IT'S THE YEAR 2030
If you haven't read my other HIMYM fanfic, please do! It's called How I Loved Your Mother and I'm very proud of it. It has nothing to do with this story (although very similar in tone and format…yes, I write in script-format only, sorry).
I got this idea after reading BeneathTheUmbrella's Turn Back Time, so thanks for the inspiration!
Unlike my previous (and first HIMYM) story, this one is a lot more planned-out. I know the endgame, I know how I'm gonna get there and I hope you'll enjoy it. Some interesting twists are coming up soon, but in the meantime tell me what you think of this opening! Thanks in advance!
2030
Ted and Tracy's living-room. Penny (15) and Luke (13) are sitting on the couch, staring at the 'camera'.
Ted (voice-over, VO): So, where was I?
Luke: You mean there's more?
Ted (VO): What, you don't suppose that was it, do you?
Penny: Well…kind of.
Luke: Yeah, I mean you got all the important parts. Uncle Barney and Aunt Robin got married, Marshall and Lily went to Rome for a year, and while waiting for the train outside the wedding, you met mom.
Penny: What more is there?
Ted (VO): Well, don't you wanna know details? Like, how we dated and got to know each other and fell in love and got married—(Penny and Luke look bored)—and had two ungrateful children?
Penny: Come on, dad, don't be that guy.
Ted (VO): This is unbelievable.
Luke: We don't have to know everything. Don't you like keeping that part of your life with Mom a secret? It means it's more meaningful that way.
Penny: (nods) I agree.
Ted (VO): And this has nothing to do with the fact that you guys are bored out of your minds and can't wait to run to your rooms?
Penny and Luke (screaming): What?!
Penny: That's outrageous, dad.
Luke: Totally.
Penny: I thought you knew us better.
Luke (nods): Uh-huh.
Penny: (gets up) Well, since that's settled…
Luke: Yeah I think I'm gonna go play some videogames.
(Tracy enters)
Tracy: Hi guys!
Penny: Oh look, mom's here!
Luke: Hey, mom!
Tracy: What were you guys doing? (looks at the 'camera') Oh no. Not again.
Ted (VO): I didn't even get to the good part this time!
Tracy: (to Penny and Luke) I am so sorry you had to hear all that.
Penny: It was terrible.
Luke: I wanted to pull my eyes out!
Ted (VO): Hey!
(Ted finally comes onto the screen and kisses Tracy)
Ted: You said you loved it two minutes ago.
Penny: That's when the meet-cute finally happened.
Luke: Yeah, who cares what happens after that? You guys met, that's what's important.
Tracy: (looking up at Ted, smiling) Some wise children ya got there, Mosby.
Ted: Mm-hmm, who do you think they take after?
(They smile and kiss again)
Penny: I'm going to my room.
Luke: Me too.
(They both leave the room)
Tracy: (quietly, after they leave) So? Did you talk to her? (they both sit on the couch and cuddle)
Ted: I…couldn't! I can't talk to her about boys and breakups in front of Luke.
Tracy: (groans) I just still can't believe someone broke my baby girl's heart like that.
Ted: Look, it was gonna happen sooner or later, right? How many times was my heart broken before I found you?
Tracy: (smiles) And how many times after?
Ted: The point is, I'm actually kind of glad that it happened now. Not when she's older and it's much harder for her to recover. At least at 15, you know she's gonna forget about it in a week or a month or something.
Tracy: That's true. (plays with his hair) I never imagined you'd be so open about your daughter dating other boys.
Ted: What can I say? I've grown. I'm wise and mature now.
Tracy: Oh, ho-ho, "wise" we can all agree on. (picks out a gray hair from his head and shows it to him)
Ted (screams): Ow, hey!
Tracy: "Mature", I'm not so sure about.
Ted: Oh yeah?
(He starts tickling her and she falls on her back on the couch, giggling and laughing uncontrollably as he climbs over her. They stop after a few seconds and just stare into each other's eyes, breathing over each other heavily)
(Then, Tracy breaks the silence…)
Tracy: I can see up your nostrils.
(He resumes tickling her, this time with some pinching too, and she laughs again)
(The camera moves away from the happy couple and into Penny's room)
(Penny has gotten dressed and is ready to sneak out from the window)
(Her phone rings: she has a text)
(She looks at it and smiles then slowly and carefully sneaks out the window)
(Night-time. Penny is walking down the streets alone.)
(She hears footsteps behind her, but ignores them. This isn't a horror movie after all)
(The footsteps start getting louder and louder, closer and closer)
(Penny fights the urge to look back, but the footsteps get increasingly loud—someone behind her is running towards her)
(Penny speeds up just a little bit—she doesn't want to seem alarmed or anything, especially if this is all just in her head)
(The footsteps keep getting closer)
(Until finally, they run right past her)
(It's a jogger. A guy wearing short shorts and a tank top with wireless earphones plugged into his ears)
(Penny sighs. What a relief.)
(And then, a voice…)
Guy's voice (VO): Should you be out here?
Penny (screams): Aahh!
(She turns around and there's a kid, around her age, standing behind her throwing the trash in front of his house)
(He's tall, hazel eyed, slightly muscular)
Guy: (chuckles) Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. You just look lost.
Penny: (sighs) Oh. I'm sorry. Umm, sorry I screamed. I just wasn't expecting—I didn't see you actually.
Guy: Really? 'Cause you walked right past me.
Penny: (smiles) Sorry. And no, not lost. I live a couple of blocks away. I'm going to the train station. So…thanks anyway. (resumes walking)
Guy: I could drive you there if you want. I have a permit.
Penny: It's…thanks, no need at all. It's just a couple more blocks.
Guy: No, I insist. Come on. I got the keys right here.
(Penny ponders for a moment, then smiles)
(She offers a handshake)
Penny: I'm Penny.
(The guy smiles back innocently)
the year 2060
(A futuristic living-room. Two teenagers (a boy and a girl) are sitting on a couch, staring into the 'camera').
Future Penny (voice-over): And that, kids, is how I met…your uncle Neil.
(They both groan in frustration)
Boy: Are you serious?!
Girl: I thought you were telling us how you met dad!
Future Penny (VO): (chuckles) Ohh, ho-ho, this is gonna be fun.