— Chapter 11 —
Waking up in Barney's arms had felt incredible. The sex that followed was even more incredible. Then the sex in the shower was just the icing on the already perfect cake.
Now she was standing in the kitchen, with her arms wrapped around him, kissing his bare back as he made them an omelet for breakfast.
«This is perfect» She breathed out.
«Good. I'm glad you happy.» He said, caressing her hand that was wrapped around his stomach. «Personally, I think the only thing that would make this moment any better, was if I knew I'd get to bang you on the kitchen table after we eat.»
She laughed a little into his back. «I think that could be arranged.»
«Sweet!» He pumped a fist into the air, as she pulled away from him to set the table.
«So, what do we tell the others?» She asked, changing the subject.
«I'm ok with them knowing if you are. Their going to meddle of course, but.. I think we can handle it.»
«Me to.» She said back. «And actually, I kind of want to shout it from the rooftops.» The smile on her face was so big, she thought her skin would actually get stretched.
He laughed at her as he came over and sat the now finished omelet down on the table. «Be my guest» he said, kissing her forehead before they both sat down to eat.
«So when should we tell them?» She asked him, digging into the food. Man, having lots and lots of sex with Barney, really made you work up an appetite.
«Let's do it tomorrow. Today I just want to hang around here, and have you all to myself.» He smiled a wicked smile at her, making it clear what his intensions were.
«Well I already called in sick to work, so you've got me for the whole day. Do whatever you want with me.» She smiled her own wicked smile back at him.
«Really?» He said raising an eyebrow at her, in an challenging manner.
«Really!» She confirmed.
«Keep talking like that Scherbatsky, and I might not be able to wait.»
«Well, we wouldn't want that now would we. You'll need your strength for some of the things I have planed for us today.»
That certainly got his interest. «Really? Like what?» He looked like a kid in a candy store, bouncing a little in his seat.
«Well, do you still have those cameras in your room?» She smiled an almost evil smile, knowing exactly what she was doing to him. «And that whole thing about a sex swing. Was that just a joke? Or do you really have one?»
«Do I… I…» Barney couldn't seem to get the words out. «Come!»
And with that he grabbed her hand and dragged her into the bedroom, ready to show her that none of it was a joke.
3
The next night they walked into MacLaren's holding hands, ready to show the gang (now, this automatically included Sara and Mark as well), and the rest of the world that they were together. And as predicted, they were bombarded with questions as soon as they all sat down.
Having gotten all the mandatory 'We're so happy for you's out of the way, Lily was the first to start asking questions.
«When did this happen?»
«It happened tuesday night.» Robin answered for the both of them, as Barney put his hand around her shoulder, bringing her closer to him.
«So that's why we didn't hear from you all day yesterday? You were busy banging? Nice!» Mark announced, giving Barney a high five.
«So your back together now? Like for real?» Marshall was clearly excited about the prospect of two of his best friends finding their way back to each other.
«Yes. We are.» Barney said while smiling down at her.
«But, like.. How did this happen?» Lily asked, clearly surprised at this new development.
«Well, I guess I've just been realizing lately how much I've been messing things up. And then after talking to Ted earlier this month, and then Sara on tuesday, I was finally honest with him and told him how I feel, and how sorry I am for all the things I've put him thru lately. Thankfully, he forgave me.» Robin smiled up at Barney as she said this, and he leaned down to place a small kiss on her lips.
Ted, Sara and Mark smiled happily for the two lovers. Lily and Marshall on the other hand, looked confused.
«What do you mean 'the things you've put him thru'? What have you put him thru?» Marshall wanted to know.
And so Robin started to explain all the things that had been happening between them lately without the others knowing about it.
Lily and Marshall were both shocked to hear what Barney had been going thru, and at the hands of Robin no less. They both felt bad for not seeing how sad Barney had been, and not being able to be there for him, for which Barney forgave them right away of course.
«So how serious is this thing between you?» Marshall wanted to know, practically bouncing in his chair, not being able to control his excitement. «Are you just sleeping together? Are you in a relationship? Are you exclusive? Are there church bells?»
He was cut of by Lily elbowing him in the ribs, giving him a stern look to let him know he'd gone to far. Then she turned hopeful eyes towards Robin and Barney, clearly just as interested in the answer as her husband was.
Robin felt awkward. They'd talked about wanting to be together, but with Barney having trouble trusting her, they hadn't really put a label on it. It being brought up like this, made her uncomfortable. She didn't really know how to answer it, and she found herself being nervous about how Barney would answer.
She was staring down into the table, her body tense when she felt Barney squeezing her shoulder. She looked up into his eyes and found him smiling down at her. «We're definitely together in an exclusive relationship!» he said keeping his eyes locked on hers.
She felt the tension easing out of her body, and she relaxed against him, bringing her hand up to stroke the tie on his chest.
«So you love each other?» Lily prompted.
«I…» Now it was Barney's turn to be uncomfortable. It was hard enough for him to reveal his innermost thought to her, let alone try and explain them to the rest of the group.
The hand that wasn't stroking his tie, grabbed his hand that was resting in his lap, and gave it a squeeze.
«We're taking things slow, getting used to being together again. All that matters right now, is that we found our way back to each other. Everything else will have to wait.» She said it with a determined tone, giving both Marshall and Lily a stern look, making it clear that they should drop the subject.
They both looked torn for a while, clearly wanting to ask a lot more questions. However before they could say anything else, Sara interrupted them.
«So, Lars and I broke up!» She announced. «Found him in his office, banging some other dude.» As the others lunged into their outrage, and bombarded Sara with questions on this new topic, Barney pulled Robin as close to his chest as he could get her, and gave her a lingering kiss on her forehead, thanking her for defending their relationship.
3
Later that night, Robin came out of the bathroom to discover Barney missing from their booth. A quick look around revealed him standing in deep conversation with Sara, over by the bar. She decided to walk over to them, actually missing Barney after only a short trip to the bathroom. God, she was pathetic.
«I'm just not sure she understands..» She could hear Barney saying as she walked up to them and wrapped her hands around his waist.
The conversation came to a holt the moment they saw her.
«What are you up to?» She asked.
«Nothing.» Barney quickly replied, throwing his arm around her shoulder. «You want another drink?»
It was clear he didn't want to tell her what the conversation was about. She decided rather then getting into it here, she would ask him about it later. «Sure. I'll have another scotch, please.»
«Coming right up!» He turned towards the bar, his hand absentmindedly drawing circles on her back, while he spoke to the bartender.
3
Several hours later they were sitting in a cab heading towards Barney's place. They were so wrapped up in each other it was hard to tell were one ended and the other one started.
Barney's fingers were playing with her hair, while her arms were wrapped tightly around his middle.
They had been quiet for a long time, just enjoying the silence and each others company. Enjoying the feel of the other next to them.
«Barney..?»
«Uh?» He's answer was barely more then a grunt.
«What were you and Sara talking about at the bar earlier?»
She was answered with silence. Barney kept playing with her hair, not moving away from her in any way. The only way she knew he had any sort of reaction to her question was his breathing picking up a little bit.
«You don't have to tell me if you don't want to.»
Barney gave a sigh. «It's not that.»
She waited for him to continue.
«It's just not important. We were just talking.»
She felt like he had been about to say something else. Something more. But he changed his mind.
«Okay?» He asked her, clearly wondering if his answer was good enough.
«Of course» She answered back.
They went back to riding the cab in silence again.
This was her own fault, she thought. This was the consequences of her own action. This was Barney, not feeling like he could trust her with his deepest thought. Instead he went to Sara with them. She couldn't deny that it hurt. She also couldn't deny that it was completely her own fault. She had made him like this. She had changed him into this person that felt like he had to hide his fears from her. Like he couldn't totally open up to her. And she couldn't blame him. All she could do was to do her best to make him trust her again.
