Skype I
"London's calling." Barney joked as he answered the skype invitation from Robin.
"Hey." She replied.
"How was the flight? And how is London thus far?"
"The flight was great, thanks to you and Ellie."
"You liked it?"
"I loved it." Robin replied, "best gift I've ever gotten."
Barney grinned, "glad to hear that. So how is London?"
"Well I've only been here three hours, so…" she shrugged.
He nodded.
"How was your day?" she asked.
"Good, Ellie and I spend the afternoon at Tom and James' house BBQing."
"How are they doing? Man it's been so long that I've seen your brother."
"They are doing good, the kids are all grown and out of the house already, but they have adjusted well to that and are enjoying their new found freedom."
"Crazy how quickly time flies."
Barney nodded, "I know, and I think it's speeding up more and more."
"That's probably because you are so busy with Ellie."
"Maybe."
"Oh, Ted is calling, can I call you back in ten minutes?" She asked.
"Sure." He replied, even though he really wanted to ask her if she had to answer his call right away.
"Thanks, I'll be quick."
She ended the call with Barney and accepted Ted's incoming call.
"Hey babe." Ted was clearly sitting in bed, his naked chest on display.
"Hi." Robin replied, suddenly aware that she was also lounging in bed.
"Did you have a good flight?"
"Yeah." Robin replied as she got up to walk over to the couch, "how was you guy's day?"
"Good, we miss you though. Which is why I just booked the flights. We are leaving the day after school's out and will be there for two weeks."
"Oh, really?" Robin asked, quickly jotting the dates down in her calendar.
"Yeah, Penny and Luke were so excited about it, they really miss you too, you know?"
Robin smiled, "well, tell them I miss them as well."
"Will do. So tell me, what's been going on thus far? How is the apartment?"
"It's great and right in walking distance to the Tower Bridge. You guys will like it."
"Oh I know, we will have so much fun!"
"Yeah." Robin nodded and simultaneously pulled the chat with Barney up to type,
Almost finished, just one more minute.
"I know I was reluctant about you doing this but I've got to say, maybe this is exactly what we needed. And I mean the trip to the UK will be amazing, the kids have never been overseas and just spending that time, bonding, will be good for our family." Ted said.
Just hearing those words made Robin cringe, "yeah."
She checked the chat with Barney who had answered,
That's what she said.
It made her smile.
"What's so funny?" Ted asked.
"Nothing." Robin replied and concentrated on him once more, "do you have anything else to talk about right now? I'm really tired and was looking forward to a nice, hot, bath."
"Well, we could keep skyping." Ted suggested.
Robin gave him an annoyed look, "are you serious right now?"
Ted contemplated his answer for a second, "yes?"
Robin rolled her eyes, said "good night Ted," and ended the call.
She immediately started another conversation with Barney.
"Sorry about that." She said.
He shrugged, "it's fine."
But she could tell that something was bothering him, and hence asked, "are you mad?"
Barney shook his head, "nah…I was just wondering something, but it's a personal question and I don't think we are at the point where we ask these kinds of questions yet, so I'll just save it for later."
"I make you a deal. You get to ask me whatever is going through your mind right now, and I will give you an honest answer, but then I get to ask you a personal question too."
"Sounds good." Barney replied immediately.
"Okay, shoot." Robin asked.
"Why did Ted happen? I mean... I thought you were completely over him."
Robin pulled her feet up on the couch, "I was. But I was also in a really weird place when he showed up with the blue French horn again and I just…I don't know, let him rescue me? That sounds so lame and dependent."
"What was going on in your life at that time?" Barney asked.
"I'd spend over a decade travelling the world by myself, and then suddenly I found myself back in New York and…I don't know, for the first time my life slowed down enough for me to realize things." She shrugged, "I was just kind of lost, and I thought the dogs would help, and they did, but they also made everything even sadder. I'd always been on the go, and then suddenly I was sitting in an apartment with five dogs and no real purpose…I know I still have my job, and I still love that aspect of my life, but I … I don't know."
"Yes you do, tell me." He prompted her gently.
She hesitated and looked at him, "I guess for the first time I truly realized what I had lost when we got divorced Barney."
He started to nod, "I know what you mean. I had the same realization, it happened a lot sooner for me, but that was probably just because I actually came home to an empty apartment after Argentina and it kind of hit me in the face."
Robin nodded, "how did you deal with it?"
Barney shrugged, "I dove right back into my womanizing ways. Honestly, I'm still surprised that I survived those first couple of weeks, I mean, I was out of control."
"You were?"
He nodded, "I hooked up with married women, skipped condoms whenever skanks let me get away with it, and all in all wasn't really respectful towards anyone."
She swallowed, "Barney, I'm so sorry, I didn't…"
"It wasn't your fault, we both weren't happy anymore. We both decided to get a divorce."
"I know, but I sometimes think, maybe, if I wouldn't have brought it up that day? If I would have just kept my mouth shut we could still be happy."
"We weren't happy anymore Robin." He whispered.
She nodded, "I'm really sorry Barney. I let my career destroy us, and I'm so sorry that that happened."
"It wasn't your fault. It was no-ones fault really." Barney replied.
"It was my career that ruined everything, therefore it was my fault."
"I could have been more supportive." He replied shrugging.
"You were, but I didn't see the sacrifices you were already making for us while I didn't make any."
"Robin…do you regret the divorce?" He asked point blank.
"Don't you?" she asked right back.
He swallowed, "yes and no. I missed you so much, you have no idea. I came back to New York but nothing was the same anymore. Lily, Marshall, Ted and Tracy were all in family mode and didn't have time to hang out with their pathetic, divorced, single friend. I wasn't just going through a divorce, but I had also lost my best friend in the world. You know how many times I dialed your number to tell you something before realizing that I couldn't do that anymore? It was cruel. But if we hadn't gotten a divorce, I wouldn't have had Ellie, and obviously I wouldn't change having her."
Robin whipped a tear away, "I'm still sorry for putting you through everything."
"Stop apologizing, it wasn't your fault. We are both to blame…besides, I don't want to think about the past anymore."
"But we can't just ignore it either. We both suffered Barney, and now we are going down this path again, I feel like history will repeat itself if we don't resolve these issues and start talking about what happened."
He rubbed his face with his hand, "maybe yes, but not right now right?"
Robin looked at him for a moment before she started to nod, "okay, not right now then."
She paused for a moment before continuing, "anyways, all that played a role in me getting back together with Ted."
Barney nodded, "and? Did it make you happy?"
"That's such a hard and unfair question Barney. Ted is a good guy, and he would do anything for me."
Barney nodded, "do you love him?"
Robin looked around the room, "why would you ask me that?"
"Cause I need to know Robin."
"No you don't. Knowing the answer to that question doesn't change anything."
"Yes it changes everything. Robin I only agreed to this liaison because I figured you didn't actually love him. But if you do, and I'm still pursuing you, then I'm basically trying to steal my bro's girl."
"You aren't bro's anymore. You aren't even friends anymore."
"It doesn't matter. Stealing another man's girl is a despicable thing to do."
"Since when do you care? You just told me that you slept with married women!"
"Yes but I didn't try to steal them! Robin this isn't just about sex for me, I want you back."
Their argument had gotten louder and headed, but suddenly they were both completely silent.
Robin rubbed her forehead, "look…it's been a long day. Can we just continue this some other time?"
Barney sighed, "I didn't mean... Robin I'm taking whatever I can get. If it's a few more skype conversations, then that's great. A few more secret nights? Awesome. I'm not going to pressure you into anything though. It's completely up to you. I just don't want to put you in any predicament and neither do I want to edge into a relationship that actually makes you happy."
"Stop overthinking this."
"Stop ignoring the possible consequences." He replied angrily.
"Daddy?" someone suddenly asked behind him.
"Ellie!" Robin quickly exclaimed, "how are you doing?"
She hoped that her enthusiasm was enough to overshadow whatever the little girl had just overheard of their argument.
"Good." Ellie said tentatively, looking back and forth between the computer and her father.
"Come here." Barney said and pulled her onto his lap.
"I LOVE the picture you drew, and all the fun things you put on the ipad." Robin said.
"Really?" Ellie asked.
"Really! Thank you."
Ellie looked at her dad and grinned widely.
"I'll have some time tomorrow, so my plan was to go shopping for souvenirs to send you." Robin explained.
"Like what?" Ellie asked excited.
"You've just got to wait and see." Robin teased her.
"Do I get something too?" Barney asked.
Robin nodded, "guess you too have to wait and see."
Barney grinned right back.
"Well, I'm really tired so how about we continue this some other time?"
"Just ping me whenever you have time, okay?" Barney asked.
Robin nodded, "will do. Have fun in school tomorrow Ellie."
"Thanks. Have fun in London!"
"I will."
"Miss you." Barney said as he started waving at the camera, prompting Ellie to mirror his move immediately.
"Miss you guys too." Robin replied and waved back at them before disconnecting the call.
