AN: Here I am with the third chapter! First of all, I wanna thank you all for the nice reviews, when I started writing I thought no one would read my story so I am really happy. Thank you thank you thank you so much. I hope you'll enjoy this chapter as well. ;)

V.


Robin was finally at her favorite table , the one near the large window from which you could see the beautiful view of New York which she missed so much . Sure, the donuts were not exactly like those of Tim Horton's, but she didn't complain, tasting a stuffed cherry one while sipping a cup of hot coffee that miraculously was waking her up. Her happy moment got suddenly interrupted by the ringing of her cell phone. She saw the screen, it was Jake. Robin smiled and answered.

" Hello? "
" Hi, sweetie. You're awake already? "
" Yes, I am having breakfast at The Number Sixteen."
" Well, it will be the last breakfast that you will be forced to have at a bar. I just finished the interview and I'm going to the supermarket."
" Oh, really? ", she asked, not happy about it.
" What's wrong? "
" Nothing."
" Robin .. "
" Okay, is that when you go to buy something, you always come back with sad, dietetics things".
" Sad? "
" Yes, sad. Sad vegetables, sad fruit... a few months ago I'm sure I heard a broccoli crying in the kitchen."
" Okay, okay. I got it. I will try to buy only happy things, are you satisfied? "
" Yes! "
" See you later, then. I love you ".
" Bye ".

Robin hung up the phone and leaned it on the table. She took the last sip of coffee and ate the last piece of her donut, then she opened her purse and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her hands. She looked out of the window, realizing how happy she was to be in NYC again. She closed her purse and walked out of the bar.
Walking home, a distance of less than 10 minutes from the bar , Robin remembered she had to call Sarah to confirm her presence at the night at her and Ted's place. She tried to pull out the phone from the right pocket of her pants, but she realized that it was empty. She checked the other pocket. Empty. So she opened her purse and, after check it, she realized she had left the phone on the table in the bar.
" Oh, damn!", she whispered , before turning and running towards the bar to recuperate the object.


Robin went back into the bar out of breath. She walked over to the table that she loved so much, even if right now she was cursing it. Above there, there was nothing except for a cup of coffee. She checked below, between the chairs, around. Nothing. They must have stolen it, damn. It was even a gift from Jake ..
But Robin did not give up and went to the check desk, wanting to ask the cashier if someone gave them the phone or if they saw someone sit at that table.

" Yeah, I found it at my table. I have no idea who's the owner".
Robin froze when she heard that voice. She was there, on her way to the check desk, only one customer in front of her. But the one who was talking to the cashier at that moment, was not just a simple customer. And his voice was a confirmation of that. Tall, in a suit, blond short hair. God, she would recognize that hair anywhere. So shiny and soft to touch.
Her breathing started to become labored.

" Maybe they haven't forgotten it, they just have abandoned it. I mean... a phone with the cover of the Canadian flag, really? Oh, these Canadians ... they come here and invade us with their stupid objects!"
" You should be nicer to your compatriots", Robin finally said in a single breath .
Barney became suddenly serious. That voice. He looked down and then raised his head again when he turned around. It was not a hallucination . He really heard that voice. And she was there. She. Robin. Barney couldn't help but smiling at her. He was glad to see that she had not changed at all. Especially the hair, short like the last time he saw her. He loved the haircut that showed off her gorgeous face, that personified her strong and a little tomboy personality, and which he could not resist to . She was definitely the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, no matter what. And now she was there, in front of him, visibly nervous.

" Well, well, well... hi ", he said to her.
" Hi ". Robin didn't know what to say or how to behave, it was a delicate situation. " Um ... the phone is mine, by the way ," she added, trying to break the tension that was being created .
" Of course , only you could own a thing like this ," quipped Barney, giving the phone to Robin who took it, ending up touching Barney's hand. A fleeting touch but which was enough to make her feel a strange chill down her spine.
" So .. ", Barney said, trying to find a starting point for the conversation.
" So..." , Robin replied, undecided about what to say.
" I ... I 'm happy to see you," Barney said , with a deeper voice than the one he normally used . That tone of voice that he used only with Robin.
" So am I ," Robin said , with a brief smile .
The two stayed in silence for a few seconds that seemed to be an eternity.
" It 's a bit strange, isn't it? ", Robin asked.
" Yeah ", Barney said , scratching his head.
" It should not be like that, I mean ... it's true, we haven't seen each other for a while, but - ", Robin didn't have time to finish the sentence because Barney hugged her without any warning. Robin felt puzzled, not expecting it . His arms wrapped her completely.
"Is it okay huggin' an engaged woman like this? ", Barney asked , genuinely concerned that he just made a stupid move, but with his arms still wrapped on her.
" Yes, it's okay", she assured him, smiling.
" Good. I missed you, Scherbatsky ."
"I missed you too ." And that was the moment where she let her feelings run their course and tightly hugged him back with her hands on his wrapped on shoulders. She was so close to tearing up. Over the past two years all that she had wanted was that hug . The decision to interrupt any contact with Barney had been more difficult than she expected and she would lie if she said that she hadn't hoped to see Barney appear at the door of her home in Canada, ready to take her back to New York.
" Listen , you got a minute? ", Barney said , breaking the hug.
" Um, yes" , replied Robin.
" Good " .
The two walked to the table. Yes, the one near the window.
" So, what's new? " , Robin asked .
" Um ,nothing. I broke up with Quinn and now I am committed to spreading my awesomeness in every pub and stripclub in the NYC area, if you know what I mean ."
" Yeah , more than I would like to know".
" And what about you? "
" Oh well , I.. I got engaged ."
" Yes, I know that ."
" You do ? "
" Hello - I asked you a few seconds ago if it was okay to hug an engaged woman ! "
" Oh, right. I forgot". Robin was lyin'. She didn't forget. She simply didn't heard that piece of sentence . That hug made her lost the sense of reality.
" God, first the cell phone, then this .. I have the impression that the day of the wedding I'll have to remind you the name of the groom!"
" I didn't sleep much last night, okay? "
" Hey, hey, hey. I don't wanna know about your creepy canadian sexual intercourses!"
" I wasn't talking about that", she said.
" I know. So the lucky One is the guy of your photos on Facebook ? "
" Yes, Jake".
" He's not photogenic ".
" It's not important! "
" Well, we'll see if you'll still think that when you'll open the wedding album ."
" I don't think you should worry about it".
" So I suppose I shouldn't worry about the fact that you aren't wearing any ring either". Yes, 'cause Barney noticed that Robin was not wearing any ring on her finger.

Robin sighed. " Barney ..."

" What happened, Jake spent all his money in questionable blazers and he couldn't buy you one? "
"Of course he bought me one! We took it to make it enlarge because it was too tight".
"Such a loser ."
" Stop it ."
" I'm sorry. But c'mon... the blazers ! "
Robin laughed. Barney was the only one who could make her laugh anytime. "You're an idiot", she added, shaking her head and givin' him a smile. Barney looked at her questioningly.

When she tells you that you're an idiot, it means that she loves you.

And in an instant he remembered when she told him that on the stairs that autumn evening, after they discussed. He remembered that his heart exploded with joy when he heard those words coming from her mouth. She loved him and so did he. He had never felt happier that way. And now, those words were out of her mouth again. But she could not love him this time. It was unthinkable, she was engaged. So why the feeling of happiness he felt on the stairs that night, had suddenly come back? Barney began to become strained, and Robin finally realized what she just said. The words got out of her mouth without asking any permission. And she realized that Barney was not remained indifferent to that.
" Um...sorry Scherbatsky , I would love to stay here and make fun of you and your out-of-style fiancè, but I'm awfully late", he hastily said.
" Oh, yeah... okay, no problem" .
" See you, bye ".
" Bye " .
Barney stood up and walked toward the exit. But, before opening the door, he turned to Robin, who was still sitting at the table.
" Um, Robin?"
" Yeah ? "
" Congratulations ", he said with a little smile.
" Thanks ", she replied smiling.


Barney was at work when someone knocked at his door.
" Come in", he said.
The door opened. It was Ted.
" Hey , Barney ... remember about tonight ".
" Yeah, it's a bit hard to remember since you've been sayin' that to me all morning ."
" That's because you always give the impression that you really don't listen to people when you 're not interested. So at 8 pm, okay? "
" What happens at 8pm ? "
" Dude ! "
" Relax , I was joking ."
Ted looked suspisciously at Barney and got out.
" Trish , go to Ted Mosby's office and find out what happens at 8pm , please", Barney said to her secretary by intercom.

It had not been a quiet morning for Barney. That meeting with Robin left him a weird feeling. He missed her so much, and although they promised to keep in touch, that didn't happen. Barney didn't understand what were the real reasons of her decision to leave. He didn't know if it was really because she had an important job offer , or if there was more than that . He baked in the doubts that it might have been a little because of him and his engagement. It 's true, Robin told him that she was happy for him, but there was something wrong in her voice, in her eyes . But then, all those worries vanished when he realized that if Robin still had feelings for him, she would tell him. And now he was at his desk realizing that no, Robin was not in love with him, anymore. She was going to marry another man. And he was happy for her. The problem was another: was he happy for himself? Did he make a mistake to let her go? However, the answer didn't matter because it was too late.


Jake and Robin were preparing to go to Ted and Sarah's . Robin was still in a bathrobe, and tried in vain to find something to wear.
" C'mon , we aren't going to the Oscar's Ceremony , put the first thing that you find and let's go", Jake said, coming into the bedroom and seeing his girlfriend discard the various clothes in the closet.
" Ok, I will go there dressed like this, what do you say ? ", she joked.
" Oh,I would not complain", Jake walked over to the closet. "Come on, I'll help you ..." .

Robin's phone rang. It was Sarah.

"Oh Sarah, I'm so sorry, I forgot to call you earlier, but Jake and I will be there... yes, totally!", she apologized.
"Perfect, and don't worry... we aren't sure if Barney will come over, yet! Yes, he said he will, but who knows!", Sarah said.
Robin was almost incredulous. "Oh, so... you invited Barney".
"Yeah, of course we did. Is it a problem?"
Of course they invited Barney, it's their friend, why shouldn' they? Robin tried to keep it cool, but her voice became strangely loud. "No, no. Absolutely not. It's superfine, amazing, wooo!"
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, yes. So... see you later!"
"Okay, bye!"
"Bye!"

" Oh , look at this dress, so sexy ! ", Jake said, pulling it out a purple leopard print dress from the closet. Robin turned her head and she couldn't believe what she was looking at. That one was not a random dress. It was the dress that she wore at Punchy's wedding. The dress of her dance with Barney. The dress she wore when she realized that she and Barney " belonged together ". And the same lead character outfit of a classic Cyrano moment, in which Robin sacrificed her own happiness for Barney's , during that phone call between him and Nora.
" I hate it ! ", she screamed. Too many memories belonged to that dress, memories still so painful. And so, without even thinking about it, she literally tore the dress from Jake's hands and threw it away, without caring where it was going to end up.
" Wow, what did that dress do to be treated that way ? "
" Nothing ... um , is that it doesn't fit well, it makes me fat, ugly and bad ."
" You? Fat, ugly and bad? Impossible! "
"It 's very sweet for you to say this but ... I guarantee you that is the worst dress i've ever worn".
" Okay, if you say so .. "
" Anyway, I have found the perfect thing to wear ," Robin said , pulling out a white dress that fell just above her knees. That was one of her favorite clothes that she bought during her first week in Canada.
" Oh, finally!"


Robin came out of the bedroom. Jake was on the couch and his mouth built up a big smile when she saw her.
" You're beautiful ," he said, stooding up. She smiled and kissed him.
" What are you doing with that rose ? " she asked, pointing the red rose he was holding in his hand.
" A beautiful flower for a beautiful flower", he said.
Robin froze. "What did you just say?"
" I said a beautiful flower for a beautiful flower!"

It couldn't be true. That was the exact phrase Barney said to her and Lily when they went to that crazy Prom years ago. He gave them those wonderful wrist flowers and she could not help but being moved by the gesture. She had known Barney just from few months back then, but he had managed to scratch the impenetrable wall that she had raised in front of her.

"Did I say something wrong?", Jake asked, noticing that Robin's look was absent.
Robin shook her head. "No, no, of course not. Thank you". She took the rose, tryin' to give him a sincere smile. "Wait, this rose isn't a real rose ", she said, noticing that the top of the rose was actually a small container.
" Oh, really? " Jake asked, with mock incredulity .
Robin opened the container and found inside her engagement ring.
" I went to pick it up today," Jake said , pulling out the ring and threading it on her finger. " It seems that it fits perfectly now, right?", he asked.
" So right".
The two kissed.
" Ok , I'll get the blazer and then we can go".
Robin nodded. "Wait, the blazer ? ", she asked.
" Yes, why? "
" No, nothing. I love it! " Robin said holding back a laugh . She already knew that as soon as Barney would have seen that blazer , he'd begin to joke about it .
Robin followed Jake in the bedroom where he put on his blazer while she looked herself in the mirror touching her engagement ring.
" Now you will have no more reason to take it off ," he whispered to her, kissing her neck. She half-smiled, still staring at the mirror, but then she saw something with the corner of her eye. The purple dress, which was lyin' on the floor near the lamp.

Her half-smile died immediately.

"Yeah, there will be no more reason", she repeated, not sure at all of what she was sayin'.

"God, I hope Barney will be at a strip-laser tag competition, tonight", she thought.