men replied" " Who should we say is looking if we see him?"
" Tell him his daddy is angry and wants him to come home." Angel replied.
Xander, thought vomit and pushed past Angel and out the door. < What the
Fuck was that about.?>
< That's it .. I'm getting away from that blood sucking tongue kissing freak>
He started walking.
Angel came out of the bar and started the car and noted Xander walking up
ahead.
Angel hit the power button on the window, " I told you to sit down and be
quiet.. I told you you were out of your league.." he reprimanded. " Those
guys were hustler who worked the bar, they took you for a newbie, and wanted
a cut of your action. Those guys understand and respond to domination and
power."
Angel explained.
Xander kept walking ignoring the vamp.
" Come on your not freaked out about that dominance display are you Xander,?"
Angel teased
" Don't worry Xander, I didn't get a happy, my soul is still safe." He
laughed.
" Come on get in the car. It's almost sunrise.. I'd like to find a place to
hole up for a while."
" Fuck you!" Xander screamed.
" No thank's I'm not really interested, your such a bad kisser." Angel
laughed. < I know what it takes to get under his skin.> " What's matter
wasn't it good for you?"
Xander kept walking. " What you going to walk back to Sunnydale.. I told you
this wouldn't be easy.. That it was tough... I guess you'll go back to Willow
tail between your legs." Angel stated.
Xander walked to the car and got in. Xander was plotting how he would get
back at this wise assed vamp.
Willow saw Giles asleep in an armchair by the fireplace, three books in his
lap. < God his neck is going to be killing him>
She approached him and noted the long gash that adorned his right cheek. She
called his name softly, " Giles"
He jumped slightly and one of the books slipped off his lap and thudded
loudly upon the floor.
" Willow" he murmured
" Giles, you really shouldn't sleep in the chair, it's bad for your neck she
lectured." " Would you like some tea?" She asked.
Giles groaned as his neck protested. " Yes, please"
Willow handed a cup to Giles and sat down on the hearth facing him.
" What happened last night Giles?" she asked.
"I'm not really sure." " Is there anything you remember dreaming
about?"
Willow thought, and looked down. " Well, I often dream about Will.. Spi..
him. I think I was dreaming about him last night, except you know how
strange dreams can be.. Cause the man in my dream didn't look like William or
Spike but I knew it was him… he had the same eyes.. and you were there too
but you didn't look like you either but yet it was you.." she babbled " I'm
sorry.. I'm not much help."
" No actually, that's not uncommon for people to be represented by different
forms and people in our dreams. " Do you remember anything else?" Giles
asked.
" Aaron was in it he was … he was trying to kill William/Spike." She
reported.
" I see" Giles looked at Willow; " Slide back to feed the dragon with the
moon" Giles said to gage any reaction in Willow to those words.
" Life has no friend: her converts late or soon
Slide back to feed the dragon with the moon" she repeated.
The teacups shattered in both Giles and Willow's hand.
Both gasped startled by the shattered porcelain and the hot tea.
Willow stood staring at Giles, " What does it mean Giles" fear in her voice.
He moved to take her hand. " I don't know but we'll find out."
~~~~~~
Angel felt wetness against his neck. He opened his eyes and saw the top of
Xander's head against the crook of his shoulder his mouth hanging open and
drool running out the corner onto his neck.
He used his other hand to shove Xander's head away from him, " get off" he
cried.
" What?" Will?" Xander mumbled he was having an amazing erotic dream about
Willow. Xander blinked and the full reality of the situation hit him. < I'm
stuck in Mexico with a bisexual vampire, my best friends is pregnant by
another, and best off all I'm looking for his sorry ass. >
~~~~~~~
Spike had returned to his suite close to dawn and fallen into a drunken
sleep. He dreamed Willow was standing on a tall rock cliff. He could here
her sobs. She was speaking in a language he didn't recognize yet he
understood the words.
" Yet in an hour to come, disdainful dust,
You shall be bowed and brought to bed with me.
While the blood roars…."
She stepped off the cliff and plummeted silently. Spike saw her broken
bloody bottom at the bottom.
He woke up, bile rose in his throat. He moved off the bed and heaved into a
trashcan. He was shaken by the dream it seemed so real.. < I hope she's
all right. What if something happened to her? I just need to know she is all
right hear her voice. >
Spike called directory assistance and got the number for the Rosenberg
residence. A women answered the phone.
" Hello."
"Is Willow there?" He asked more calmly than he felt.
" No, I'm sorry, she doesn't live here anymore." The women answered.
" What" he said in alarm " Where is she? Is she alright?"
" Who is this?" the women asked with suspicion.
< It must be her mother, calm done and find out before she hangs up on you. >
"Uh I'm and old friend of her's and am coming into town.."
"It's you?" her mother accused.
" What?" " You're the one?"
" One what? He asked knowing very likely what she was asking"
" Please, I just need to talk to her that's all." Spike pleaded.
" She's moved into an old mansion just outside of town.."
Spike dropped the phone and swore the line disconnected. " I'll kill him!.
Spike mimicked in a high falsetto voice; ' I've no future with Buffy.'
" No of course not, cause you wanted to be with MY WIFE and TAKE MY CHILD."
Spike heaved again just thinking about Angel touching his Willow. Spike
grabbed up the stuffed penguin and his coat and tore out of the hotel in a
rage.
"So where to next?" Xander asked trying to block out the trauma of the
previous nights trolling through a half dozen rank, hellish watering holes.
After the whole dominance and kissing thing the evening went from bad to
worse. The joint they went to after that had a live human death match going
on. Xander hadn't seen that much blood and gore since he was a hyena as part
of the pack that devoured principal Flutie.
Xander was afraid to say anything and he stuck close to Angel. Not only was
he worried about the violence scene, he kept seeing Angel's face twitch out
of the corner of his eye. Xander worried that meant Dead Boy was thinking
about helping himself to a 'blood light' when one guy's arm got cut off and
landed practically on their table. Xander put the kibosh on any idea's Angel
may have had about cocktails as he vomited all over Angel's lap. To say
that Angel was empathetic was a little bit of an understatement.
He dragged Xander out of the joint by grabbing a handful of his hair. Xander
learned several new swear word combinations. Angel ordered Xander to the car
to get him a pair of his pants. Angel went round the building and found a
hose. Xander returned with the clean clothing and was shocked to see the
Vampire's bare ass and plentiful privates. Xander knew he could have lived
without that image forever burned into his brain.
The next dive Xander saw a roach as big as a cat. He wanted to jump up on
the table and squeal like a girl but knew Angel would kill him for sure.
After leaving the sixth bar, Xander never wanted a shower so much in his
whole entire life. They decided to get some sleep and Angel feel asleep
immediately, and Xander couldn't get to sleep cause Angel kept growling and
snarling in his sleep. Xander wondered if Angel was dreaming about chasing
humans. Thus he was a bit nervous to nod off.
Angel woke Xander up by smacking him up side the head. This was Xander's
first clue that Angel was not a morning person. Xander sighed and hoped he
would live to return to the hellmouth.
~~~~~~
Giles and Willow went to Lamaze class. Giles as she had expected was a
wonderful coach. Willow was so glad he agreed to help her. After Giles took
them out to lunch and then shopping for baby things. Willow laughed as Giles
oowed and aahed over the tiny baby clothes. He insisted on buying almost
one of everything. They went to the toy store and bought a stuffed Whinny
the Pooh Owl. Willow teased Giles that he was just like owl. As they were
leaving the mall, Giles and Willow's arms full of packages accidentally ran
into Harmony and her Mother.
" Oh hi Willow, Mr. Giles, out shopping for things for your baby?" she cooed.
" I must say Willow, all that time everybody believed you were studying in
the library, who would have guessed you two with your combined brain power
wouldn't use birth control" She laughed.
Willow's face flamed, and she was about to tell Harmony where to stick it.
Giles, piped up, "actually Willow and I couldn't be happier about the baby,
come darling lets get you home, " as he steered Willow away from the
offensive girl.
" Giles, I can't believe.. everyone will think.. why." Willow stuttered.
" Willow, I don't care what people think about me, If people believe I'm the
father than perhaps the endless speculation will stop and people will move on
to talk about something else." Giles smiled offered Willow his arm.
~~~~~~
Spike drove like a manic. He had devised over 1000 ways in which he could
slowly torture Angel
He was taking Willow and they were going to leave Sunnydale whether she liked
it or not. He had thought of 568 ways he could pleasure Willow, after the
baby was born of course, and by then he was sure he could come up with at
least another 500 ways.
~~~~~~
Buffy and Giles trained in the courtyard in the late afternoon. Willow sat
outside and watched as she read a parenting magazine.
Buffy left just before dusk to shower and go on patrol.
Willow had asked Giles to help her learn Ta Chi. Giles agreed that it was a
good way to meditate and also keep Willow fit throughout her pregnancy.
Willow had changed into a pair of cotton shorts and a tee shirt, she caught
sight of herself in the mirror and realized she need to buy some maternity
clothes fast as she was about to bust out of these things.
"Giles, we should have bought some maternity clothes, God look at me, I'm
getting huge"
She sighed.
Giles looked and once again he was taken with how much pregnancy agreed with
Willow, her usual fair complexion, now always seemed to have a rosy glow.
Willow's small lean frame had transformed at five months along to a
voluptuous pear shape. Her legs and hips were still slim; her abdomen
swelled slightly the size of a basketball. Earlier, Giles had heard Willow
complain to Buffy about how often she had to go to the bathroom and how much
her breast ached. Buffy teased Willow that her breasts were much more than a
handful now.
Giles demonstrated the basic stance and the five basic moves from which all
the others were derivatives of. Willow caught on quite quickly with the leg
movements and stances but had difficulty incorporating her arm movements.
Giles moved behind Willow to help guide her arm movements.
Spike approached the mansion he looked into the French doors onto the living
area. He saw Willow and he felt his cold body fill with warmth. < She was
breathtaking. Her skin glowed, > Spike was mesmerized by Willow's curves.
Her breast looked like ripe melons and her abdomen swelled with his child.
Spike's body responded in a primal way. He noticed the watcher behind Willow
guiding her hands in Tai Chi form. She was a Goddess. Willow grabbed Giles
hands and placed them on her abdomen. Spike saw both Willow's and Giles face
light up with pure joy.
Spike felt his blood run cold, that man had his hands on his wife and his
child. Spike in full game face and enraged crashed through the glass on the
closed French doors.
Willow screamed, and her first thought was that the Evil Spike had come to
feed on her once again. Giles quickly moved in front of Willow and commanded
her to flee.
Willow managed to back up only a few feet until her ass hit the large
conference table. Spike was growling and had grabbed Giles by the neck. "
Willow reached behind her to grab the cross bow and wooden arrow left out
from the earlier training session. Willow lifted it and took aim. She
worried that she might hit Giles but knew he would want her to protect
herself and the baby. Willow released the wooden arrow from the crossbow and
it sailed across the room..
" OWOWWWW" The arrow hit Spike in the ass. " Spike dropped the watcher
and
turned to face Willow,
" Red" "You could of damaged something vital, Pet."
Giles picked him self up off the floor.
Giles grabbed Spike by the scuff of the neck and by the protruding arrow and
swung him forward towards the marble fireplace.
" Hey…" Spike yelped in pain as his head connected with cold marble.
Everything faded to black.
Giles turned towards Willow, " Are you alright…" his breath caught in his
throat.
Willow was furious, she was heading his way and Giles felt a shiver of fear
run down his back.
" That God Damned Bloody Bastard" she shrieked. "Giles get that stake out
of
his ass, pronto. He'll rue the day he ever messed with me!"
" Willow.. I think…,.. perhaps some chains…first." Giles suggested.
" Giles now!" Giles stuck one foot against Spike's lower back grabbed the
wooden stake protruding from Spike's ass with both hands and pulled. The
stake came out with a small sucking noise and a loud groan from Spike who was
coming round. Willow pushed Giles back and threw holy water onto the open
wound.
Spike howled in pain, rolled over onto his undamaged nether cheek.
" How dare you come into my house all grrr and scare the living daylights out
of me" Willow yelled.
" Get Out! GET OUT… I HATE YOU… YOU SORRY EXCUSE FOR A MAN… YOU PITFUL
LYING
VAMPIRE."
Spike just stared up at Willow, < She's even beautiful when she's angry> he
bit his lip to keep from grinning at her. < She safe and full of fire and
brimstone. I love this creature>
Giles touched Willow on the shoulder, " Please calm down Willow your starting
to levitate things."
Spike noticed a small funnel of wind swirling around closer to the center of
the room and the glass and debris from the broken doorway was getting sucked
into the funnel.
" He's right Red, I wouldn't want you to get hurt." Spike said.
Willow let the hurt and rage she had bottled up out, hurling her pain and
anger at the source.
" Get hurt… you stupid Ox you abandoned me …no goodbye.. No see you
round…
While everybody in the Fucking town is pointing and talking behind my back,
about who got me knock up.. My parents practically disowned me.. " Willow
felt the tears in her eyes. < I won't give him the satisfaction. > She
swallowed, " Get out of my house and never darken my door again… next
time I won't miss." She said her voice shaking. She whirled around waved her
arms wide about her head and brought the swirling funnel down crashing to the
floor and stormed out of the room.
Saber hearing the commotion came to investigate. She saw her master and
scampered up purring happily and rubbing against Spike.
" At least someone is happy to see me," he said sadly.
Spike stood up on shaky legs. Cor, his ass was still on fire. It's a good
thing I heal quickly.
Seeing Willow safe and looking so much more beautiful that he ever could have
imagined. < Guess there is something to said for mortality after all; being
undead one is stuck with the same look for an eternity>
Willow's angry tirade was a bit unexpected. On his drive here he had
imagined all the ways he was going to torture Angel for once again sticking
his member in places it didn't belong. <Where was the bloody wanker anyway…
and the bloody watcher.. hand on his women too…> Spike looked at Giles
venomously.
"How dare you come back here to cause her even more pain." "Get out, you
heard her." Get out and if I ever see you again I'll stake you myself." Giles
promised.
" Well, lookie here seems as if the watcher's grow a couple, not hiding
behind the slayers skirt any more."
"I've come for Willow and it's you who will die, if you think you can stop
me."
" I should kill you anyway.. I saw you.. your hands all over her.." Spike
had changed back into his game face and his jealous rage percolated once
again.
Giles sensibly backed up. " We were working out and she felt the baby move
and wanted me to feel it too." Giles explained.
" It was amazing." Giles couldn't help but smile like a fool.
" You felt my baby moving round?" Spike asked his human face returning with a
goofy grin.
Both men stood grinning for a moment thinking about the life Willow carried.
They both realized they should be angry with the other and scowls appeared
once again.
" It's too late" Giles lectured moving away from the angry vamp. " I warned
you once to never underestimate Willow." " At first your abandonment
cause her to worry endlessly, then she started doubting her own self worth
once again. People have been cruel in their gossip, but she as always has
risen above every challenge presented to her. She was vital in our defeat of
the mayor's ascension. She has made the well being of her child a priority
above everything else. Willow has made plans for her herself and her child,
she has moved on and you're not in the picture anymore."
"Oh you're just loving this, I see how you look at her, you'd like nothing
better than to play house with her?" Wouldn't you?" Spiked accused.
" I'm surprised the wanker lets you here sniffing around, he's never been to
good about sharing." Tell me where is he cause I'm going to start by
torturing him and then rip his fucking organs out one by one starting with
his oversized dick. I'll let you watch since you enjoy it so, and I might
let you live" Spike grinned his yellow eyes glowing. " Where is he? I know
he can't be here now or else he would have been posturing and posing to
impress her." " Don't tell me he's still running with the slayer too."
"
He's never been the faithful type. Although that's to my advantage since I
know Red, has quite a temper," he said rubbing his still burning ass.
"Angel's not around." Giles snapped. " You better leave now I won't have
you
upsetting Willow any more." he threatened, holding the crossbow.
" Where is he?" Spike stared unblinking at Giles.
" I suspect about now he is beating the crap out of Xander. I only hope he
doesn't kill the boy, as it would upset Willow." Giles said shaking his head.
"Where is he?" Spike asked approaching Giles.
" I don't know. He and Xander went looking to find you." Giles answered.
" What?" Spike asked not sure he heard correctly "Looking for me?"
"
Peaches and Scrappy Doo teamed up to hunt me down, well that's a scary
combination." Spike laughed. " So Angel and the puppy thought they would
take me out first, some sort of proactive strike?" " How bloody ripe." He
chuckled.
" No, unfortunately. They wanted to bring you back…they were concerned for
Willow and… foolishly thought you and she could reconcile." Giles scoffed.
~~~~~
Willow was sobbing on her bed. She had passed that damn cat in the hallway
probably rushing towards Spike, both of them traitors, they deserved one
another. Willow thought she had been making great progress in getting over
her heartache because of him. Seeing him, his handsome face hearing his
voice call her Red again. Goddess she wanted to swoon from delight, after
everything that has passed one look from him and it was like he had thrown an
electrical switch and her body was on overload. Willow was so angry with
him and herself. She hated herself because she wanted nothing so much as to
throw herself into his arms. She missed him and desired him, Willow told
herself she need to not let him mess with her head or lie to her any more.
Giles will make him leave, she could count on Giles.