Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from How I Met Your Mother, just the story.

A/n: Thank you for reviewing, please keep doing it! Sorry it took so long to update, I'll try to make it faster this time.

Chapter 3

Marshall had just finished having his morning coffee when he heard the doorbell. He thought maybe Lily had forgotten her keys again since visitors weren't really common so early. To his surprise, it was Robin at the door. "Robin. What... what are you doing here? Are you okay? You've been avoiding me and everyone else for like a whole week."

-"Can I come in?"

-"Yes, of course." Robin walked in and stood there, not knowing quite what to say. There was awkwardness and tension in the air. "Please, sit. Do you want some coffee?"

-"That'd be nice, actually." Marshall nodded and went into the kitchen to get the beverage.

-"Cream and one packet of sugar, right?"

-"Yes, that's right." Robin shouted from the couch. She sat there waiting but suddenly couldn't wait any longer. "Marshall, Barney knows!"

Marshall dropped a cup in the sink and rested his hands against it for a moment, with his head down and without saying anything. Finally, he looked up and said "Did you tell him?" and he walked over to the living room to face her.

-"I didn't have to. He just... knew."

-"Okay, how is that possible? Robin, it's okay to tell me of you told. I won't be mad."

She scoffed. "Oh that is such bullshit. You would totally be mad and I said no. I didn't tell him, he put two and two together."

Marshall ran his hands through his uncombed hair and sat down on the couch. "Damn it. What did he say?"

-"He didn't say anything. He just looked at me completely horrified and slammed the door on my face. He hasn't said anything to you, then? No hints? Nothing?!"

-"No. Nothing at all. It's so weird, too. So not like Barney to keep quiet. So, what gives? Why are you avoiding everybody?"

-"Are you seriously asking me that right now? Oh, you know I just didn't really feel like hanging out with my best friend whom I slept with or with his wife or with one of my exes who knows about me being a total slut."

-"Robin, stop that. You are not a slut and what happened was a mistake. Everybody can make mistakes. We did and now it's time to move on. If Barney hasn't said anything it's because he's ignoring it and I think that's very wise. We should do the same."

Robin scoffed and crossed her arms. "Are you seriously telling me that you can go on like this? You're not gonna say anything and act like this never happened? How can you even do that, Marshall? My conscience is eating me alive and I don't sleep next to Lily!"

-"Okay, you need to stop!", Marshall shouted as he got up from the couch. "What so you suggest, Robin? I tell Lily, my marriage is over, our friends hate us and then what?!"

"Okay! Okay, you're right. I just... Marshall I don't know how to deal with this! It's too much."

Her voice was breaking and Marshall felt terrible. He sat down next to her and grabbed her hand. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry you have to feel so shitty because of me. But, Robin I'm going through it too. And if we disappear, if we check out on our friends and act weird around each other, they're gonna know. And it's gonna suck for everybody, not just for us."

-"We did a stupid, selfish thing, Marshall."

He sighed. "Yes. We did. Can you just promise me that you'll stop avoiding us? And that you'll come to me if you need to talk about this. Please keep Barney out of it."

-"I will." She dried her tears and squeezed her friend's hand. "Thank you, Marsh. I'll see you around."


"Hey! It's Robin!", Ted shouted as he saw her walking through the door at Mc Laren's. Barney turned around quickly. He was surprised and delighted to finally see her because he missed her, but at the same time he got angry because he immediately thought about the last time he'd seen her, wrapped in a sheet because he's just had sex with Marshall.

-"Hey guys, how's it hanging?"

-"Pretty good. Where the hell were you? We missed you."

-"Well, Teddy I was working. I'm a busy girl. But I'm here now! Where's my beer?"

-"I'll go get it." Ted got up and Robin and Barney were left alone on the booth.

-"So, you done hiding?", Barney asked smugly.

-"I wasn't hiding. Like I said, I was busy.", she answered politely.

-"Oh, please. I'm not Ted. Don't bullshit me. You were hiding and avoiding us. Specifically me, Marshall and Lily."

Robin looked over at the bar and saw the bartender handing Ted her beer. "Okay, Barney, this is so not the time.", she said paranoid.

-"You should've thought about that before you spread your legs for Marshall."

-"Barney! Stop it!"

-"What's the matter, Scherbatsky? Can't take the heat?"

Ted walked up before Robin could answer. "Okay, here's your beer."

-"Yeah. Thanks. Uh, you know what? I just remembered I have a thing and I really need Barney's help. Um, rain check! Here, have my beer. Barney?"

Robin looked at him with huge eyes, pleading him to go with her. Ted looked confused but he didn't really give it much thought. Barney finally answered "Yeah, that's right. Okay, lead the way. See you later, Ted."

As soon as they got outside, Robin turned around and pushed Barney. "What the hell are you thinking?! What is wrong with you? Do you want our entire group to fall apart?!"

-"Do you?! This coming from the woman who fucked Marshall!"

Without even thinking about it, Robin slapped him across the face. As soon as she did it she regretted it. "Oh my God. Barney, I'm so sorry."

Barney grabbed his cheek and looked at her. "I don't even know who you are anymore. Have you even thought about Lily for one second? Or about... Nevermind!"

-"Of course I have! Why do you think I've been avoiding all of you?! Why do you think I haven't been able to answer one of her calls or see her?! Do you think this is easy for me?! I made a terrible mistake and now I have to live with it. And you talking like this is not fucking helping. I know I screwed up, but I do not need it thrown in my face every five minutes, Barney! God damn it!", she shouted and started to cry.

Barney was quiet now. He stared at her sobbing and felt so sad for her. He knew what it felt like to screw up and to hurt a friend. He knew she was having a really tough time but he'd been so angry that he hadn't been able to feel compassion for her until now. Seeing her fall apart broke his heart. "Hey... I'm so sorry. Robin, please don't cry. Come on, I'll take you home. I'm so sorry."

Shortly after they walked away, Marshall and Lily walked in the bar. "Hey. You just missed Barney and Robin."

-"Seriously?! I still haven't seen her. Why did they leave?", protested Lily.

-"I don't know, but it sounded like they were gonna go have sex.", Ted shrugged.

Marshall's face disfigured. What the fuck? That's not possible... Is it? He felt... jealous. Fuck.