Here's the newest story in my every extending line. Guys, if you haven't read "The Long and Winding Road", or at least "In My Life" you may be a little lost. You don't have to read the others, but it helps. There's going to be twists, turns, a few surprises, and a baby (the baby itself isn't a surprise, but you've still got your chances to throw in your say in your reviews for whether it's a boy or girl and the name).
Before I launch into the story, I love my faithful reviewers, and I'm always happy for new ons. Those who reviewed on "In My Life's" interlude chapter, maveldc superhero fan, emogleek (I further accuse you of mind reading, lol, just won't tell you in which ways) princesakaralita411, my ever present review fairy, littleblackneko, thank you guys so much.
And without further ado, on with the show
Topaz-b
Ps- Title choice/Song wise "Something" By The Beatles is gorgeous (One of my absolute favorites by the fab four) Also, as you listen to/read the lyrics, it fits the Barney & Robin scenario going on.
Something in the way she moves,
Attracts me like no other lover.
"Robin, will you marry me?"
Robin gaped up at him, still unsure if he meant it or not until he pulled the ring out. She smiled.
"Barney, you can't be serious."
"What?" His smile dropped.
"This is a joke right?"
"Robin I've been trying to ask you all week"
"Barney this isn't a good idea right now. I don't think you're ready for that serious a commitment."
"I am."
"The most serious thing we've done is move in together, we've never even"
"Moving in together is the pre-step to this, the step that told me how much better you make my life."
"Barney,you're not ready."
"I am ready, when it's with you." He looked at her, and those blue eyes cut her deep. She swallowed hard before talking.
"Think. Are you doing this because you want to, or because you think it's the right thing, or the next logical step?"
"I want to and I know it's the right thing."
"Then you won't mind waiting."
"You won't mind waiting?" Lily said, halting her hand mid stir. She was baking glucose free peanut free chocolate free raisin free cookies for her allergy ridden class. She'd tried certain cookies for certain kids but it all turned drastic when all the lessons she's given them about sharing went horribly right.
"I know. I panicked!" Robin answered quickly, her head in her hands. "What the hell was Barney doing talking about marriage anyway?"
"Maybe he meant it."
"Maybe he was doing it to freak me out you mean." She leaned back against the sofa. "He can't be serious can he? We've only been together for a few months."
"Six months."
"Six months. And we've only been living together for half of that."
"Four months."
"For Four months." She looked over at her. "When did you become such a stickler for time."
"Since I found out I had 9 months worth of baby in my tummy." She said it with a smile, her hand rubbing her stomach.
"Ah, the power of the baby."
"There is no other greater power on earth." Lily said matter of factly, and then grinned.
"Power of the baby huh..." Robin trailed off, lost in thought. Lily came out of the propped open door of the kitchen of her apartment and into the living room.
"But seriously Robin, what are you going to do?"
"I don't know. I'm not ready. We're not ready, he..."
"He's ready." Lily said, moving to sit next to her on the couch and putting the bowl down on the coffee table. "He's been ready for a while now."
"But I don't think I am."
"Then don't rush it sweetie, he'll understand."
"Thanks." Robin smiled at her best friend.
"But in the meantime let's pick out your colours. I'm thinking"
"Lily!"
"Kidding, kidding."
"She said no?" Marshall said to Barney, examining the ring box he'd just shown him. Barney gave a half nod.
"Dude, she would've said no to this guy." Ted pointed at himself with his thumbs.
"Ted, Seriously?" Marshall said, gesturing at Barney. Ted looked over and dropped his thumbs sheepishly. They were sitting in their usual Bar at MacLaren's, their drinks in front of them, but no one had drunk yet.
"Sorry Barney." Ted said. Barney waved his hand at him, turning his head away. "Barney are you crying? You are really hurting." Ted was instantly ashamed of his actions, not thinking his friend would take it as hard as he was.
"Barney Stinson doesn't get hurt." Barney snapped quickly. "And I'm not crying, it's just all the awesome that I am overwhelms my body sometimes and has to be released in liquid form."
"Oh..." Ted said slowly, not quite sure which emotion to put behind the word. Marshall shook his head at him again.
"Look, Barney, are you alright?" Marshall closed the top on the ring box.
"Yeah, I mean no, I mean..." He sighed. "I just thought it would fall into place, you know. Girl, relationship, marriage, challenge accepted." He pulled his drink towards him. "I forgot that there would be two sides to the challenge."
"Aw Barney, you need cheering up. Come on, lets go to the strip club." Ted said. "First lap dance is on you, but I'm paying." He finished in his most Barney-esque tone, but only got a weak smile out of Barney.
"Not right now."
"Barney, you really are upset." Ted said. "You even went to the strip club when your grandma died."
"Nana!" Barney exclaimed with a distressed cry, but then sat up. "I did get with that redhead that night." He gave a wink. Ted shook his head.
"Maybe that's what Robin means by not ready, your ability to, pardon my French, not give a shit when it comes to your conversation filters."
"No, Robin's always been the one who laughed at and understood that about Barney the most." Marshall said, taking his drink into his hand. "It's probably some other reason. Maybe she's not ready." His phone beeped suddenly and he picked it up and read the text. "There's Lily, she'll be wanting this." He pulled a large bag from under the table.
"Markers?" Ted said, sliding the ring box towards Barney.
"No." He pulled a few things out. "Tuna, lucky charms, crackers, pepperoni and pickles. She says she's going to make a casserole." Marshall shuddered as Barney and Ted looked at him in disgust.
"But…"
"Don't ask." He drained his drink and stood. "Pregnancy is terrifying."
Barney and Ted watched Marshall leave, and fell into silence. Barney spoke first.
"Hey Ted. Can you hold onto this for me for a while?" He pushed the ring box towards him. "Just until I figure this out."
"Of course Barney."
Robin answered her latest email from Starla, who was lamenting that she dyed her hair back to its original brown instead of the blonde she'd been lightening it, and they'd been giving her less on-screen time. She blamed it on the dark hair, Robin blamed it on Starla's ability to forget that she was in fact reading the news and sometimes go off on a tangent, which the fans loved, but the studio hated.
Closing down her email, she looked around the office and the sea of people mulling about. Checking her watch, she stood to head to the cafeteria for lunch and sat back down just as quickly as she stood.
Nora had just entered the room, laughing and chatting with one of the other girls. Ducking her head behind her computer screen, Robin brought up an empty word document page and started to randomly type, not paying attention to what her fingers were actually doing, concentrating instead on Nora's trajectory through the room. She started to panic as she realized she was coming right to her desk.
"Hello Robin." Robin looked up at Nora's sickeningly sweet smile.
"Hi Nora." Robin said forcing her own smile.
"You're looking well." Nora sat on the edge of her desk. "I came to see if you wanted to have lunch together."
"Lunch?" Robin looked at Nora dubiously.
"Yes. I mean, there's no hard feelings between the two of us, right?"
"Yeah, you're right." Robin said, reminding herself that what initially made her Nora's friend was the woman's ability to not sweat the small stuff. She smiled. "Sure, just let me finish this sentence." She looked up to what she'd written and hid a laugh. Barney Stinson, laundry day, and notes about what the woman next to her was wearing. She typed a nonsense sign off, and stood, flicking off her monitor.
"Ok, let's go."
Ted was running to make his 2 o'clock class, his first of the day. Hurrying to leave he reached into his bag to check for his keys, and noticed Barney's ring box still in there. He picked it out and put it into his bedside table drawer, and left the apartment.