Title: Dad
Summary: James and Barney both have a dad. Here's how they met them.
A/N: I got my first day of school tomorrow but I've been wanting to write this for a while now.
Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN THE SHOW! srly, what would make you think I did?
"James!" A tall man calls out. Barney looks up from paper, a broken crayon in his hand and more scattered about the floor turned into a workspace. James seems as puzzled as Barney.
"Yes?" The boy asks, still sitting next to his brother; moments ago he was critique what they should do this afternoon.
The man is grinning wildly, he's wearing a worn jersey and brown cargo pants, his hair is cut short – he'd be bald almost, but he didn't look bad.
He chuckles and turns to their mom who seems a little uncomfortable, "Well, come on, boy! Give your old man a hug."
James and Barney look at each other, frowning, confused. But, seeing their mother nod authoritatively, James stands up and walks to them. He keeps his head down and is quite ready to turn and run.
When he gets close enough the man grabs onto him, squeezing him tight. Finally he lets him go and pulls him out of the hug only to maintain a steady grip on his shoulders.
"How about we go to the carnival today, huh buddy?" He smiles. James's eye twinkle, he'd never been to a carnival before.
"The carnival?" He asks, afraid it was a lie.
The man nods, widening his grin. James steals a glance to his mommy, "Can I?"
His mom puts on a smile and nods, "Yeah, you can go."
"What about me?" Barney had stood up and gulped, staring longingly at James and the mysterious man who promised nothing but fun and warmth.
"Can Barney come?" James said looking back to the man who was now staring at his brother with disdain. He stood back up from his knelt position and turned to his mom.
"Who's that kid?" He whispers hoarsely.
"My name is Barney Stinson!" Barney cries stubbornly.
The man frowns at his mom who nervously inhales her cigarette and looks away in discomfort. He turns back to the two small boys and smiles, then chuckles looking over the blond boy. "That's nice for you but you ain't my trouble. Come on, James, I'll get you some cotton candy."
"But what about Barney?"
"He's staying here." And before anyone could say another word, James was pulled out of the house, his mom was left to breath in as much nicotine as possible to try and quiet her nerves and kill her resentment and Barney was left standing alone in the living room.
He finally sits back down and stares at his half drawn picture. Tired of wallowing in his loneliness, he turned the TV on and watched one of the three channels they had.
Ten minutes later his mom walks through the living room.
"Mom? Who's my dad? Everyone else at school has a dad, who's mine?"
"Oh I don't know," she huffs. "That guy." She points at the blurry screen where The Price is Right is playing; Bob Barker grins on screen, cheerfully talking to a new contestant.