Robin was flooded with guilt the moment she entered the bar, to see Barney with such a loving look in his eyes. It was only seconds later that the light in his eyes vanished, his smile straightening.

I'm sorry. She wanted to say, knowing the words would not be enough. She looked back into is sad eyes, full of regret. She wanted to hide, to close her eyes or look away so that she could spare herself from his wounded expression. And so instead, Robin responded in the only way she could: subtly shaking her head.

She tried desperately to tell herself she had made the right decision, the one that was best for her, for both of them. Kevin loved her. And he was safe and caring and stable. But as she watched Barney stand at the bar struggling to pull the smile back to his lips, she realized that he loved her too. Maybe even more.

He had ended his relationship with Nora, probably the healthiest one he's had, for her. He had risked heartbreak for her, put it all on the line. She hated her apparent inability to do the same for him.

"I'm going to head out." Robin snapped back to the present, her thoughts moments behind in one that seemed to have lasted a little too long. She was sitting at the regular booth with the gang, with the exception of Barney, who was inches to her right, about to go home.

"I'm so sorry." She finally allowed herself to say, realizing that she was right before. Those words weren't enough.

"Don't be. Rough night." He turned and left.

For the second time that night, Robin found herself lost in a moment, lingering behind in the final glimpse she had of him before he stepped outside. It hurt to see him so broken down, ushering himself out so quietly. Without his usual air of confidence, the ever-suave look in his eyes, he looked like a different man entirely.

"What do you think happened between Barney and Nora?" Lily interrupted Robin's thoughts, pulling her back to the conversation to which she had been paying no attention, with the sheer mention of his name.

"No idea," Ted replied. "You guys don't think he cheated on her, do you?"

"Maybe." Marshall took a swig of his drink, "I wouldn't be that surprised."

"I would be!" Lily raised her voice, "I mean, Barney's been different lately. He's growing up and I think he's developed real feelings for her."

Marshall considered this, "I don't know. Robin, what do you think it was?"

"Yeah," Lily realized, "didn't you split a cab with him last night?"

"He didn't mention anything about Nora." Robin pulled her focus away from her drink to answer. At least she didn't have to lie. "Actually, um, I think I'm going to go home."

"Is everything okay?" Ted asked.

"Of course." She forced a weak smile before leaving the bar, and walking up stairs to her apartment.

…

There were candles and rose petals scattered throughout the room. Robin peaked in through a crack in the door to see Barney, garbage bag in hand, blowing out one of the candles on her bedside table. She thought about turning to walk away. Confrontation was more than she wanted to deal with at the moment. After all, it had been a long night, and there had already been more than enough pain.

She watched him sit down on the edge of her bed, burying his head in his hands. Robin couldn't take it anymore. She opened the door, and he turned to face her.

"Robin," He spoke softly. She had arrived home earlier than he had anticipated, and the guilt he had been trying to save her from filled every empty space in her bedroom. "This um, it's nothing. I was just…"

Robin was speechless. Barney shook his head, unsure of what else to say. He had rushed back here as soon as he left the bar in order to try and clean up what he had left for her. As hurt as he was by her decision, he respected it. And the last thing he wanted was for her to come home and realize how serious he had been. He didn't want her to feel guilty for not loving him.

"I should go." He scooped up the rest of the rose petals, stuffing them into the garbage bag and tried to move past Robin without lifting his head enough to look her in the eye.

"Wait." Her hand found his shoulder, the other taking the bag from his.

He stood expectantly, but neither had anything to say. Nothing that could be put into words.

"Do you want a drink?" Robin asked quietly.

Barney thought about brushing her off, but a drink did sound good. "Yeah, sure." He nodded, before moving to the living room.

She poured them each a scotch, sitting down on the couch beside him. He glared at the tiny sliver of space between their thighs, thinking how unfair it was of her to ever so casually sit so close to him after all that had happened. But as he knew, it was instinct.

"It's okay, you know." He finally said, "I mean, I get it. And I want things to be okay between us. I just wish you had said something."

"I didn't know what to say." She admitted.

"You could've just told me that you didn't feel the same way, back on the boat. Why didn't you?"

Because it wouldn't have been true. She thought, saying nothing.

"Or at the bar… why couldn't you have said something? Anything. Honestly, Robin, I respect your decision to stay with Kevin, I get it. But I thought I at least meant enough to you for you to have said, I don't know, four words to me? You didn't say four words." He took a shaky breath, standing in an attempt to distance himself from her. "I wish you would see that you're not the only one in this scenario."

Robin stared down into her drink, wanting, as she had before, only to run. Here he was, frustrated over the few words she had said before, and yet she couldn't seem to spit another out.

"I'm sorry." Barney added, sighing. "I'm not mad at you, okay. It's been a rough night, and it's okay. All of this is okay. It's just, I think I could've had a real future with Nora." It wouldn't have compared to the one I might've had with you. He added mentally. "I felt safe with her. I could've been happy. And I'm frustrated with myself, because despite that, somehow I don't regret sleeping with you, and I don't regret breaking up with her for you. I should, but I don't. I'm in love with you."

She looked up, "You love me?"

"I thought you might've guessed that by now."

"I didn't earlier." She thought out loud. "Barney, I know it doesn't seem this way, but I really wanted for things to work out between us. I wanted-I want-for us to be together. But I was scared because I'm not used to wanting anything real. And I know you aren't either. I was worried you would wake up tomorrow morning and regret everything. I didn't want to lose you."

"Robin, I would never-"Barney's voice softened. He stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I was serious about us. I'm in love with you." He said again.

"I know." She replied softly, "I just didn't see it before. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay." He kissed her on the forehead before heading for the door.