This is my first HIMYM fic and I'm completely obsessed with Robin and Barney! I've changed my style of writing for this. Constructive criticism is welcome. Reviews are also welcome.
It's her first day at the bar with Ted's group and Rachel's really nervous. It's not like she's never met them before, but this is her first evening with them as Ted's girlfriend and she knows how important they are to him.
Time passes, and Rachel's feeling comfortable already. She has figured out his friends- there's Barney, the womanizer; Robin, the care-a-damn girl; Marshall and Lily, the sweet married couple and Ted, who she guesses, is the Lonely Boy.
Rachel notices the obvious things- Marshall and Lily holding hands beneath the table, harmonizing with each other's thoughts and casting warmth over the whole group, and Ted glancing at her every now and then nervously. She doesn't mind, because she knows exactly how he feels.
And then Rachel notices the not-so obvious things- Robin placing a hand on Barney's arm whenever she leans forward to tell a story, a split-second flash of something in Barney's eyes when a guy walks up to Robin at the bar.
Full of curiosity, Rachel makes her way towards Robin.
"Hey."
"Hey!" Robin smiles.
"So…Ted told me that he used to date you earlier. Is it weird hanging out with your ex all the time?" she asks casually.
"No, not at all." Robin shakes her head, "We're friends more than exes. You don't need to worry."
"Oh no, it's not a problem with me."
"Plus, I hang out with Barney too."
"Barney?"
"Yeah, I dated him too."
"Oh." It makes sense then.
Back at the booth, Rachel tries to notice more signs but it's as if Robin and Barney have subconsciously picked up on what she's trying to do. Then Lily brings up Norah, a girl who Barney likes. Apparently.
"-so I invited her over." Lily finishes with a flourish.
Barney splutters and makes a great fuss. He's panicking and it appears that he's nervous about meeting Norah. Lily's looking at him like an over-indulgent mother and Barney's glaring at her. But something feels off, and that's when Rachel notices how tight Robin's smile is.
So when a pretty girl with black hair makes her entrance ("There she is!"), Rachel tells Ted that she has to go home. He looks at her with concern but she shakes her head and smiles. She doesn't want to see what's going to happen next.
I know it's really short. There will be longer chapters in the future. Hopefully.