A/N: This introduction is in a different style than the rest of the story. Ted will explain why at the end, but let me just quickly give you an idea of what to expect. This part is supposed to like the beginning of an episode, just short scenes to catch the viewer up. The rest of the piece takes the perspectives of each of the characters, in different groupings - Marshall/Lily, Ted, Barney/Robin. My vision is that each of those perspectives will have three parts (at least, that's how it's shaping up right now), which would bring the grand total to 10 chapters, including this one. We'll see how that goes! Enjoy!

2030

"The summer of 2009 was one of the strangest summers of my life."

"Dad. Seriously. Can we please talk about something else for right now?"

"Yeah, I mean I have a life. I'll admit that you and your friends sound … well, awesome … but I really need a break. I feel like you've been talking FOR-EV-ER."

"Well kids, you're gonna have to wait a little while longer, because this is when the story gets interesting."

"Now, as I was saying …"

2009

"The summer of 2009 was one of the strangest summers of my life. It wasn't strange in a bad way, and if you had to put a label on it, the most straightforward one would be to call it a 'Summer of Change,' which it most certainly was. But looking back on it now, I think it's more correct to call it a 'Summer of Love.'

"You had old love, still burning, and endlessly igniting and subsiding and igniting again in a rhythmic cycle. Always under the constant presence of respect, adoration, and trust."

Marshall was sitting at his desk in GNB headquarters, sometime around lunch. His secretary buzzed through on the intercom, telling him he had a visitor. Smiling slyly, he said, "let her in."

Lily came bounding through the doorway, almost exploding with anticipation of seeing her Marshmallow in the middle of the day. At her side was a lunchbox.

"Here's your lunch, Marshall!"

"Lily, you are the BEST."

"You know summer is my favorite time of the year … because instead of giving lunch and recess to my students, I can bring lunch to my Marshmallow in person … then give him a little recess …"

"I LOVE SUMMER," Marshall exclaimed, enveloping Lily into a suggestive hug.

"You had new love, exploring itself for the first time. Full of promises, hope, perhaps with some apprehension underneath."

Ted was touring the Columbia University grounds for the first time, led by the Chairman of the Architecture Department, Dr. Glenn.

"So here is the main quad of Columbia University," Dr. Glenn said cordially as he and Ted walked through the sunny space.

"Just look at the expressive architecture of the surrounding buildings! They seem to highlight the strength and magnitude of the student body that enters this hallowed grounds, yet annotates the soft and supple intricacies of the knowledge that is shared here. It is simply beautiful," Ted philosophized.

"Yes yes, fascinating, isn't it? Now, let me show you your office."

Ted's left hand covered his heart and he sighed as he said breathlessly, "I'm in love."

"And then … there was whatever your Uncle Barney and Aunt Robin were doing …"

Barney and Robin were kissing passionately on Barney's couch. His hands were enveloping the sides of her face, thumbs circling her ears and his fingers resting softly in her hair. Robin, for her part, had her hands firmly on his lapels, pushing the suit jacket off of his shoulders, as Barney shrugged in an attempt to speed up the process.

-flash (cut scene to shortly in the future)-

Barney and Robin were lying next to each other in Barney's bed, staring straight up to the ceiling, reminiscent of that night. Barney's pillow was resting under his head, and the small blanket was shared between the two, concealing their nakedness, although only precariously retaining its position. Simultaneously they broke their gaze at the ceiling and looked at each other.

"Yeah so –"

"I'd better be –"

"You don't have to –"

"I'll give you a –"

They stopped their fumbling interspeak, and stared hard and passionately at each other for a moment. Their eyes burned into each other, then they both propelled themselves into another frenzied kiss. As suddenly as they started, they broke away from each other again. This time, their responses were in unison, as they scrambled to leave the bed:

"I'll see you later."

Now kids, it's impossible to tell this part of the story as the purely 3rd person narrator, because there was so much going on that I wasn't even aware of at the time. So I'm going to have to take Summer 09 one piece at a time, and explain what happened through the perspective of those who lived through it.

to be continued.