A/N: And we're back in the episode re-telling phase here with "Something Blue", though this time it's going to be a little bit darker (but still with some of the funny from the actual episode). Also, we're in the really, for reals home stretch here.

Buffy had thought that Willow was handling Oz being gone pretty well. Sure, the hills weren't exactly alive with the Sound of Music, but she seemed fine, and she was getting close with Xander again (and Buffy found herself thinking that yes, they'd still be a great couple). But then she returned to her dorm room very early in the morning after patrol (and after falling asleep in Tara's arms in the witch's dorm room), she found Xander comforting a devastated Willow. Apparently, Oz had sent out for the rest of his things….without talking to her at all. So, now, Buffy was commiserating with Tara and Xander.

"I can't believe he'd do that!" replied Tara, who was visibly upset. "That's the sort of thing you do when you hate someone, not love them!" Buffy, having seen Tara attempt the exact same thing just days earlier, gave her a knowing look. "See, I should know!"

Xander, naturally, was confused. Explaining, Buffy said, "After I had my little chat with Angel, Tara snuck into her house when her family was gone, and grabbed a bunch of stuff."

"You're a bad girl, Tara," joked Xander.

"In my defense, my family kinda sucks," pointed out Tara. Changing the subject, she added, "I worry about Willow, though. She's in a lot of pain, but she's also a really powerful witch, and getting stronger all the time. She could hurt a lot of people if we don't help her…..have a wonderful time?"

Buffy and Xander turned to see what Tara was looking at, and found Willow dancing happily with a bunch of people. It appeared as if she was a lot more resilient than they had believed.

"Wow," declared Buffy, voicing her confusion. "Way to rebound."

Xander, being Xander, had a much deeper insight into his best friend's state of mind. "I believe that is the dance of a brave little toaster."

For her part, Willow noticed her audience and bounded over happily before declaring, "Hey! Come on you guys-the music is great!"

Optimistically, Xander replied, "Nice to see you brought your boogie shoes tonight, Will."

"Yeah," acknowledged Willow, "I know I've been a party poop lately. So I said to myself-'Self'- I said, 'time to shake and shimmy it off!'"

Buffy was a bit thrown off, but said, "Sounds like a good policy."

"Yep," answered the redhead, "And it works, too." Willow reached for her coat, which was draped on one of the stools at the table, and continued, "I just figure in the grand scheme of things, we're all-"

Suddenly, a beer bottle fell to the floor from Willow's jacket with a distinctive clinking noise.

"…..drunk?" questioned Buffy, finishing Willow's sentence.

Tara and Xander were horrified, with the former now visibly on the verge of tears. However, Willow merely grabbed the bottle and hid it right back into her coat before announcing in an obviously drunk fashion, "Drunk is a pretty strong word. Kind of an Anglo-Saxon word. Guttural. 'Drunk.'"

"Will, not loving the drowning of the sorrows," declared Xander tersely.

"Not drowning,"answered Willow defensively. "Wading." Showing the bottle off as if it was a prize, she said, "See? Light. No big."

"No!" shouted Tara. "Big! We're your friends, Willow, and we're here for you. But you can't just drink away your pain like this. All it does is just lead to more hurting. And sometimes it ends up being you that does the hurting."

Tara's words hit a raw nerve with Xander, and he was pretty close to tears himself. Trying to diffuse the situation, he said, "How's about you give me the beer."

This set Willow off, almost to the point of outright rage. "No! Why should I? I've got pain here. Big time, legitimate pain-"

"We've all got pain, Will-" started Xander.

"Like what?" argued Willow viciously. "'Poor me, I live in a basement?' Oh, yeah-that's dire!"

Tara hugged Xander supportively as he struggled not to cry. Buffy grabbed Willow and pulled her away, announcing, "I'm taking you home now."

"I don't want to-"

"You'll thank me when you still have a friend left in the morning," answered Buffy harshly, but correctly.

The words had an effect, and Willow eased off her rage a bit. "I just can't stand feeling this way. I want it to be over."

"And it will be," replied Buffy, speaking from experience. "I promise. But it's going to take some time."

"That's not good enough," moaned Willow despondently.

Sympathizing, Buffy said, "I know. But that's how it is. You have to go through the pain."

"Isn't there some way I can make it go away? Just 'cause I say so? Can't I make it go poof?"

Buffy frowned as she led her friend outside, unable to think of a good enough answer.

Xander's head hit the table with a sad BONK as his emotions finally overcame him. "It's OK," soothed Tara. "She didn't mean it. She's just….."

"Drunk," declared Xander hopelessly as he lifted his head. "She means more to me than anything else, Tara. It kills me to see her acting like…."

"…..your parents?" said Tara, finishing his sentence. "Xander, Willow needs us-she needs you-more than ever. But you have to be strong for her. I can help her with the magic, but you're the only one who can help with her heart."

"Yes, because I'm so good with that," scoffed Xander. "She needs someone who isn't going to break her heart."

"She needs her best friend, Xander," argued Tara, "And I hear you have some experience in that area."