Chapter Twelve
We're sitting on the sofa and watching the television with a glass of champagne. I think it's the most boring New Year's eve I've ever had. It's 11 P.M., but Becca is already sleeping, and I think I'm going to fall asleep soon too. We're watching the World Wide News Channel, because Robin asked me to assure her, that her succesor is not as good as her. As I see, she's a pretty, small girl with fair hair, she seems friendly, but of course I'm going to tell Robin, that she's a bitch.
The atmosphere in New York City's streets is unbelievable! It's one hour before midnight, and the party is already great!
Honestly, I don't care. I'm a bit old old to the partys. Becca is sleeping on my shoulder. Damn, she's so beutiful. The most of people looks worse while they're sleeping, but Becca... Seems like whatever she does, she's just more and more beutiful.
It's 23:37. Maybe I should have thinking about the passed year. It was one of my worst and best years in one. It was bad, because Barney and Robin got married, and Robin got pregnant, in I had to give up my lifelong dream, that I'll end up with Robin. And I moved to Chichago, which was one of the biggest mistakes I've ever done, and then when I went back I hurted my best friends, and Barney and Robin didn't want to see me anymore. And then Barney had an accident, and it was terrible... But it was one of my best years too. Because on the wedding of my best friends I met Becca Bluebell, who's the most amazing girl I've ever known, finally I finished my house in Westchester, and I could move in, and now I have the best roommate ever, and I could finally let Robin to be with Barney, because I don't love her anymore. I mean, better as you love your friend, of course. And now, that I'm sitting on the sofa, Becca is sleeping on my shoulder, and Barney has just left the hospital yesterday, and we're friends again, just like in the old times, I feel this year ended quite good, and I can't wait for the year 2014. Which is going to start in a twenty minutes...
Here's Monica Hammonds, and Sandy Rivers again to report you about the New Year's Carneval in New York City. It's 15 minute until 2014, and the people of New York are waiting for the new year impatiently...
- What? - Becca asks. I don't know, when does she woke up. Maybe a few minutes earlier. - Is it 2014 now?
- Now. It's 23:43. - I say. - Punctually we have 17 minutes for 2013.
- Oh, great.- Becca says. - Now it's just 16. - I'm nodding. - Don't you want to drink some champagne?
- No, thanks. We decided that we're not going to drink champagne in 2013 anymore.
- Yes, but it's just 16 minutes!
- I know. So we're going to wait.
- Well, okay... Who's that girl on the TV?
- I think she's called Monica Hammonds. She's the succesor of Robin.
- Oh, really, I remember now! - Becca says. - We have to call her bitch, am I right? - I'm nodding. - Then... She's a bitch. I'm one-hundred prozent sure, she slept with Sandy Rivers many times.
- Me too.
- And that blond hair... She looks like a little girl! - she says. - Robin should be thankful to us. - Becca says, and we're both starting to laugh.
I'm glad, that I can spend the last day of 2013 with Becca. It's a beutiful winter night, the snow is covering the town including our house, but inside it's very warm, and we're sitting in our compfortable sofa, and I feel I'm home I'm with the person I have to be, and I want to stay in that moment forever. I'm safe in here, and it means much more than everything else. I'm sure, Becca is going to fall asleep again, but I don't care; as I mentioned she's just more beutiful while she's sleeping.
Monica Hammonds is speaking to a young couple, who are already drunk. Poor girl, I know, I have to hate her, but seems like it's a really hard work, and I know, she has many better idea of how to spend the last time of the year. Honestly, I don't know, why Robin liked this job so much. But Robin is a different person. She likes to build her career, and although she's pregnant she wanted to go work last week, when Barney was okay. Of course, they didn't let a woman in the third trimester to work, but Robin was offended, so right now she hates the World Wide News. And we have to hate it too.
Whatever, as I predicted, Becca fell asleep, and the last ten second of the year is starting right now.
Ten...
...Nine...
...Eight...
- Is it almost 2014? - Becca asks. Okay, maybe she didn't sleep. Or I don't know, I'm tired of this.
- Yes. - I'm nodding.
- Great. - she smiles. - I can't wait to be 2014.
...Five...
My phone is ringing. I'm answering it, and I hear Lily's voice. She sounds desperated.
- Ted!
- What's up, Lil? - I'm asking back. Okay, maybe it was idiotism, because I heard, there's something wrong, but I hadn't better idea.
...Four...
- Ted! Drive to the hospital! Now!
- Okay, but... Why?
...Three...
- Robin is bearing right now!
- What?! Is... Is it serious?
- Yes! C'mon!
...Two...
- Becca, we have to go.
- Why? What's happened?
When the fireworks are starting, we're outside the house and driving to the hospital.
I just can't believe it! Robin is going to give birth to a child. It's so... Unbelievable. But there's no time to thinking. We're arriving to the hospital a few moments later. Damn, why didn't I noticed, that Robin is in the last month? If I remembered, I wouldn't panicing as much as I do now.
The first person I see is Marshall. He's waiting next to the door of the labour room. He's greeting us, and I see in his face, that he's nervous too.
Hi, Marsh. – I say.
Hello Ted. Hello Becca.
Where are the others? – I ask.
Barney wants to be next to Robin during the bearing. Lily is in the bathroom. – there's a short silence for a few moments. – It's the same hospital. – he says. – Marvin was born here.
Yes, I remember. – I'm nodding. – Is Robin's doctor Dr. Sonia too? – I ask. Marshall smiles, I don't know why.
No… It's a funny story. Actually Dr. Sonia never was a doctor.
I told you. – maybe I should have be surprised, but Marshall is laughing, and I'm laughing too, although we haven't got the reason to laugh, because the truth is, that Lily and Marvin were in an incredibly big danger. But we're laughing, beacuse it's midnight, the first day of 2014, and Robin and Barney are going to have a child. I don't know why, but it's so funny.
The truth is, that she was an escaped serial killer, who tried to pretend she's a doctor. – we're laughing more loud. Becca is looking at me with a desperated blink.
Ted… Marshall… - she says. – I think you're a bit tired.
You don't say? – Marshall asks, and we're laughing again. – I haven't sleep since three days, because my pregnant wife feels dizzy every night. It was like the Three… Days… Waitforit… Grace! Three Days Grace! Like the band. – Marshall is giving me a high five, and I see he's really tired. Maybe I supposed to sleep with Becca in the passed few hours, because now she's the only one, who's not tired. – Okay, maybe I'm looking for a nice bench where I can sleep. – Marshall says, and Becca and I are staying together.
For a moment we're staying silent next to the door, looking into each other's eyes. Then Becca is starting to speak.
I bet, next year you'll be the father. – she says.
What? – I'm asking back.
Last year you were standing in the same floor, and the father of the baby was Marshall. In thins year we're standing in the floor, and the father is Barney. I'm sure, when we're going to stand in this floor the next year, you'll be the father of the child. – I'm smiling. I like Becca's irrealistic logic. I want to say her all the thigs I feel. How thankful I am for her support, how much does she mean for me, how much I love her… And I want to kiss her again, because we haven't kissed since months. But this time I want her to feel I've some feelings for her. I want to kiss her to know I love her. And I want to say her, that if she has right, and I'll stand here in the next year, as the new father, I hope she'll be the mother of the baby.
Last time we went here, Barney found some gum. – I say. It's not I wanted to say, I swear. Becca is looking at me, and then she's starting to laugh.
I love gum! Okay, I know, that everybody likes gum, but I like gum badly. I'm a serious nibbler. – I'm laughing with her. God, I don't know why I feel so good. I'm just looking at Becca, and kissing her. She kisses me back. Damn, I missed that feeling so much. I don't know, does she know, what I feel, or not. I just want to enjoy it. When we're stopping, I'm looking at her, and I want to make this moment forever. Of course, I can't. I wish I could…
Lily comes back. I see in her face, that she's tired too, but maybe she slept more then Marshall. Her face is in preference nervous. This is the first thing I notice.
Where is Marshall? – she asks. Her belly is huge, the Erikson-twins are growing very fast.
He said he's looking for a nice bench, where he can sleep. – Becca answers. Lily is smiling.
Well, he deserved the sleep. – Lily answers. But after a short silence she's starting to speak again. – But I want to know, where he is. Ted… Do you want to come with me to find Marshall? – I'm nodding.
Becca, do you want to come with us? – I'm asking Becca. I don't want to leave her alone.
No, Ted. Just you and me. – Lily says in a serious voice.
Well, I don't mind. – Becca says. – I'm looking for a nice bench in the other direction.
Oh, and Becca – Lily says, before we're starting to walk. – I like your lipstick!
Thank you! It's pinneaple flavoured.
Lily and I are walking next to each other, for a few moments we're silent. Then Lily is starting to speak.
This Becca-girl is really nice. – she says. – And pretty.
Yes, I know. – I'm nodding. – But Lily… Did you really bring away me to blab about Becca?
No, of course, that I didn't. – Lily says. – She's a nice girl, and if you asks me, she's in totally love with you, but…
I don't think so. – I'm answering. – Becca and I are just friends.
Okay, whatever. I know exactly, where your relationship goes, but you don't have to know about it too. But the real reason why I wanted to speak to you, that I have a question. – I really don't know, what Lily wants in the midnight, so I'm listening to her. – What happend between Robin, Barney and you? – she asks. Oh, no.
What do you mean? – I'm asking back.
I know, that something happened. When you came into the hospital to see Barney, you acted weird. I'm sure, something happened. – Yeah. I forgot Lily's sixth sense.
Well, okay… - I'm sighing. – When Robin became crazy Robin in about the sixth month of her pregnancy, and watchen Titanic all day, Barney was complaining a lot about her. I thought it's not fair, so I went to Robin's place to tell her, I'm still in love with her, and I could be better father of her child than Barney. – well, now, that I'm repieting what I said I'm confessing it was a really-really stupid idea. – But I know, it wasn't right, and I don't love Robin in that way since months. I'm over with her. – I say. For a few seconds Lily is looking into my eyes, and then she kisses me.
I don't know, what to say. I didn't figured on she's going to kiss me. I don't say it was bad, but it was weird. I mean, she's Lily, Marshall's wife. My best friends wife. So I pushed her away.
Lily?! – I'm asking. – What… What was… This?
Calm down, I was just curious for something. – Lily says. I still can't believe, what's happened.
For what?
That are you drunk, or not. If you would be drunk, you would kiss me back. – Lily says. I think, now, that Robin is bearing, Lily's pregnant mind is starting to work.
It's a weird way to determine am I drunk, or not.
Weird, but succesful. – Lily says with a smile on her face. – Don't tell Marshall, but trough my college years I did it many times.
So then… Are you going to tell Marshall what I did? That I argued with Robin and Barney?
No. Of course, that I'm not. I mean… I know, you changed your mind.
Thank you. But… Where?
Well, I'm not hundred prozent sure. But I would be surprised, if you borrowed Becca's pineapple-flavoured lipstick.
Wait… This is the real reson, why did you kiss me. – I say.
Smart boy. – Lily says, with a smile on her face. – And right now, I know, that you're in love with someone else, so…
Wait a minute. – I say. – Okay, I kissed Becca, but it doesn't mean I'm in love with her.
It does.
No, it doesn't.
It does.
Lily! – I'm shouting out.
Okay, sorry… I give you one day to recognize you're in love with Becca, and then we can go on the talking. – I'm looking at Lily.
Why are you so sure, that I'm in love with Becca? – I'm asking. Lily is looking into my eyes. I know, she wants to tell me something, but when she could do it, we're hearing a voice behind us.
Ted, Lily! Come in! – I'm turning back, and I see Barney. He's so happy like we've never seen before. – My daugther has just born.
We're standing in the room, Robin is in the bed, holding the little baby. She's as beutiful as her mother. In I don't feel I would be jealous. I feel warm, when Barney and Robin are looking at their child, and both of them are smiling. Marshall is holding Lily's hand, I'm smiling at Becca, and both of us are watching that beutiful and sweet little face. She has just born, but she's already pretty.
What's her name? – Becca asks. Robin and Barney are smiling for each other.
First of all… I let Robin to choose the name. – Barney says. Robin is smiling better.
Her name is Rose. Just like Kate Winslet in the Titanic. – she says in a delighted voice.
Damn it Robin, you really liked that movie. – Marshall says. Robin is nodding.
I hope once she's going to find a Jack, who won't die.
Well, we hope it too. – Barney says. I don't know, does he like the name Rose, or not, I always imagined if he would have a baby once, he wouldn't let his wife to give name to it, but he did it. And he seems really happy.
And she's a little girl. – Robin says. – She's going to have a room in rose, chlotes in rose, long hair, and all the girly things I never had. Because she's a girl… - Barney is smiling. I'm sure, he doesn't like the idea of the rose room, but he knows how much it means for Robin, that she's having a girl, and she can give her the childhood she never had. I always imagined if once Barney would have a child, it would be a boy, and while Robin was pregnant, I thought, he wants a boy. But whatever he wanted, now he's happy, and I think he's going to be a great father. The great father which Robin never had.
Becca is silently singing some song. It's acquainted for somewhere, but I don't know exactly, where.
You were born into a strange world. Love your mother, yeah she's s good one. Oh my precious, oh my love, when they come to take me,
Like a candle, you were meant to share the fire.
I don't know where we come from, and I don't know where we go.
But my arms were made to hold you, so I will never let you go.
Cuz you were born to change this life.
You were born to chase the light.
You were born...
She'll build you armor; keep you warm as a hen.
The stars may fall and the rains may pour,
But I will love you evermore.
You were born to make this right.
You were born to chase the light.
You were born...
I will hold you from above.
I don't know why we're here, and I don't know how,
But I'm here with you now, I am here with you now.
Cuz you were born to change this life.
Cuz you were born to make this right.
Cuz you were born to chase the light.
What a nice song! – Robin says. She is looking at her baby, and I think, whatever happends, while the baby is on her arm, she is happy for everything. And while Robin is happy, Barney is happy too. They're just the happy family right now.
Thank you. Becca says. – I can play it on guitar, I can drive home in a few minutes, and take it.
No, Becca, just stay here. – I say. – I'm driving faster. I'll be here again in a few minutes!
I don't know exactly, why I offered to go home and take Becca's guitar. I drove home very fast, and now, I've arrived, I'm noticing something strange next to our door. I'm moving closer. It's a vase full of Roses. And behing the vase a message:
The most beutiful flower to the most beutiful girl in the world!
Becca, I was a jerk, and I have to say sorry. You're the greatest girl I've ever met, and I love you. Say I'm a stupid, but I think, you're the one. I want to marry you, Becca! Let you go was the biggest mistake, I've ever done.
Still loves you:
Val
I'm reading the message. And then I'm reading it again. And again. And then I'm crumpling it, and with the vase of roses I'm chucking it out to the garbage can.
I'm taking Becca's guitar, and driving back to the hospital. The other are waiting for me. I feel a bit guilty, when I'm looking at Becca. And I know, that I have to speak with Lily, because she has right. I'm in love with Becca.