BeneathTheUmbrella: Please don't hate me.

srcrib: I agree, it is stupid of Tracy to do that, but I kind of wanted to write everyone's storyline close to how it was in the finale and just tweak Barney and Robin's a little. Does that make sense? I could totally see Tracy and Robin having a discussion like this as part of the finale.

Funeral

It was pouring rain, and the grass they were standing on was soaked and muddy.

She'd never liked funerals, then again, no one did. But this one was by far the most heartbreaking she had ever been too.

Seeing Ted so completely lost and broken, was horrible.

Seeing his kids next to him cry their eyes out was worse.

Robin turned her head slightly and starred at the casket in front of them.

This wasn't right.

She looked back up to Ted, who only had eyes for the casket in front of him and felt lightheaded.

Instinctively she reached out and wrapped her arms around Barney's, clinging to his arm as if it was her lifesaver.

Barney shifted and brought her hand down to his, letting their fingers intertwine while her other hand was still wrapped tightly around his biceps.

She barely listened to a word that was said, and instead tried to concentrate on the sound of the rain.

It was just too much.

All these stories of Tracy, her kids saying goodbye and lastly Ted, declaring his love one last time to her.

Time had never moved that slow before.

But eventually it was over, and Marshall guided Ted to the parked cars while Lily walked with Luke and Penny, her arms on their shoulders.

Barney and Robin followed after them, her arms still entangled in his.

"This isn't fair." Barney whispered.

Robin nodded, "no, it's not."

They walked a few more steps, and she added, "it shouldn't have been her…I mean she has a husband and two beautiful kids who now have to grow up without their mother."

She took a deep breath and added, "I wish the tables would have been turned."

Barney's head shot around and their eyes met, but he ended up not saying anything.

…

The living room of the house Ted had bought way back when was packed with people.

Robin watched all these people surrounding Ted and the kids in so much love.

All she wanted to do was bail.

Barney provided her an out an hour later, he had to go to pick up Ellie and asked if she wanted to share a cab.

She didn't hesitate and followed him outside.

Barney put his arm around her shoulder on the ride to his mom's house, where Robin waited in the car while he went inside.

She watched the house, wondering what Loretta would say if she'd known who was waiting for her son and granddaughter out here.

Loretta had never been a big fan of hers, but the divorce made everything a thousand times worse.

That woman hated her guts.

Barney finally emerged with a sleeping Ellie, carefully navigating his way back into the cab so the little girl wouldn't wake up.

Robin felt the sudden urge to reach out and stroke the blond curls out of her face, but caught herself within seconds and pulled her hand back.

"It's okay, she's a sound sleeper, you can touch her." Barney said in a hushed voice.

Robin nodded slightly, sadly being afraid of waking her up was not the reason why she had drawn back.

…

The cab held in front of Barney's apartment. The same she used to call home.

Robin starred at the building, remembering the many times she had walked into the foyer.

"Are you coming?" Barney asked.

He had already gotten up, Ellie in his arms.

Robin hesitated and Barney added, "please?"

She nodded, paid the driver and got out as well.

Minutes later she was alone in the living room while Barney put Ellie in her bed.

Not much had changed.

The stormtrooper was still standing by the window, the sword wasn't.

His kitchen was still a little too neat.

The couch and giant TV where still the center of the room.

The putting green was replaced with a pink dollhouse.

She starred at the little house for a moment, and suddenly she noticed other changes she had previously overlooked.

Pictures on the sideboard, a doll resting on one of the kitchen stools, drawings on the fridge.

"She didn't even budge when I took her jacket off." Barney said as he walked back into the room, pulling on his tie and loosening it.

"That's great."

Barney walked into the kitchen and opened one of the higher cupboards, revealing several bottles of scotch.

"I think we can both use one, huh?" he asked.

Robin nodded and walked over to the kitchen counter, hopping onto one of the chairs.

"Make it big." She said.

He nodded and finally handed her the glass.

"This got to be the worst day our gang has ever gone through."

Robin nodded.

She thought back to the other horrible moments they had gone through together; Marshall's dad dying, Barney facing his father, the day their divorce finalized and of course when she found out about being infertile.

She took a big swallow of the scotch. It burned.

"We need to make sure he gets through this okay. He and the kids." Barney said as he lifted his glass back to his lips.

Robin nodded once again.

They spend another ten minutes in silence, sipping on their drinks.

Until Barney put his glass down and came around the kitchen island to where she was sitting.

He got into her personal space and cupped her face with his hands, gently brushing her cheeks with his thumps.

He gave her a few moments to reject, but she didn't.

The kiss was chaste and short.

"Please stay the night." He whispered once their eyes met again.

She nodded.

He kissed her again, longer this time, but still tender.

There was no frantic undressing neither were there passionate kisses.

Instead they slowly retreated to his bedroom. Their former bedroom.

They fell onto the bed, but the undressing took much longer than it ever had while they were married.

Mostly because they didn't want to break the kiss to do so.

Even when they were naked they didn't seize the kissing until Barney drew back as he was getting ready to push into her.

He looked her into the eyes as he did so, and she tightened her grip on his shoulders even more so.

Seconds later they were kissing again.

…

Robin was completely surrounded by him.

His warmth and smell were all-encompassing and for the first time today she felt herself relax.

He kissed her shoulder gently before whispering, "I'm really glad the tables weren't turned, and you are okay."

…

The alarm on her cellphone went off early the next day and she twisted herself from his embrace.

"Where are you going?" he asked dozily.

"My plane leaves at nine." She replied.

He nodded and reached his hand out towards her.

She took it and let him pull her back onto the bed.

"Thanks for staying."

Robin smiled sheepishly.

"I know this was just about comforting each other… but it still felt really good to hold you again." Barney added.

"I hope other things felt really good too." She joked.

He smiled, and pulled her hand to his mouth, placing a kiss on her fingers before letting go of her.

Sorry to the ones who hoped Tracy wouldn't die, but I'm just not big on Ted and Tracy. Plus, don't you just know that Barney and Robin would have hooked up after the funeral? I mean come on.