Rupert Giles sat in the lounge in his apartment, deep in thought. Yesterday an actual goddess had possessed Alexander Harris and basically read him, Willow and Buffy the "riot act", as the Americans would say over their treatment of Alexander and Faith. At first Giles had dismissed the goddess' concerns and had not wanted to believe he had done anything or missed as much as he apparently had. The longer he sat here thinking though, the more he realized Epione was right he had missed a great deal. When the Scoobies, as Alexander had named them, had first been formed and Giles had gone against Council doctrine and allowed Buffy friends and support he had told himself it would be good for her to have friends and she had surely benefited from it.

That didn't explain why, though, he been so encouraging of Willow and dismissive of the others, Alexander especially. Why had he been so blind where the boy and the others treatment of him had been concerned? Especially since, given what he had known of Alexander's assistance had been great. Including reviving Buffy after she drowned and the plan with the rocket launcher against the Judge, amoung other things. Though he had clearly been unaware of just how helpful Alexander had been. So why was he so quick to dismiss Alexander's concerns, why did he give in to Buffy and Willow so easily on pushing him out ?

Giles doubted Willow had used any magic on him, he was sure his sensitivity to magic would have alerted him to something and besides his dismissal of Alexander had begun long before Willow began studying magic. No, there had to be a reason for his own behavior, but he wasn't sure what it was.

Giles realized that perhaps discussing all this with someone else might help him sort out his own thoughts and feelings. But who? He disliked Wesley and didn't even consider him a colleague, let alone a friend. Suddenly, he realized there was someone he could talk it over with, someone who could give both an objective viewpoint and a personal one at the same time. Joyce Summers, Buffy's mother. She knew all the children and seemed a sensible and caring person, although how she would react to the revelations, especially in regards to Buffy, was anyone's guess.

Resolved, Giles went to his desk and called Joyce's number and waited as the phone rang in his ear, hopefully she was home, it being the weekend. After a few rings, the line picked up and Joyce answered.

"Hello?"

"Yum, Joyce, this is Rupert Giles, I am sorry to disturb your weekend, but I have some issues I need to discuss with someone and since some of those issues concern Buffy, I was hoping you could come over and help me sort through them. Not everything I need to discuss concerns her directly, but I find myself at a loss to deal with some personal problems that have come up in the group and was hoping a different perspective might help in resolving them."

"Ok, will this take long?"

"It may, there is a great deal to discuss."

"Alright, I have a few hours free, are you at home?"

"Yes."

"Then I will be there in about twenty minutes, I will probably need some coffee if this going take awhile,"

"I will start a pot brewing for us."

"See you in bit."