A/N: Set in an alternate timeline (or universe) where, in the pilot episode, Yasmine was not dating Carl the bartender. The butterfly effect, and a certain prompt by 1angelette, has something to do with what follows that event. Maybe for 1angelette awesome prompt, which distracted me in math class because it just got better the more I thought of it.


Tonight was the night Marshall would propose to Lily. The two were perfect together and in a year's time they would be married. And what was Ted, Marshall's best friend one of Marshall's best friends, was doing? He was hanging out with Barney Stinson, bachelor extraordinaire. He, of course didn't understand Ted's laments about still being single. Being single was great.

"I suggest we play a little game I like to call: Haaaave you met Ted?" Barney said rubbing his hands in excitement.

"No I don't want to play-", Ted tried to protest, but Barney had already tapped on the closest girls shoulder and pulled Ted towards her.

"Hy, have you met Ted?" He said before walking away. Ted sighed giving in to Barney's masterful and persistent wing man skills.

"Hy, I'm Ted."

"I'm Yasmine."

"Yasmine, that's a beautiful name."

"Thanks it's Lebanese." Ted smiled, knowing that Barney was just talking about how he wanted to land a Lebanese girl (apparently Lebanese girls are the new half Asian).

--

A little while later, while Marshall proposed to Lily, Ted – half drunk – asked out Yasmine.

"You want to go out with me sometime?"

"Uh... Sure. Here's my number." She said scribbling her phone number down.

"Awesome", Ted smiled happily.

"Call me", she said getting up.

"I will", Ted walked back over to the bar where Barney was chatting with a blonde bimbo.

"That's horrible", Barney told her offering his fake condolence in order to get her into bed. "I can't believe he would just dump you like that, and on your anniversary. You deserve better." He nodded a bit to emphasize his point.

"Oh shut up", she blew him off and walked back to her group of friends.

"Nice", Ted commented. "Guess what I got? Digits from a – wait for it – Lebanese girl", he raised his eyebrows and awaited his congratulatory high five or fist bump.

"Awesome", they high fived.

"Yeah, she's great. I think there could really", he hesitated but smiled, "be something between us, you know? She could be-"

"NO, no. Ted don't you dare say it or I will slap you", he threatenly waged his finger. "You have got to relax and cool it with the marriage crap and 'the one'. There is no 'one' there is someone, someone for you to nail. It could be her or her or the brunette in the green sweater, hello!" He nodded in the direction. "I call dibs." Ted looked.

"Wow she is hot, but I don't think she'll go for you."

"What? Why not?" Barney asked his face falling from one of preparation – adjusting his tie and practicing his grin and wink – to one of disappointment.

"I can tell you right now: she's not a bimbo. If anything she seems to be more my type than-"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, well that's just too bad because I called dibs first. Plus with your 'I have to find the one' mojo, you wouldn't even get to first base before scarring her of to Canada to never be heard from again."

"Canada?"

"I had a slushie, today."

"Whatever, you just don't understand what actually dating is like. Finding 'the one' is the whole point."

"Dude, I totally know what dating is, and I have had many dates."

"No, you have had many conquest."

"You know it", Barney grinned.

"But I don't think you've ever dated someone more than once or twice."

"What's your point?" Barney asked taking a sip of scotch while keeping his eyes on the brunette, she was easily a nine or a ten.

"My point is, you couldn't keep a date for more than two night, if you tried."

"I could too. I won't but that's not because I can't. It's because I have other places to be, other people to see. It would be cruel for me to try and contain my awesomeness for just one girl." He gave the brunette a wink when she looked his way.

"I knew you couldn't..."

Robin Scherbatsky was out with a few friends she had managed to make in the couple of months since she's moved to New York. One of them had just recently been dumped - which was a bummer and all – but it made for a pretty bland night. Any interaction with any male (except for the barman) was looked upon as an act of betrayal, tonight they were the ennemi. So when a cute blond guy winked her way from the bar, Robin received an angry look from Maurissa.

"Ugh, why doesn't he just leave us be, the pig. You know he was actually trying to hit on me before. Like anyone's gonna fall for that line."

"What was the line?" Robin asked curious, but received a wave of angry looks from the rest of their friends, clearly not what they should be talking about.

"Something about betting me 100 dollars that when I turned around, he'd say wow." Robin wondered how that would work out – would he actually pay you? Isn't that like prostitution? – while Maurissa went on. "I can't stand these guys, they just don't understand what it's like to have your heart broken into a million pieces."

"Well I'm sure some of them have been dumbed before."

"Oh yeah, how do you know? Did you ask them? Do you know them? Why don't you just marry him if you like him so much!" Maurissa ranted, leaving Robin wishing to run out the door in a very confused state.

"Is that a challenge, Ted?" Barney asked.

"You know what? It is. I challenge you to date, and actually date anyone for more than uh... let's say two weeks."

"Challenge accepted." He slammed his drink onto the bar and prepared to go get that brunette.

"I wish someone would dump him. Then he'd know what it felt like. It would be a victory for women everywhere."

"By dumping one guy?"

"It's a metaphor, Robin."

"Yeah I guess..."

"Why don't we do it!" Katelyn excitedly suggested.

"Dump a guy?"

"Yeah! The first guy who hits on us, whoever it is, will go out on a date with him and then dump "

"That sounds a little mean, don't you think?"

"A little, but it'll be a great distraction for Maurissa. Plus it's not like he's never done it before."

"Good point", Robin answered. So they all agreed to date and then dump the next guy they saw.

"But how long should the dating part be?" Debbie asked.

"Well it should be long enough for him to form an attachment but not long enough for him to want to dump you..."

"How about ten days?" Robin offered, "like in that movie."

"Oh my God! This is gonna be exactly like that movie!"

"I love that movie."

"But no falling in love."

"As if..."