There is this one moment. This one moment, when nothing special happens, but everything changes. Time stops and for the slightest fragment of a second you can SEE. Flashes of your life, of your mistakes and achievements, of your joy and your sorrow. For the first time ever, you stop wondering about the what ifs and whys of your existence and appreciate it for what it is. For the first time ever, you realize things would be different if it hadn't been for all past problems and failures. YOU would be different. And while you can always wish for things to be different, you couldn't wish for you to be different. Never. It's the moment you know with absolute certainty you don't regret a thing.
For Barney the moment comes early. It comes with Robin's hand in his as they leave the apartment the day Lily forces them to become boyfriend and girlfriend. Because he, Barney, hasn't had a girlfriend since Shannon, but yet, here she is, gorgeous independent awesome Robin, that high-fives him for sex jokes and can even make something lame as breakfast seem absolutely legen-wait for it-dary. He couldn't wish for him to be different, because she's become a part of him. Like Scotch. Like Laser Tag. Like his suits. Maybe it's her that suits him the best, he muses with a smile. If he didn't know any better, he'd say she was hand-tailored for him.
He doesn't regret a thing.
For Robin, the moment comes late. It comes with him telling her how great it was she never was needy. Time stops for a moment and she can SEE. For the first time, she remembers that Barney isn't always an insensitive jerk. She realizes she could always count on him. He would always fix her. When she became crazy Holiday Robin. When Simon broke up with her for the second time. When she lost her job and was going to be deported. When he jumped into the Hudson for her and let her have the Super Date. AfterDon broke up with her and he forced her to" sun-dress" up and come back to life.
"You are the second most awesome person I know", he had once told her and he had never sounded more sincere. And even now, after they broke up, he is still trying to fix her, to ensure it'll stay that way He always will.
The world shifts for her then. It is just a swift movement that nobody but her notices. But suddenly the sunlight seems a little bit brighter and her life seems a little bit better. Everything suddenly has fallen into place with that small recognition. And as she steps out into the crowded street, she looks up at his window. "You're an idiot", she whispers.
She doesn't regret a thing.