As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love. ~Author Unknown

TED POV

Life, what a bitch. Not like a cute little, hipster bitch with att-it-ude, but a raging hormonal mess with nothing to do so she picks on us, the good people of Earth just trying to get by without teenage pregnancies and betrayal. Unfortunately it can just sneak up on ya',

Sometimes we all have doubts in our minds, it's only human nature right? We all have those dreary thoughts about growing old and dying alone and everything turning out wrong. Admit it, we have all went emo for brief periods of time and think everything ever is complete and utter crap?

Ok remember a time when things were real bad, like really bad. Can you honestly say it didn't get better? Bet you a dollar you can't.

I bet I'm not making sense, these thoughts clouded my mind today because this was definitely a day where I hoped we could all look back on this and say, 'I'm so glad things are better now!'

I had been planning this day for exactly a month, a wedding should be a lovely day with happy smiles and reassurance for cold feet and champagne and creepy uncles, not a quick shower, crying, silent treatment and indecision about fashion.

"Which tie, Ted?" Barney stood in front of the mirror with a forlorn expression. He didn't even look at me when he spoke, this was a side to Barney not a lot of people saw and was a kinda a rare occasion.

"Well personally, my favourite was this one," I held up the tie discarded into the corner of the carpetted room, a blue tie complete with yellow ducks. I smirked and Barney couldn't help but laugh at the memory.

"C'mon Ted," Barney made his way over to the small couch at the back of the room. He sighed as he sat down and put his head in his hands. His breath was coming out in quick bursts and for a minute I thought he was crying, he was laughing.

I walked over and sat next to him, tie-less and laughing.

"Hey man, not a great time," I patted his back, "Wanna talk about it?" Barney had been hesitant to discuss all this, It had been mostly guesswork for a lot of things these past few months and it was sort of slowing killing me with curiosity but I couldn't tell Barney that ofcourse, no point making the poor guy feel worse.

"How did we get here, Ted?" He'd stopped laughing but was still smiling.

'Cab?'

'You know what I mean, asshole.' We both chuckled and I threw an arm around his shoulder lazily.

"I really don't know, life can be a bitch. I mean you seemed happy yesterday, cold feet?"

'Frozen.' He muttered and grabbed the champagne bottle and took a long gulp.

'You did kind of rush this. What's going on man?' He just shook his head and chuckled sadly. I went on;

'Well whatever happens after today, just know you'll never get rid of me buddy,'

'Aw, dammit!' He said sarcastically. I held up my hand awaiting the inevitable high five, he couldn't resist and obliged, Barney grabbed his champagne bottle and stood up, pacing the length of the room a few times before saying,

"You are the most awesome person I know Ted. Well, second most awesome."

"First one being yourself?"

"No, a guy I know from a place called the mirror." He winked at me, usual Barney style.

I shook my head in disbelief at his mood and got up to abruptly hug my best friend. He really was a good guy underneath the surface of corruption and disfunction

"I am so not drunk enough for this." Barney mumbled,

3 months earlier

BARNEY POV

I ran into McLarins holding the disk, they were going to freak when I showed them this. Lily, Marshall and Ted were having some hushed discussion and when I appeared they instantly went quiet.

"Guys, guys, guys!" I said, catching my breath, "I have here. In my hand. Robin Sparkles 4!"

"No way! Where'd you get it?" Asked Lily,

"Pfft, c'mon Lil' I have a TV show guy, and this is the greatest day in existence! Behold commoners, fresh material to mock the canadian for the next few weeks. It's gonna be Legen- Wait for it-" They all sighed in harmony, '-Dary!' I took a deep breath in satisfaction.

"You do realise it'll be the day hell freezes over before she lets us watch that."

'Then you better remind your mom to pack her mittens, Lil, because this is really happening!' I took my seat at the booth but ofcourse Marshall had to ruin my fun.

"She will not let us watch this, you remember last time this happened." Marshall. What a buzz kill.

"C'mon man! She'll be fine, where is she anyway?"

An awkward silence followed, they avoided my gaze.

"She's out with Brad." Ted said at last.

Brad! He completely didn't deserve her! He was six different types of douchbag and wasn't even twenty percent awesome.

"Brad? Thought she ditched him months ago." I asked calmly and in a I-don't-even-care-what-Robin-does type way.

"She's been seeing him, we didn't want to say because, you know.." Ted trailed off looking away.

"Pfffft, I, what? You think I care? C'mon, seriously. I do not feel anything about..I mean guys. Guys. Seriously..." I grabbed a random glass of Scotch from the waitress's tray as she walked past and drained the glass. "I'm fine!"

They all looked at me in disbelief. The nerve! Like I even cared what Robin did, I'd broken up (well cheated) with Nora months ago and Robin had made things pretty clear.

"Barney, honey, there is no shame in showing your feelings-"

"I don't have feelings for Robin, Lily! I mean, if ya know, she wanted- No. I, Barney Stinson hereby banish all feelings.'

"Ok dude, whatever you say," Marshall patted my back and gave me that look. You know that look you reserve for crying babies in grocery stores and stray dogs. Pity but also kinda glad it's not you that has to deal with it.

"Ok, Gentlemen-"

"Hey!" interjected Lily,

"Shh mommy. As I was saying, watch how a man without feelings gets a girl. A real man." I stood up and adjusted my suit collar and made my way over to my a girl at the bar.

She was tall and blonde with deep blue eyes, not my usual type but, hey, I'm flexible.

"Hello, I'm Detective John...er...Smitherson. I work for the NYPD. Mind If I ask you a few questions?" I dazzled her easily, although she looked slightly shocked at my approach. She knew what I was doing.

"What kind of questions? Detective..." She grinned a perfect smile and moved closer to me. That was easy.

"Where will you be in approximately thirty minutes?" Her face crinkled in confusion as she tried to process the question. Ok, so not my best line but I'd planned on thinking while I bought her a drink. Who knew she'd be this easy?

"I don't know where I'm going to be in thirty minutes? What kind of question is that?"

"Well my apartment is thirty minutes from here, so that's one option. If you want to that is." I smirked and could tell she'd go for it. Although I was happy to go on home with this one, but Robin was still in my mind. How was her date going? Great probably. She'll marry him. I won't ever get a chance again.

I sighed internally as the girl said;

"My name's Rebecca, Detective," she giggled, I had let my mind wander a bit but was suddenly jerked back to reality.

"Who? Oh, me. Yes I'm a Detective. Let's go Robin,"

"Rebecca."

"Oh, right. Sorry Rebecca."

I slipped my arm around her waist as we went to get to my car we reached the door of the bar it was flung open.

Robin walked in. Hand in hand with a guy with floppy hair and a muscle tee.

"Barney! Hey!" She greeted me, looking awkward. "This is Brad, Brad this is Barney."

'Yeah, we've met before.' He said gruffly.

"Who's Barney?" Rebecca asked, confused.

"Ah-ha, erm, nobody. Lets go honey," I shuffled Rebecca out the door, "Nice to see ya Brad, Seeya Robin!" She gave me a sorta disappointed look as I tried unsuccessfully not to meet her gaze.

As we got into my car, I felt my heart break a tiny little bit inside. Suddenly I wanted nothing more than to barrell roll right out of the car, screw the consequences and run back to the woman I lov- really, really like. Might as well get some first though.

A/N: 7/9/12 Sorry this first chapter is so short and kinda bad, I promise they do get longer in later chapters and better in my opinion. So why not give me a chance? Would mean the world to me and I give shououts to every single review so help a girl out? Thanks, ali ^-^ x