"Hey! Stop doing that. You'll get sand all over the place." Barney pointed at Robin and then lowered his index finger to the floor, his brow furrowing as she brushed sand off the sole of her boot.

"No, I won't." She called out grumpily as she repeated the gesture once again with much more force this time. She was sitting on the couch in the caravan, flustered after a brief walk outside with the idiot of a man called Barney Stinson. Seriously. Who wears suits on a walk when it's practically scathing outside? She kept her thoughts to herself as she fanned herself impatiently with a folded up flyer she had found on the kitchen table when she had gotten back inside. "You do know that you're really annoying me merely by existing, don't you?"

Here was the deal. Marshall and Lily had set them up, hoping they would at least be friends by the end of the road trip, which would include a ride in a caravan from New York City to Toronto and back. Because they had been so desperate, they had pre-paid for everything, making sure they would go, as it would be a great waste of money not to. When Robin had heard about the trip, she had been excited, thinking it would be with her best friend. Her bliss lasted a total of about seven minutes, right until the moment Lily mentioned she would not be going, but instead, Barney would.

Barney Stinson, professional womaniser who was pretty much born to degrade female kind. Barney Stinson, person who never failed to report stories on his sexual encounters every time they hung out. Barney Stinson, co-operate dude with an intent dislike towards Canada, her birthplace, her country. Barney Stinson with his stupid use of catchphrases which just happened to be a huge turn-off for a girl like her. Barney Stinson with his immaturity and keenness on laser tag, high-fives and naming his ties.

To her, Barney Stinson, in general, was just a big ugh.

It was a five day trip that was meant to be fun and somewhat educational, but while it had only been a few hours since they had set off, Robin felt as though one more second spent with Barney would result in her surrendering to his stupidity by setting herself on fire.

"Thanks for your input. But really, I don't think that's news," he replied smoothly, rolling his eyes as he brushed dust off his shoulders while making himself a coffee.

It was her turn to retort, and she did. Not sparing a nanosecond, she jutted her chin out in his direction and gave him a fake smile, one that was sickly sweet. "I was just saying, in case you forgot. You know how forgetful you are."

"Yeah, but you never really forget what the devil says." He chuckled to himself as he stirred his beverage in smugness, knowing he had managed to tick her off again.

Silence. Then a deep exhale from Robin.

"Look. Lily had obviously put together this road trip so it'd be fun. I'm not saying you're growing on me right now, and I'm not saying you're not the ruler of all evil. All I'm saying is that I'm going to tolerate you and try to make the most of this trip. And I hope you'd do the same and stop being annoying all the damn time. That honestly is all I'm asking." She sighed again as she gave in to their arguments, her shoulders sinking a fraction.

"Wow. Great speech there. How many weeks did it take for you to prepare that entire thing?" He snorted, showing no signs of cooperation as he sipped on his coffee slowly, the fresh smell filling the caravan.

"I'm serious. We've got another five days and I'm not enjoying it any more than you are, and I won't, unless you stop being a self-centered, arrogant, narcissistic son of a-"

"Alright! I get it. You didn't need to drag my mum into this." He interrupted and looked at her directly in the eye, causing her to flinch, but only ever so slightly.

"So, I was saying..." She began but trailed off, leaving her gesturing at the emptiness in the air as she tried to figure out how to continue her sentence without sounding like she was intimidated by him. Because she wasn't. And even if she was, she could not have him know that.

"That we try to get along." He filled in helpfully, and she nodded, agreeing with him for possibly the first time in her life.

"Exactly what I'm saying."

"But I'm still a self-centered, arrogant, narcissistic and just terrible person?"

"What?"

"That's what you called me just now."

"Oh..." She frowned, staring at her hands as she fidgeted, then back at him. "Yes, you still are. But maybe cut out the 'arrogant' part now that we've finally come to an agreement. For the first time."

"Thanks. And in return, I can reassure you that you are just as bad. If not, twice. But minus the 'arrogant' part too."

"I doubt you passed your Math exams because everyone knows you can't 'twice' infinity. You'd just end up with infinity again." She replied almost instinctively, and added her next word for extra effect. "Idiot."

"I'm surprised you'd know this, honestly. I'm surprised they teach Math in Canada at all. I mean, it's Canada. You guys only talk about maple syrup, with the occasional lesson on drawing the Canadian flag because you can't even-" Barney stopped himself before a troubled look on his face appeared out of nowhere, taking Robin by surprise. When he spoke next, she detected a hint of genuine regret in his voice. "Sorry. I wasn't even thinking... This definitely does not sound like we're trying to get along."

"Hey," she started, her tone surprisingly gentle; a tone she never used with him, and it took him by surprise as well. "I guess we're trying. You know it takes time."

And with that, she shrugged casually as if trying to shrug off the side of her personality she had just revealed. He did the same, ending the conversation on good terms for once, with neither of them wanting to fill an empty pillowcase with a ton of bricks and just beat the other one to a near death situation. It was as if they had quietly come to an agreement that while they would try to enjoy themselves and be cooperative, they were also allowed to continue sassing each other at every given opportunity as long as they formulate a witty comeback. After all, both of them were simply defensive people who never liked backing down and knowing they were second best. They were protective of their egos and often just felt more vulnerable than they let on, and they decided they were fine with lowering their defense for the next five days.

Who cares if their niceness would have to be feigned? They only had to act like they liked each other for the next hundred and twenty hours or so, and they would be back to their old routine the second their feet came in contact with American soil. Sacrifices would have to be made during these hours, but for the two of them, it seemed good enough. They were grown-ups, for God's sake. They could do it. It was not rocket science and they could make it work.

Or that was what they thought anyway.