How I Met Your Mother
There stood the gang. In Barney's apartment. It looked the same. You think he'd change it. It looked like Ellie had never been there at all.
"So Barney," Ted said. "Where's Ellie?"
Barney had been staring down his scotch the entire time, now he had given one of his famous half smiles- almost a smirk. Barney then pressed his index and his thumb into the corners of his eyes- something someone does when they know they are going to cry, but try to stop it anyways.
"Ellie, uh." Barney took his fingers off his face. His friends weren't stupid. They could he had been crying, just like he used to tell about vulnerable girls. "Number 31-"
"Barney. Name. PLEASE." Lily had asked for her name so many times over the years, that Barney hadn't even noticed. But for some reason, that day, he noticed.
"Sara. I'll never forget Sara." Now, Barney's friends thought he might show SOME compassion, but instead, this is what he said. "Biggest boobs you'll ever see." His friends sighed and sat down. "What?" Barney asked. He genuinely wanted to know.
"It's just-" Marshall started. "We, well at least I , thought you would have some heart, I mean, she is the mother of your child."
"Was." Barney said. "Was the mother of my child." Barney sniffled. They could see tears in his eyes. New tears. "Sara won the custody trial. Checked my background, my apartment, she told them everything. After she won full custody, she became an alcoholic. Sara's sister was afraid she might hurt Ellie, so, she adopted my child."
"Couldn't you still have won her, I mean, you are her father, you wouldn't even need to adopt." Robin was curious.
Barney didn't answer, so Marshall answered for him.
"Well, if he didn't win the custody trial, they would have to check him out again. But I'm sure you were fine weren't you Barney?" He looked a Barney.
"I didn't know they were coming." Barney said in almost a whisper. His throat choked, and a single tear ran down his face.
To Be Continued...