Hey-o guys :) So, Barney didn't burn the playbook. Chrm. Well, I wasn't too happy with that, and so I just added a little scene to the episode, trying to make the intention of Barney's (admittedly adorable) speech a bit clearer. I'm not too sure about it, so it'd be nice if you'd let me know what you think :)
His arm slides around her waist, pulling her against his side. Her shoulders are tense, and she doesn't relax against him like she normally does.
"Hey," Barney says, stepping in front of her. "Are you still mad?"
Robin rolls her eyes. They don't stop walking, so he's walking backwards, trying to catch her eyes. He does that a lot now, she thinks. Looking into her eyes, that is. Not going backwards… right?
"I don't want you to lie," she says in a small voice. The fake flowers suddenly feel heavy in her hand, and she breaks the eye contact. "I get that you still wanna run plays and that you love illusions and misdirection. I get it. Just…" She shrugs.
"What?" he prompts softly.
"Can't you just be true with me?" she whispers. "How am I supposed to believe that I'm the only true thing in your life when you keep lying to me?"
He stops then and takes a breath. He takes her left hand into his, gently stroking the inside of her wrist. Her engagement ring glitters faintly in the street light.
"Do you wanna know the greatest magic trick of all time?"
Robin is not sure she does, but nods anyway.
"Two years ago, when I first tried to spend some time with my dad," Barney starts, playing idly with the ring on her finger, "I couldn't understand how he pulled it off. You know, being a dad, living in some suburban hell with a wife and two kids with a basketball hoop in the backyard. And I told him how I thought that I was messed up and too far gone to ever even get the chance to settle down in life." He smiles then, intertwining his fingers with hers. "Wanna know what he said?"
There's a twinkle in his eyes. It's familiar and comforting and reminds her of summer in New York. She nods.
"He said that a magician never reveals his biggest trick. But he gave me a hint on how to get there." His voice drops into a low whisper, like he is letting her in on a big secret. "He said that I needed to meet the right girl. And I immediately thought of you."
Robin's lips break into a slight smile as he pulls her hand towards his lips.
"The point is… that you're part of this. No, that's not it. You're the reason I'm willing to perform this trick, the most challenging trick ever. You're the core of all the stupid, irrational stuff that I do. Because I love you, Robin." He takes her head carefully in his hands, making her look at him. "And as sappy as it sounds, you're the centre of my universe."
She laughs lightly, looking at him, taking him in. He's like a big boy with all of the crazy stuff that he comes up with, and deep inside, she knows that's why she fell in love with him in the first place.
"Feels good to hear you say that," she says sheepishly. Barney kisses her, then, and she feels it flow through her. The truth of Barney's words washes over her.
Half a minute later, they arrive in front of Ted's apartment building. The street's a mess and she can hear Ted shouting at Jeannette.
"Please, that's Barney's life's work!"
"It's fine, Ted," Barney says, looking up at the bedroom window. "Blow it up, Jeannette!"
The boom rings in her ears as they look at each other.
And as they sit down on the pavement, giving Ted the chance to correct his RSVP, she eventually relaxes against him when he puts his arm around her. Ted says he's ready to settle down; Robin feels Barney look at her.
"You're gonna be okay, bro," the blonde reassures his best friend.
The five of them sit together until the last of Ted's possessions burns out.