It had been weeks since the Initiative was shut down and destroyed, and nothing had really gotten any better since then. Sure the world was saved, but the Summers family hadn't felt any rest.

When Joyce discovered that Buffy and Eris had decided they were going to stop an apocalypse instead of going to classes like they were supposed to, she blew up. Especially since Eris was meant to be keeping away from all the supernatural stuff. She spent a solid hour scolding Buffy and Eris about everything she possibly could, and when she had run out of steam, she called her sister who continued the scolding. Doesn't really matter that they saved the world, noooo, them getting into trouble and going against both of their mother's wishes were more important.

Despite the scolding, neither girl really focused on it all too much, considering they were struggling with their own internal struggles. Ever since Buffy had the superpower upgrade to defeat Adam, she felt like her body was in a constant state of restlessness. Sitting still or trying to sleep was impossible unless she went out to go kill something.

Eris was having a different struggle yet doing the same thing as her cousin to settle herself. Graham leaving and not choosing her had completely shattered her heart and left her in a state of anger and despair. She had given up on college, too many memories. Instead she stayed in her room all day and went out to patrol on her own at night. A similar coping mechanism to Buffy, however, she didn't get to calm her racing mind like the Slayer, instead she got bruises and various injuries that would make her ache for days, which was the outcome she wanted as feeling physical pain was better than feeling the pain of a broken heart.

No one really knew what she was doing, except Tara, who had been taking care of the claw marks Eris had gotten from the demon when she was defending Xander, Willow and Giles from anything that would possibly kill them, "you know you can't keep doing this."

"I know, Tara, it's stupid, but it helps ignore my feelings," Eris was sitting across from Tara on the Witch's bed, her hand holding up a poultice Willow had made to treat the wound on Eris' face.

"And could get you killed," Tara gingerly dabbed at the long scratch marks with a wet wipe, trying to keep the area clean, "the others are going to find out eventually."

"And I'll deal with them yelling when they do, just promise to keep it a secret," Eris pleaded as she tried not to wince at the pain.

Tara sighed but ended up nodding, "ok, I won't say anything, but please be careful," the raven-haired woman nodded back, "I've cleaned up as much a I could, its not pretty."

"Is this going to leave a scar? If it does, I'm jumping off a building."

"I don't think it will, this seems supernatural, but until we know what demon caused this then its going to keep getting worse."

"Greaaaat, more ickiness and stinging sensations," Eris whined as she rolled her eyes.

"We'll get it cured soon, hang in there," Tara gave a reassuring smile though she knew it wasn't going to do much.

She moved to using the poultice on the wound as Willow opened the door and walked inside, "hey, how's the wound going?"

The ginger witch took a look at the wound and winced at its nastiness, "this poultice is not working, sorry honey," Tara replied as she gave a small, but love filled smile to her girlfriend.

"I don't think there is anymore poultices to try, we might have to switch to spells," Willow's words caused Eris to fall back on the bed and groan loudly.

"Why can't there just be a cure all!?"

"I'm sorry Eris, I know this isn't easy."

"No, it's definitely not, but you know, the powers that be just have to add to my suffering…"

Willow moved over to the bed and sat next to where Eris' head lay and began stroking her friend's hair comfortingly, "are you ok?" she asked softly.

"No, not really…" Eris looked at the roof, staring at the various things that the witch's had hung up, "its just…Riley stayed, he chose Buffy, so why didn't Graham choose me…?"

"Oh Eris…"

"I know we had problems, but I thought I was enough, you know? Why wasn't I enough…" tears started to stream out of the corner of her eyes and fall onto the bed, something that was a regular occurrence for her.

"Eris, I'm so sorry you are going through this," Willow felt for her friend, remembering the similar pain she felt with Oz, "I know how you feel, like it was your fault, that there is something wrong with you…but please believe me when I tell you that neither of those things are true."

Eris moved her gaze over to Willow and raised a brow, "how?"

Willow took a moment to glance at Tara, asking silently if she was ok with her bringing up Oz. When she got a supportive nod from her girlfriend she continued, "Oz had struggled a lot internally leading up to him leaving, he was really torn between being with me and dealing with his lycanthropy. In the end he needed to do what was best for him, even if it caused pain."

"So, you're saying Graham stayed with the military because it was what was best for him?" Eris wasn't angry or offended with Willow's words, only confused and looking for any answer that would help her understand why he left.

"I think so, yeah. He had trained all his life to be part of the military, made long lasting connection with the other soldiers, some people can't give that up."

"But Riley did."

"Riley and Graham are two different people, Eris. All I know is he has a future, and staying here would stop that…"

Eris groaned, hating Willow's explanation, but she knew the witch was right, "I hate that you're right. What's that saying? If you love someone, you have to let them go?"

"It's a good saying," Tara chimed in, trying to be supportive.

"Its an annoying saying, why can't I be a selfish woman and complain and make him stay?"

"Because then he would end up hating you, and you wouldn't want that."

"No, Willow, no I would not. Though I'm allowed to be angry he left, right?"

"Of course you can, you still broke up, anger is ok, just don't let it create resentment."

"I won't…maybe…"

"Let's move on from this and try to make you smile."

"Yes please Tara, anything to take my mind off it."