I've always thought that the Barney/ Lily friendship is really cute, and I thought that she'd have something to say about his engagement. This is set a few days after 8.12 The Final Page, and the episode referred to is 2.16 Stuff. Hope you enjoy.

The Robot Falls In Love

The others go into Marvin's room to play with him, and Barney and Lily are left alone together on the couch. She pulls him towards her and wraps her arms around his back.

"I always knew you would," whispers Lily against his cheek.

"I would what?" he replies.

"Love, she says simply, "I always knew you had it in you"

"I'll have it in you in a minute, if you'll let me,"

He pulls away from her and winks, and she punches his arm. He recoils, then grins at her. His smile has always made her let him get away with anything.

"Anyway," Barney scorns, "I'm not going to become some sappy married….sap, all love and hearts and all that crap. I'm not going to become Marshall,"

"No," she agrees, because she doesn't want him to, "But you always said that love didn't exist and Ted was stupid-"

"Ted is stupid," he interrupts.

She pushes his shoulder and continues, "-for wanting to find love, and that marriage and commitment were death. And you could never tell her you loved her. You even broke a TV, Barney!"

He gags, "You know about that?"

She says nothing, just gives him the "Please," look which he himself so often uses on others.

"Well," he says hesitantly, "I, y'know, changed. Learnt. But I'm still the same awesome suited-up awesomer you've always secretly wanted to bang,". He winks again and clicks his tongue. She rolls her eyes.

"I guess it was you who believed in me though," he adds quietly, "You were always like, "Tell her how you feel," and "Ask her out," even though most of the time I didn't want to, or I couldn't. I still- I still can't really deal with all that "feelings," malarkey you think is so great, but I…" he tails off, and there's a long pause.

"Thanks, Lil," he says.

Lily remembers that play she was in years ago, and Barney's ridiculous vengeance on her for it. The best part had obviously been when Marshall had slapped him, because God, he had deserved it, but now Lily remembers something else, something she's forgotten until now- "You wait till Act 2. Spoiler alert: the robot falls in love,"

And he had. Not only had the robot fallen in love, he had grown up and worked at it and made sacrifices, and was actually going to get married.

Lily feels a jolt of affection for this guy, this evil, sociopathic idiot who she's always believed in. She takes Barney's hand, and holds it for a second before he jumps away.

"Woah, enough of that "feelings" crap, Aldrin. I'm gonna find Robin; we still haven't had sex in your kitchen yet,"

The robot heads into Marvin's room to find his fiancée. As he does, he turns back to Lily and calls, "You're welcome to join in if you want to!".

Thank you for reading, I hope you liked it. Reviews are really appreciated. Thanks again, have a nice day :)