A/N: Okay, got this in my head after watching Lost XD. Don't know why though. Also, not sure about the spelling. MacLarens, or MacLaren's? Oh...btw, this has nothing to do with Lost.
Disclaimer: Disclaimed
Barney stepped into MacLaren's. The usual booth was still there, empty and waiting for him to sit in it. Unusually, he was the first one there. He was never the first to reunions. Shaking his head sadly, he slid into the seat and Wendy walked over, her notebook poised.
"I'm...uh...waiting for some people," he whispered, his head down. He wished he had worn a hood.
Thankfully Wendy took no notice of him and walked away. He slouched in the seat, picking at the lint on his jeans while he waited. Fifteen minutes later, he was still alone, picking at whatever fabric had strayed. He picked himself up, taking the familiar steps to the rest room where he had met Ted, so many years ago now.
He didn't need to use it, but he stood, leaning against the wall, waiting for someone. Anyone, to come in and recognise him as the regular he once was. After another twenty minutes in the restroom, he decided to leave.
When he reached the main room, he stopped dead. His four friends, the people he sat with for so many years were all there. Ted had surprisingly more stubble, stylish and attractive, but he ruined it by an unattractive mo'. Barney smiled at the fond memories of his former bro's tweed-wearing days. Marshall was still clean shaven, but ruined the look by a four year old son on his lap. That was always a road kill. Lily was the same as ever, but longer hair and a giant bump in her stomach. A baby, of course...Lily didn't seem like one to get fat. His eyes drifted across to Robin. She was the same too, but stress lines had indented themselves into her forehead and around her eyes. He wondered why and searched for a ring on her left hand, but it was bare.
He moved forward, but found he couldn't. He was bolted to the floor by some unknown force, and he desperately tried to move towards them. It had only been three years since he had escaped. Escaped from their looks, their unforgiving eyes – the cold glances from across the bar.
They didn't know he was coming. They didn't know he was back in town. He was surprised they still came back to the bar, despite what he did to them.
He managed to move away, skirting their booth and sitting across the bar, where he could see them easily. They chatted happily, but there was darkness in Marshall's eyes he'd never seen before. The way he held his son suggested uneasiness, but it was combated by the easy-going grin plastered on his face. Lily had her hands placed on her stomach protectively, a little more so than he thought she should've. Ted and Robin glanced around occasionally, but Barney strategically placed himself behind a pillar, shielding himself from their gazes.
To put himself in this position was killing him. He wanted to apologise, to say something at least. He had walked out without another word, not even goodbye, leaving them with the burdens. It wasn't fair. He had made a bad choice, but it hadn't been his fault. It was all of them too; they did this to him, and made him make that decision.
He took a deep sigh. What was he kidding? It was solely his fault. He couldn't blame them.
He left the bar, not game enough to approach them. Taking the flight of stairs, he returned to the old apartment, fishing for the spare key, but it was gone again. He wasn't surprised. They treated him like a madman. He was, he mused silently, standing at the door. He'd gone to a medical centre, but they couldn't help. He didn't need fixing in the first place.
All he needed was his friends.
A/N: Not sure if I want to continue this. I know what he did, but do you guys want to know?