Barney caught his breath. She was so beautiful, and she was walking down this aisle towards him. He barely even noticed Robin's dad on her arm, walking her over to him. He knew that was a big deal to Robin, but he couldn't look away from her long enough to think about that. He was really marrying Robin Scherbatsky. Considering all of the freak outs they had today, this all seemed like a dream. In that moment, he knew this is what he wanted. That she was what he wanted for the rest of his life. He thought back to when they got together for the first time. They were too scared to even admit to themselves that they wanted to be together. They had to convince themselves they were lying to their friends, rather than just saying that they were boyfriend and girlfriend. Barney remembered walking out of the building so excited that they had "fooled" their friends. Then decided to get brunch, one of the most lame, coupley things ever.
"Well lead the way sweetie pie," Robin had said. The nickname sounded foreign coming from her, it sounded too Marshmallow and Lilypad. It sounded too Ted-ish.
"Whoa flugelhorn!", Barney replied, making sure to put disgust in his tone.
"Yeah that felt wrong", Robin admitted. They walked down the stairs laughing to themselves and continued down the block, when something occurred to Barney.
"Knowing our friends, they probably came outside to watch us walk away. Know what would seal the deal on our little lie?" Robin looked up at him quizzically. "Hold my hand." He grabbed Robin's hand as he said this, giving her no choice in the matter. Robin looked ahead laughing. Barney's heart was doing flips in his chest. He never thought he would get so much satisfaction and joy out of holding hands. He felt like a twelve year old, but in that moment, he didn't care. It was Robin.
Barney thought about that moment as the Robin in her tight in all the right places, yet elegant wedding dress stood next to him. Back then, it was a novelty for Barney to be able to do something as simple as hold hands with Robin. Before that, it was a taboo to touch or look at her at all. He was too afraid that he would give away his secret. That he was completely, madly in love with Robin Scherbatsky. That feeling had never gone away. Not after they broke up. Not after she got together with Don. Not after Nora, not after Kevin, not after Quinn. Not after all of the bimbos in between. The feeling was always there bubbling under the surface. Everything else in his life had been a distraction from how much he really loved her. He never needed another distraction again. He never had to hide his love for her again. He could touch any part of her he wanted, her body was his. And his body was hers. No one ever turned him on as much as Robin does. She knows him and his body better than anyone else. Barney thinks about all of this, but all he says is,
"Wow, you look beautiful Scherbatsky." Robin's smile is wide. She looks truly happy. She replies,
"Soon to be Stinson." Barney can tell she is thinking about the same things as he is. They are finally going to be together forever.