Disclaimer: I don't own How I Met Your Mother and never will. No copyright infringement intended.
Barney knows they could have made it through their rough patch. Their fights weren't that big of a deal.
He loves Robin, but it's inevitable that he's going to get hurt. Shannon is still on the back of Barney's mind.
When the opportunity comes up, he's secretly thrilled. This way, neither of them will get hurt.
At least that's what he tells himself. Learning about Robin and Alan Thicke's variety show is a welcome distraction from hitting on girls he doesn't want to.
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Robin knows they could have made it through the rough patch. They just had small fights.
It's inevitable that she'll get hurt or will hur tBarney.
She wishes she could convince herself their relationship was failing. It would hurt less.
Robin hides her excitement well when Alan Thicke tells everyone about the variety show. She doesn't have to see the man she loves hit on random women.
Nothing is okay for Barney and Robin.