So! I hope you're all still enjoying this! I'm thinking of doing about 6 chapters or so? That sound good? Idk what I'm on about. Just keep reading; steer into the skid, go with the plot twists! I have no idea, just enjoy :3

The gang all followed Ted as they entered the building and climbed the stairs, Ted led the group, followed by Barney and Ellie, then behind was Lily and Marshall, and finally Robin who seemed somewhat uncomfortable with the whole situation.

"Okay, it's just round this corner." Said Ted, stopping everyone. "We'll wait here, Barney, you go on." Barney nodded and kept walking, the other 4 friends and Barney's daughter watched and waited. Barney walked slowly up to the door of the apartment, checked his suit and tie and then carefully knocked three times. There was a pause while he glanced back at his entourage, and then the door swung open.

"Barney...?" A tall, stunningly beautiful blonde haired woman stood there in an adorable blue dress. Her deep brown eyes widened as she realised it really was him.

"Hey 31, not seen you for a while." Barney grinned cheekily.

"Barney! Oh my God! I thought I'd never see you again!" She pulled him into a hug. Suddenly Ellie walked out from the corner of the corridor.

"Mum...?" Kathy let go of Barney and looked down the corridor at the younger, blue eyed version of herself.

"Ellie...?" She laughed as her eyes welled up. "Is that really you?"

"Mum!" Ellie shouted running towards her, her eyes tearing up too, the two embraced and just sobbed, Barney put his arm round both of them, and they just stood there for almost two solid minutes just hugging and sobbing.

"Isn't it wonderful?" Ted whispered to Robin. Robin didn't reply though, she just looked away.

"Uh, Ted, look sorry, I'm really busy, and I need to go, can you just, y'know, let Barney know?"

"Oh... Yeah, alright, okay..." Ted watched as Robin walked off down the corridor but he was interrupted by Lily and Marshall pulling him forwards towards the apartment.

"Hey, Kathy!" Ted said.

"Ted too? I'm going to get really emotional in a minute!" Kathy laughed.

"This... wasn't really emotional?" Barney said slowly looking at Kathy and his daughter's teary faces.

"Kathy these are our friends; Marshall and Lily!" Ted said, introducing the pair. "Before you ask, yes they're married, it's a long, long story! Also, Barney, Robin told me to tell you that she's busy and she had to leave... I'm sure you'll meet her soon too, Kathy!"

"Aw, this has made my day!" Kathy said, holding her hands to her chest. "Ellie, you're so grown up!"

"I'm so glad I've finally met you, mum..." They hugged again.

"Well Ellie, I'm fine if you want to see Kathy whenever you like, but uh, actually right now I wanted to talk to Kathy, so I hope you don't mind if we can talk alone for a bit...?" Barney asked.

"No, no! We don't mind at all, do we?" Lily spoke up for the group. She ushered them away. "Ellie you can stay at ours tonight, if you want? Stay with the two of us, Daisy, Marvin and our baby?"

"Of course! I could do with talking to Marvin and Daisy so that'd be great." She beamed.

"You know, you really should stop calling him 'our baby', he's not that young anymore." Laughed Ted.

"Hey, we're already losing two kids, until he's at least 16 he's our baby. That's how it's staying." Lily said sternly as the 4 of them huddled off down the corridor leaving Barney and Kathy alone. Kathy ruffled Barney's hair.

"Well, Barney Stinson... Who'd have thought, eh?" She sighed, Barney laughed nervously.

"Hah, uh, so, Kathy, you do remember the last time we saw each other, right?"

"You think I could forget that? I was in immense pain Barney, I'd just shoved a baby out!" She giggled.

"Yes but, you hated me..." Barney looked down and Kathy's mood suddenly changed.

"Come in Barney." She gestured inside. The two walked in and sat down on Kathy's sofa. Kathy took Barney's hand and looked him straight in the eyes. "Barney, I have to say I'm so desperately sorry. I know at the time, I hurt you a lot, and I was foolish, so so foolish. Letting you go was the biggest mistake, and I did love you too, but with the stress of everything going on I just... I was young, naive, I didn't know what I was doing and I'm so sorry..."

"Kathy please." Barney interrupted. "I have to tell you now, this, it can't ever happen. There was a time when I loved you, I really did, and I was ready to try and change again, and y'know, having Ellie really did change me, but I was ready to change for you as well as Ellie, and you... You crushed that. Kathy this can't happen. I love Robin. You'll always have a place in my heart, and we'll always have the memories, but I love Robin, and my mistake was ever letting her get away from me. I love Robin, and if we get close, and get Ellie's hopes up, and anything goes wrong... It'd crush all three of us. I can't let that happen, Kathy." Barney looked straight at her. Kathy swallowed down her emotions as he talked.

"Right..." She sighed. "I'm sorry, Barney..."

"I'm sorry too, I really am, I know I shouldn't have come back but I decided it was time to tell Ellie about you, and she wanted to know you. I'm delighted she did, it's great to see you again, but... Just, please understand?"

"I understand."

"Thank you... I think I need to go..." Barney stood up slowly. Kathy just sat there. "I'll see you tomorrow? I'll bring Ellie round... Kathy, I'm sorry..." And those were his last words, as the door shut behind him. He stood at the other side of the closed door for a second, beathing heavily, choking back his tears, he hoped what he was doing was right, but he was doing it anyway, and with that, he left.

The Eriksen's House

Three teenagers sat together in a small duvet fort they'd created, the only light on in the room was a small lamp they'd placed in the middle of them.

"So, you met your mother? The famous #31?" Marvin said. "How'd it go?"

"Really really great!" Beamed Ellie. "Really great. It's great, it was just great. So great."

"One more and I'll believe you." Laughed Daisy. Ellie paused, then sighed.

"I'm worried..."

"What about?" Marvin questioned.

"Dad, Mum, everything." Ellie began. "He didn't come home till late the other night, turns out him and Uncle Ted argued over Robin again, and now all this is going on with Kathy and I don't know what's going to happen. It's great I've met my mum but this could all get so confusing so easily. I have no idea what he really wants, who he's going to end up with and if that'll even be possible. You know what they're like, the 5 of them are probably more immature than us lot kids." Marvin and Daisy nodded in agreement before hugging up either side of Ellie.

"Hey, Cus, don't worry, alright? We're here for you, and nothing drastically bad is going to happen, look on the bright side, you've met your mum, you have two parents, and I'm sure everything will turn out happy." Daisy reasured. Ellie took a deep breath.

"I really, really hope so."