(A/N: Four reviewers told me that I should continue this, and this is for you guys. Thank you for the encouragement!)
She hated Barney right now. She was almost attracted to Josh, ready to give him a real chance, and see what it could become. But just three words from his mouth, and she was completely thrown off. Why didn't he see that his words had such an impact on her and what she really needed at the moment was to get away from Barney Stinson and live a new life without the burden of loving him?
Legendary, that one word, his catchphrase, destroyed everything that the night had given her. He managed to get under her skin so effortlessly, and she kept brooding over his words even hours after he said them. She fidgeted restlessly in bed, taking in the emptiness that was once filled with the warmth of another.
Robin got out of bed and went into the kitchen, knowing that she needed a good glass of scotch to settle it, or anything else that could just put her mind in a more relaxed state. She was over-thinking again, perhaps Barney was just being his annoying self and getting into her head because he wanted to. She was pouring out her scotch when her eyes flickered over to the couch, where Ted was...ugh. All the memories of how awkward Ted was having sex on the couch flooded her mind. No one could utilise that little space like Barney did.
She was halfway through her scotch, when it finally dawned on her that Ted must have just brought the girl home, and Barney couldn't have been talking to him earlier as he claimed. She nipped outside quietly, and checked the doormat. There were two slots where she and Ted could put their spare key, they had the doormat made earlier that year because Barney claimed that there were instances where he needed a place for a "quick round," and Ted obliged, knowing his own tendencies to leave himself locked out of the apartment. She remembered putting the key in the left pocket, but she found it in the right. Checking the scotch bottle again, she realised Barney must have been waiting in the apartment for her, and had at least two glasses of scotch while at it.
But why? He looked so happy, satisfied, blissful with Nora. I hate you, Barney Stinson, why do you do this to me? Just let me move on with my life, be happy and forget that I ever felt all these for you. Must letting go of my memories of you be this painful?
She downed the rest of her scotch, and left the glass sitting in the sink, giving it a withering look as she left the kitchen. I wonder, did you use that glass too?
Ted woke up on the couch, his robe spread out on him, with the cushions strewn over the floor messily. He expected to feel the girl he brought home next to him... What was her name again? Nicole? That didn't feel quite right. He smelt fresh coffee brewing in the kitchen, and smiled to himself. He wrapped the robe around himself quickly, and stuck his feet into his warm slippers. "That smells great..." He walked into the kitchen, bleary-eyed and still in the half-asleep state. "Robin?"
Robin was drinking her mug of coffee, half-laughing at Ted's incredulous expression. "You made coffee and toast? You never do...and here was I thinking that I struck the lottery last night." Ted folded his arms, disappointed, and his eyes blinking rapidly, adjusting to the bright lights in the kitchen.
"Oh, you thought it was that Nikki girl who made breakfast for you? Give me a break, the girl made such a racket scrambling out of the apartment by the fire escape. I thought only Barney used it, but at least he's good at it. That girl? Nowhere near the lottery!" Robin gestured towards a covered plate and a pot of coffee that was steaming hot, "I made toast and coffee, figured, you know."
Robin put down her mug in the sink, where the glass from the night before still lay, and grinned sheepishly at Ted. "You'll do the dishes, won't you? Thanks!" She rushed out of the kitchen without waiting for an answer, knowing that Ted couldn't stand seeing dirty dishes fester in the sink.
Thinking about Barney, the fire escape, it reminded her of how Barney used to climb out of the apartment at four in the morning when they were dating. It was like he was programmed to leave before dawn, he was almost sleepwalking. The way he unlatched the window and climbed out, he was so familiar with everything. It was what Barney did best. Running away. In some ways, she saw a little bit of herself in what she perceived in Barney. The obvious non committal characteristics aside, they both had their family insecurities, had fragile young love, and somehow, Barney was able to draw on his own experiences, comfort her, and make her feel all right. He understood her perfectly, even if he didn't always say it. She couldn't expect him to just come out and tell her that he loved her, because she knew she couldn't. The closest she came, was a simple, hesitant, You're an idiot.
Robin opened one of the drawers of her dresser, which was filled with scripts and discs, some of her work that she was proud of, and other memorable events that she kept. She lifted the false bottom, which she had installed herself, it was there where she kept her most precious items. A photograph of her and her father, a small handgun, the first that her father had given her, rusty bullet shells, the first she had ever shot, and a ruined tie. Barney's machine-ruined tie, to be exact.
She held it gingerly in her hand, taking in the mild scent of Barney's clothing detergent, felt the silky material tenderly, all the memories of that morning rushed back. She smiled to herself as she recalled taking off her blouse with a slight swagger of the shoulders, shrugging off the blouse slowly.
I miss you more than you even know, more than you probably care. More than I ever show to you, my dear, at least in words alone. And how does it make you feel, to hear me say, I miss you?
(A/N: Thanks for reading, and I hope you guys like this, I'll update when I can!)