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NYE 2004/2005 – Barneys Apartment.
Ted and Barney are sitting on the balcony drinking beer chatting away and the subject turns to Lily and Marshall. "So what's up with those two. You reckon Marshall's finally gonna pop the question" Barney asks. Ted replies "Yeah I think so. I mean it's kind of nice don't you think. I mean they're 27 years old and been dating since college and you know what my favourite thing is. They're each others first and only. Neither of them has had another girl or boyfriend".
Barney sips his beer and smirks "Nice Ted! I think that sucks. Seriously who wants to spend their entire life with only one person. And who even thinks about these things before 30, I don't want you getting any ideas Ted, remember what we discussed. No marriage talk until 30. And by that point all I want to do is bang 200 women".
Later Lily and Marshall arrive.
11pm
Ted and Marshall hanging out in the kitchen setting up snacks. Ted asks Marshall "So you and Lily. Looks like you guys are doing pretty well. Hope I get lucky as you one day, maybe 2005 will really be the year of the one".
Marshall seems nervous and says "Ted here's the thing. Lily and I have been together so long that it's just…. Well you know I'm scared things are going to fizzle out. I'm still doing my degree, Lily hasn't been the same since she gave up art for teaching kindergarten. Hell we don't have a first anything anymore. I was even thinking of getting a ring, maybe that will help us out but I just don't know what to do Ted".
Ted put a comforting hand on Marshall's shoulder and said "Look bro, it's all gonna be fine. You guys are destined to be together I just know that 2005 things are going to skyrocket for you. Now come on let's grab another drink, the balls about to drop soon, midnight is almost upon us".
Same time at the lounge room
Lily is sitting back on the couch watching Barney struggle with the TV. She sips her wine and comments "you know Barney, the instructions are right there". Barney disregards and says "Instructions are for losers I can figure this out".
Ted and Marshall walk over and Ted looks in admiration and says "Hey I know that model, that's the hottest new TV around. I heard that it receives a signal so strong you can almost feel it". Barney nods and says "Yep, once this baby picks up the feed, the satellite shoots the video right through, no filter. You might as well be watching this on the satellite itself".
"If Barney can ever get this thing to work that is" says Lily as the boys laugh and Marshall says "Let me give you a hand Barney, I have a history of beating the machines you know". Barney disregards and finally says "There you go finally working. I'm removing the filter so you won't even know the difference between what's on TV and what's actually happening in times square. Direct satellite feed coming through".
Ted suddenly interrupts and says "Hey guys there's just one thing I want to share, it's quiet the architectural fact. Did you know that this building was almost named after it's architect Richard Baxter. Yep that's right, they were going to name it, in fact some people still call the The Baxter Building". The room went quiet and everyone just turned to the TV instead making Ted feel like a complete nerd.
As the countdown begins the four friends sit around the TV and count down to the new year until the ball drops. As they celebrate they notice the TV start glowing and Barney grabs the remote. While Marshall and Lily kiss Ted comes up to Barney in panic as Barney tries to fix the filter but a signal pops up saying "Danger: Direct Satellite feed incoming". As all four stare at the TV a beam of light shoots through engulfing the entire room sending all four flying into the wall and knocking them out.