Philadelphia

"Go for Barney." Barney answered his phone.

"I told you not to book me again Barney."

Barney couldn't help, but grin. Yes she had, but he had given it a shot anyways, figuring the worst that could happen was that the agency denied the request. But they hadn't, and apparently she wasn't just going to stand him up either.

"I know, but I really need you to attend this work thing with me tomorrow, everyone is expecting me to bring you, I can't just show up with a new girlfriend."

"It's over night." She sounded angry.

"It's a charity dinner in Philly, I've already made sure we don't sit at the same table then the senior partners, and I promise I won't try anything at the hotel either."

"I don't care what it is Barney, you can't just ignore…"

"Okay fine," he interrupted her harsh, "I'll call the agency, and cancel if that's what you want."

They were both silent for a second, before Barney spoke again, this time a little softer than before,

"I'd just really hoped you'd changed you mind about me."

"This isn't about what I am thinking of you Barney."

"Look, it's a free trip to Philadelphia for you, huh?"

"One hotel room?" She asked.

"Yeah, the company only booked one, but I promise I won't do anything sleazy."

He could hear her sigh, "fine."

"Really? You're the best!" Barney wasn't faking it either, he really was excited.

"Apparently."

"I'll meet you at JFK Airport at four? Just call me on my cell when you get close, okay?"

The conversation ended shortly afterwards, and he called his secretary, to tell her to book a nice suite, and two flights.

…

"Hey," she said as she approached him.

"Hey you, thanks for agreeing to this." He reached for her bag, and their hands touched as he took it from her.

"I already got our tickets, so we can go right through."

She nodded, and followed him to security.

"Are you doing things like this more often?" He asked as they waited.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Going on trips with clients."

She shrugged, "it's not the first time."

"That doesn't sound like it's a lot of fun." He pointed out.

"It depends on the guy."

He realized that she didn't really want to talk to him right now, and decided to shut up.

They still had time until takeoff, and Robin disappeared into a bookstore, while he waited at their gate.

He watched the planes taxing outside, and wondered if she would keep this distant behavior up all night.

The whole thing made him a little mad, he hadn't been the one who had initiated the handjob in the car. And besides, he wouldn't bring that up, or use it against her.

"I got you a red bull."

He spun his head around, and took the can, "thanks, I love those."

"I know." She sat down next to him, and opened a bottle of water.

"How?" He asked amused.

"You mentioned it at that gala."

He opened the can, and pointed at the bag in her hand, "what else did you buy?"

"Magazines to read on the plane." She shrugged.

He nodded, "I really appreciate that you are coming."

"What's the charity dinner for?" She asked, and he went every detail he could think off to fill her in as best as he could.

…

The dinner was nice enough, just another event with too much food, and too many boring speakers.

But Barney had nothing to complain, Robin was very outgoing again, and every guy envied him for her. At least that's what he told himself.

Now they were back at the hotel, and Robin was in the shower, while he checked his e-mail one more time, and uploaded a new post to his blog.

She was wearing sweats, and a tank top when she came back into the bedroom, and he couldn't deny that even without make-up, and totally suited down he still found her attractive.

"The bathroom is all yours."

He nodded, and got up, "thanks, feel free to order whatever you want if you are hungry, or thirsty."

"I am fine, but thanks."

…

She was already lying in bed when he came back into the room, wearing nothing but his Armani pajama bottoms.

"Is it okay with you if I sleep in the bed, or should I just take the couch?" He asked.

"I don't mind as long as you stay on your side." She said.

He nodded, got into bed, and turned off the lights.

"You were great tonight, thanks again for coming."

"You didn't say much." He could tell that she was yawning as she said those words.

He didn't know what to say, and just let it go.

He wanted to tell her that he knew her real name, but he wasn't sure how to bring it up. After several minutes of overthinking it, he finally said;

"I like your show Robin."

"What?" she sounded a lot more awake now then a minute ago.

"Your morning show."

"I know which show you are talking about." She said without commenting on him calling her by her real name.

"I've watched it a couple of times now, and I think you are a really good host."

"Wow, so we do have one viewer." She joked.

He scooted closer to her, and propped himself up on an elbow, "you are very talented."

"I am still not sleeping with you."

"I mean it, you are so confident, and witty, just like you were tonight." Barney wished he could see her expression right now.

They were both silent for a second.

"So yes, my real name is Robin." She finally said.

"I am still Barney." He replied.

Again silence.

"I think you will become a huge success one day." He finally said.

"Dude, I am not changing my mind about sleeping with you, so stop lying to get in my pants."

"I am not lying. I really mean that."

"I am a joke Barney, no one watches the show, just like no one watched me on my previous gig."

"Is that why you work as an escort? Because of all the attention?" He asked.

"No, and stop trying to analyze me."

He swallowed, and whispered, "I think you should quit the escort thing, someday, someone is going to dig this up, and it will ruin your career."

"I don't need your advice." She replied.

"Have you thought about that though?" He asked.

"It won't matter, because I will never become famous enough for anyone to care."

"Don't say that. You just got to believe in yourself."

"I prefer being realistic."

"I believe in you." He had said it before he could stop himself.

She didn't say anything for a minute.

"I know I am just some guy who pays you to hang out with him, but I really do think that you have what it takes to become famous. Don't risk your future happiness, and dignity on this." Barney's hand found her arm, and he started tracing patterns on it.

"No one is going to believe that you didn't sleep with the guys." He added.

"So there is no reason why I shouldn't sleep with you, is that what you're saying." She asked.

"That's not what I am saying, you know that." He responded, and let himself fall back onto the bed.

It took her several minutes to break the silence.

"I am sorry."

"No need to be," he replied.

"I was a jerk. I am just not used to guys actually being sincere."

The statement made his stomach tighten up.

"Why do you do this? You are so smart, and funny, and you clearly have a job. So why do you let guys just…own you like this?" He asked.

"Honestly?" She asked.

"Yeah."

"First it really was about the money, I was in-between jobs, and a friend told me about this agency. It seemed like easy money, and oftentimes it really is. I meet so many interesting people, like tonight, I've had an hour long conversation with a Senator, how cool is that?" She asked.

"Depends on who you ask, I found the whole discussion boring. So you do it to meet interesting people?" He asked.

"Well, sort of. I moved to the city two years ago, but never really made friends. They were always the friends of the guy I was with at any given time. I know it sounds stupid…"

"But you are lonely." He completed her sentence.

"Now you make it sound like I am some weird cat lady."

"No, I get it."

"Some of the guys are jerks, yes, but a lot of the ones who can afford to hire me are actually really interesting. Like you, I enjoy spending time with you."

He reached back out, and let his fingers intertwine with hers.

"I don't want to sound too sappy, but I enjoy spending time with you too."

"Especially in the back of town cars, huh?" she asked.

It made him grin, "for example, but lying next to you in bed talking isn't that bad either."

This time she was the one laughing.

"You are a good guy Barney Stinson."

"Well, there are a lot of women who would beg to differ." He replied.

"Oh really?" She asked.

"Yeah, I am kind of known as a womanizer."

"Oh I believe it."

…

Barney didn't remember falling asleep, what he did remember though was waking up the next morning.

The sun was already creeping through the curtains, but Robin was still sound asleep.

He watched her for a moment before realizing that their fingers were still intertwined.

It made him smile, and he stroke her hand with his thumb before carefully letting go, and getting up.

They had a plane to catch, and there was no way he was going to miss that, after all it had taken him three weeks to convince Ted to play laser tag with him today.