"No I'm sorry, don't come in here, I can smell the aftershave from here, "
"I'm not wearing any, this is all me."
"It's so strong, it's going to make me throw up again."
They had spent the week fighting. Barney had been attempting to be there for her, but she couldn't make her mind up if she wanted him in the room, she found his scent, the scent of his soap unbearable. For such a lovely smelling man, he was getting thrown out of a lot of rooms.
The only other topic of conversation they seemed to have was about the wedding, there was a lot to prepare ,Quinn wanted to get married before anyone found out she was pregnant, he hadn't told her that all his friends had known since last week. She was flying out to Vegas in a couple days to help her mother plan it out, which would leave Barney responsible for the invitations, he would be flying out on the weekends to help finalize decisions and sign checks.
"Talk to me through the door?" Quinn asked, but he had already gone on the balcony, and couldn't hear her.
With all the new pressure he hadn't been sleeping, and with Quinn's new found sensitivity, he hadn't been sleeping in the newly re redecorated guest bedroom. In a way he was glad the wedding would be so soon, he didn't think he could deal with a few months of this. Everything would be easier after they got it over with, he would be able to sleep again, the lack of it wasn't doing any favors for his skin.
The baby though, that was something else, he had been fairly convinced they would have a few happy years before they took that plunge, after all people really shouldn't have kids until they're at least 40. He had to accept it though, in just over 7 months the honeymoon would be over, and he'd have to figure out how to be a dad.
Not too long ago he had been excited by this situation, she would have had it in August he thought, she would be waddling by now, he smiled at the thought, she probably would have still looked well perfect.
One Week ago
Robin mind was racing, her phone was still in her hand, there was just too much to deal with right now, and keeping a brave face, just seemed to be one step too far. She wanted to excuse herself, go into the bathroom and just lock herself into one of the stalls. but before she had the chance. Lily's babysitter called
"I have to go, the sitter still has homework. I don't want to say goodnight to everyone yet," Lily frowned a little, turned to Robin, then to John, then back to Robin. and said "Come up with me, we need some girl time, i want to know everything that's been going on."
Robin's face almost cracked with the smile she was trying to hold onto, she forced herself to face John, anything would be better than attempting to go home with him right now, she really didn't feel like company, she looked back at Lily, she would be so much simpler to deal with.
She forced herself to turn to John, tried to reduce her smile and said "You don't mind, do you?"
John shook his head, he seemed rather oblivious, and Robin relaxed a little, at least he wasn't picking up on all this, she thanked him by softly touching his hand, and he touched her cheek, she felt much better, her confidence restored, they said goodnight to the others, and walked up the stairs, but before they walked up to the building, she excused herself again, said she just needed one thing from the store and would up in a couple minutes.
Bottle of whiskey in hand, she climbed the stairs to Lily's apartment, she tried to focus her mind on the last week, the week with John, it had all felt so right, and there was a lot to say, all she had to do was stay focused,
"Isn't crazy about Quinn and Barney?" was the first thing out of Lily's mouth when she walked in the door, Lily's voice was coming from Marv's bedroom, Robin went into the kitchen to get a glass and some ice, two seconds in the door and it was already time to open the bottle.
"It's all happening so fast for them,"
There wasn't enough whiskey in the world to down this, perfect blonde little Quinn had delivered the last missing piece to perfection, it would probably arrive fully of dimples and beautiful blonde curls and Barney's eyes, it would laugh with conviction, and probably the little bastard would have reason to.
"It's going so fast, and I know there's John now, but are you ok with all this?"
Robin "Uh-huh".
She couldn't be Aunt Robin, not to this baby, it would tarnish her name, she would have to put even between herself and the happy couple.
She downed a large glass, and then another, and as the image of the perfect baby, and their disgustingly perfect lives danced in her head. a thought crept into her head, Barney wasn't taking it well, he didn't seemed thrilled with the news it wasn't just shock on his face or even fear, he really wasn't sitting with it well, wasn't himself, but she shook it off, he wasn't himself cause was in daddy mode, and that just wasn't a part of him she liked.
Lily walked back into the living room carrying Marv, "Barney's not."
Robin's head came back into the room as she walked into the living room. "Barney's not what?"
Lily got Marv into position to feed him and said, "He's not ok with it, but he's not taking it well, he could barely get the words out, he didn't even call to tell any of us, but It's probably just new daddy fear,"
Not fear, dread Robin thought, then shook it out, "He'll be ok, he just needs to go home and see her" She felt nauseous, "Quinn will turn him around."
Lily locked eyes with Robin, "Oh I'm sorry sweetie, it's not easy with exes moving on, having babies, let's talk about John, so how was this week, was it amazing?" Lily put on her sweetest smile, Robin sighed a little in relief, and started focusing again. She started telling Lily about the whole week, all the little adventures, the places he showed her, how he would surprise her after work, the places she took him, the possible trip to MIlan.
"To try and talk me into the trip, we went up in the plane today, you have to see it, it was the most luxurious thing I have ever been on, I took a couple photos with my phone," she took out her phone, and the buzzer rang,
Lily "Oh, I have the Marshall's keys, can you buzz him in?" Robin handed the phone to Lily, and got up, Lily turned on the phone, the screen read 23 missed calls and 2 texts from Barney. Shocked she put the phone down, Robin was giving Marshall a hard time, not buzzing him in, so Lily picked up the phone again, and read the messages, she was about to question Robin about, but stopped herself, John was good for her, she was trying to move on, it was Barney that needed the talk.
When Robin left Lily's apartment she felt better, the last half hour had been baby poop in hair talk, but she had missed Lily this last week, she had to find a way to fit the others in more, She looked at her phone, maybe she should just change her number.
When she got to the apartment she felt low again, He really hadn't been himself, she couldn't get past that, she had to push him out of her head, she finished the bottle and went to bed, for second night that week Robin didn't sleep.
One week and a couple days later
Barney held the hired car's door for Quinn, she was going to Vegas today, she had reception halls to look at, menus to taste, her mother's schedule had packed the next 5 days for her, by the time Barney got there on Saturday, there wouldn't be much more to decide upon. Quinn really wasn't telling anyone about the pregnancy yet, as far as she knew, it was just Barney, Dr. Carp, some random lab tech, and herself that did, her mother was the hardest working woman she knew, this week of planning was going to be tough. She touched Barney's fingers, for a second she regretted not insisting he take the week off and come with her, he could get her away from her mother when it became too intense, but at the same time, three opinions on every options available would be far too many.
"Text me when you land." He said, softly kissing her goodbye, his scent filled the cab, that was the other reason to get rid of him, she couldn't deal with it anymore she was nauseous around him all the time, she smiled trying to hid her nausea, but afraid to open her mouth at the same time. She nodded, slightly pushing away from her, searching for some air, he could tell. She played with his lapel.
"See you in a few days," She managed to get out. That seemed to do the trick, the hurt was gone. He started to lean in to kiss her again, she held her breath, but he changed his mind, closed the door and waved goodbye. She sighed a little in relief, placed her hand on her stomach and thought Isn't he a good daddy already?.
The car drove off, and Barney started walking back towards the apartment, as much as he wanted her to stay, he was looking forward to his own bed again, maybe he could finally get some sleep, but when he got upstairs the apartment felt so empty.
A week and a couple days ago
Robin hadn't felt like herself for the next day, she had tried going to the shooting range, but it didn't offer the same relief it normally did. She hadn't seen John at all the first day, the second day she had met him for lunch, but excused herself from seeing him after work, the third day she woke up feeling sort of lonely and had invited him for coffee early in the morning, he was nervous, when she got there.
"My friends are convinced you're breaking up with me,"
The idea made her nervous, and she stopped making eye contact and looked at her hands, "Oh, no, I'm sorry, it's just been a busy couple of days, and I haven't been feeling like myself, but I actually I'd like to get the momentum flowing again." She looked back up at him, he locked on to her eyes, clearly the momentum had picked up again,
Their second week was a little different, he suddenly switched to taking things a little slower, he was no longer planning more and more amazing adventures, the trying to impress her stage had passed and they were getting more and more into the regular couple stuff, she was spent more time at his place than hers, they saw movies, went to dinner, even had a double date with Lily and Marshall, Ted and Victoria were supposed to come, but they had dropped out at the last moment,
At the end of the week, sitting on his couch, after the game, he switched off the tv and asked, "I'm filling in for one of my pilots in a couple days, flying out to Quebec, just for the day, would like to come with me, it wouldn't be overnight and could be another test run. I thought you may like to visit home."
Robin hesitated a little, "Ok, I guess, but wait that's Tuesday,"
John "Oh, right, we had agreed to babysit for the day."
"It's ok, I'm sure they could find someone else"
"I know you were looking forward to your bonding time. Why don't you stay, besides I can't compete with dimples like those."
Robin's image of Barney's baby flashed in her head and she was dumbstruck for a moment. "Why don't I call Lily first?" Robin offered. After a couple minutes of conversation on the phone with Lily, Robin hung up, "She's going to get back to me."
John "There's no rush,"
She lay her head on his shoulder, and for a second just enjoyed his presence, but then a feeling came over her, suddenly she felt like if she went with him, she would be losing something, her friends, her aunt title, something. "I think I want to stay."
He smiled understanding "I understand, nothing like that new baby smell."
She looked up at him, and he was smiling a little too intently, she was filled with a feeling of dread, babies, not again.
Two days later
It was too empty, Barney had felt alone in the house all week, and now he would be even more so, he turned on his phone and clicked on Ted's number, "Suit up!"
"Hey buddy, I'm actually on Ellis Island, Victoria and I are spending the day here, It's History Tuesday"
Barney rolled his eyes "No seriously, suit up."
Ted hung up on him.
He looked at his phone book again, he almost called her, then typed "Where are you?" He paced around the room. Then hit send,
A few seconds later the phone beeped "Outside".
