Again, thanks for the reviews, they always motivate me to write more :)

Hospital

"Hey," Robin whispered softly as she entered the hospital room.

"Hey," Tracy replied weakly.

"I'd ask how you are doing but…" Robin waved at her surroundings, "it's pretty clear."

Tracy managed a weak smile, "I'm glad you could make it."

"Me too." Robin pulled one of the chairs closer to her bed and sat down.

"How are you?" Tracy asked.

"You know, same old, same old." Robin replied, "how are Ted and the kids holding up?"

"They are pretending to be brave and strong." Tracy shook her head, "it's not fair to them."

Robin nodded, no, this wasn't fair.

They had removed the tumor two months ago, but it had already spread and the chances of a recovery were dim.

"He waited so long for this." Robin whispered.

Tracy gave her a questioning look and she explained, "to have a family of his own, to be a dad and to cherish his wife and just…this suburban lifestyle, he's always been after that and now he finally got there and…"

"I know." Tracy nodded.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought that up." Robin said.

"No, it's okay." Tracy assured her.

They sat there in silence for a second before Tracy started talking again, "it's weird you know? I feel so sad for them, but not necessarily for me."

"What do you mean?" Robin asked.

"I've lost someone I truly loved Robin, I know how hard that is. And Penny and Luke are just kids, I'm scared of what this will do to them."

"Hey, you'll pull through Tracy, they won't even remember this time when you where in the hospital." Robin took her hand and squeezed it.

"Promise me you'll start coming around again Robin. Ted will need all the help he can get and you are such an important part of his life."

Robin swallowed, "Tracy stop talking like that, you'll be fine."

"Robin, please? I need to know that you are going to be there for him when I'm gone."

Robin bit her lower lip to bite back the tears, "I promise I will be there for him and the kids."

Tracy nodded, "it's funny you know? I don't think Ted and I would have ever happened if it wasn't for you."

"You mean because you met at my wedding?" Robin asked.

"No not necessarily because that's where we met, but because that was the day he finally gave up on the dream of marrying you."

Robin swallowed once again, "Tracy, Ted and I were never right for each other, he knew that."

"Yeah, but it took you marrying Barney for it to truly set in. He tells me all these stories from way back when, and in all of them you are opposed to settling down and marriage. I think watching you take that step with Barney, regardless of how opposed you were to the idea is what finally made him give up on you for good."

Robin took a deep breath, "why are we even talking about that right now?"

"Cause I want you to know that I would be okay with you guys trying again after I'm gone." Tracy whispered.

"What?" Robin asked confused, "that's not going to happen Tracy. There was a time nearly twenty years ago were I briefly loved him, but those feelings have subsided since then. I mean, he's a great guy, but I fell out of love a long time ago."

"I just wanted to make sure you knew that it would be okay. What you guys end up deciding to do…" she shrugged.

Robin felt uncomfortable being here, even more so after the last couple of minutes.

"Barney spends every Tuesday evening with me." Tracy suddenly said.

"Oh yeah?" Robin asked surprised.

"Yeah, he drops Ellie off at his mom's and then comes and spends a few hours here."

Robin smiled.

"He's a really good guy." Tracy added.

"Yeah, he doesn't like to show it much but he has a heart of gold." Robin said.

"I'm really sorry you guys didn't make it." Tracy whispered.

Robin waved it off, "it is what it is."

"It doesn't have to be this way thought."

"What do you mean?"

"You could try again." Tracy proposed.

Robin laughed about her directness, "we've tried twice Trace, some things are just not meant to be."

"We always watch the news together when he visits, and every time he is so proud of you. You know he could resent you and your career, but instead he's your biggest supporter."

Robin felt her stomach turn and she took another deep breath.

Tracy was probably sensing her discomfort and added, "although he does not like that new sports guy."

"Tommy?" Robin asked surprised.

Tracy nodded and smiled, "Barney is convinced that you are secretly hooking up with him, he had this whole scenario worked out, you know, working extra late, doing it in the studio."

"That's ridiculous." Robin choked out.

And also accurate.

Tracy chuckled, "he's jealous at some random co-worker of yours, you know what that means, right?"

Robin nodded slowly.

Tracy squeezed her hand, "it's never too late to be the person you wish you had been."