Lily's POV now. Again, HIMYM belongs to Bays and Thomas. Thanks.

Barney hauls up his trunk into the car's trunk, panting wildly. 'You'd think I packed a fat chick in there somewhere, but no, I didn't.'

Lily frowns. 'What did you pack?'

'Two weeks' worth of suits, obviously.' Barney scoffs. 'Get your head out of your ass, Lily. What else?'

Lily holds her hands up in surrender. Barney and his suits. Although she had to admit the guy looked good in them. What is she saying?

'All set,' Ted announces, shutting the drunk close. 'Got my jerky, my Tantrum—'

'How'd you manage to find them? I thought they were banned or something,' Marshall demands.

'Let's just say Professor Ted knows a guy.'

'Nice, bro.'

'Where's Robin?' Barney asks, looking around the street. 'She's coming, isn't she?'

'She's trying to drag her bag down,' Ted answers, busy reading his pamphlet on Vermont. 'Guys, did you know Vermont is the leading producer of maple syrup in the U.S? In fact. . .'

'Oh boy,' Lily mutters. She notices Barney slip out—to find Robin, probably—and she smiles. 'Baby, I need to pee one last time.'

'I can't believe you're leaving me with Ted,' Marshall mutters, forcing a grin as Ted looks up from his reading without a clue.

'Where are you going?'

'Bathroom.'

'Anyway, as I was saying. Vermont. . .'

She hears voices from inside the apartment, Barney's and Robin's, and she quietly positions herself to hear what they're saying. No one is more invested in them as she is. After all, wasn't it she who coached Barney all year long when he realized he was in love with her? And Robin is her best friend. Last time things had been rushed, and she knows they never truly felt like Barney and Robin; she, Ted and Marshall practically pushed the relationship along.

Barney's grown up and so has Robin, Lily thinks.

What's taking so long, Scherbatsky? Everyone's waiting. Let's get this show on the road, come on!

Hold on, just one more thing I forgot.

What?

My handgun. You'll never know if we meet a wild wolf or something.

You're kidding me.

Barney. I don't kid about my guns.

All right. Here, let me help you. Looks heavy.

Thanks.

It ain't a thing. What are bros for?

Lily runs to the corner as they emerge from the apartment, Barney dragging a suitcase, Robin locking the door behind her. They pause for awhile. Lily holds her breath; it's so quiet they might hear her breathing. She really does need to pee.

You okay? I never said anything after you and Don. . .I mean I figured it was off limits for me.

Yeah. I'm fine. This roadtrip's s exactly what I need, you know?

I never liked that guy.

Lily raises her eyebrows. She wants to step out and remind Barney about the time he explicitly said he liked Don. . .Nevermind.

It's crazy right? Marshall and Lily. I feel like they're so grown up, and I'm still stuck in the same crappy anchor job, I just got dumped, and Ted bought a house—

Well, it's a pretty crappy house, Robin.

They're probably waiting for us. I guess.

Right.

Footsteps get softer. Lily runs to the bathroom downstairs, all the while thinking of everything she's just heard. She promises herself this time she won't interfere. Although come on, she has to tell Marshall. Barney and Robin, potential double-date couple again? Legendary!

If they can just see what she did, if they could somehow realize their feelings for each other had only matured into something better.

I'm open to any and all ideas=))

Please review!