Thanks for getting this to 40 reviews :- )

Set after 1.15 Game Night.

Electronics

Lily and Marshall double-date with Victoria and Ted the following night, and Robin's doing a report while Barney's at Laser Tag- so there's no meet-up at MacLaren's. However, the previous evening there plays on Lily's mind all day, and when she and Marshall arrive home at half past ten, she calls Barney's home number.

"Go for Barney," he answers after three rings.

"Oh good, you're there. I thought you might be…" Shooting eight-year-olds with a fake gun. In bed with a girl you'll never speak to again. Negotiating a business deal with Fidel Castro. "Busy,"

"No, it's cool. What do you want?"

"I'm sorry about that tape, Barney. Really. I didn't think it would upset you,"

He sighs, "It's okay,"

"You sure?"

"Yeah. I mean it's…it's not something I wanted to revisit, but I guess it's okay you guys saw it,"- he sniggers and add cheerfully, "And you know from my other video that it led to some pretty good stuff with Shannon that night. Don't think she's flaunting her chastity ring around these days- what up!"

She disregards this and ploughs on, "Did that make you feel better?"

"Hooking up with her? No, I felt so much worse after I nailed Shannon in the kitchen with Conan on in the background. Get your head out of your ass,"

On the other end of the phone, Lily rolls her eyes, "Fine, I get it- no regrets, no pain, everything revolving around sex and money and an epic story,"

"Yup," he replies firmly. He knows that she probably thinks that it's a cover-up, but it's true; that's how he lives and he loves life that way. And he isn't hurt about the video tape incident- perhaps he had been when he stormed out, but after sex with Shannon- he's great.

"Well, you can- you can call me if you ever want to talk about it,"

"Huh, yeah. Sure,"

He won't.

"Bye then," Lily says, sensing that they're not going to get much further.

"Bye,"

"Sorry again," she adds quickly. She shouldn't forget that he's an actual person- however much he tries to pretend he's a cartoon.

"Look, s'fine," Barney re-iterates, then pauses before adding slowly and quietly, "Just remember that not everyone's as lucky as you to marry their college sweetheart,"

He hangs up abruptly. Lily puts the phone down and sighs. Then she goes into the kitchen and checks that there's enough Red Bull in the fridge.

I like this one- what do you think?

Thanks for your time.