The Talk

"I know I promised you a house, but I only managed to get this unit. But, in case we do leave this apartment in the next 48 hours, which I don't really plan on btw, then there is a swimming pool with a hot tub area." Barney explained as they stepped into the apartment he had rented for the weekend.

"I like your plan of staying inside." Robin grinned and let her bag glide to the floor.

Barney, who had carried her suitcase and his own luggage, maneuvered them around until they were securely standing as well.

Robin grabbed the "Do not Disturb" sign and put it outside before locking the door.

"I like the way you think." Barney said and pulled her into his arms.

"Welcome back to the US." He whispered.

"Thanks for taking a weekend off to greet me."

"I did that for selfish reasons." Barney replied before kissing her.

They started to make out and didn't seize until Robin gently pushed him away, "let me take a shower real quick? I've been on planes all day."

"I think I need one too, I've been in cars all day." He replied mischievous.

"Do you now?" Robin grinned and kissed him once more.

…

"Barney?" Robin whispered, not sure if her lover was asleep or awake.

The past 16 hours had been a mix of sex and dosing off, she was still jet-lagged, and Barney truly enjoyed being able to just fall back asleep instead of getting up and getting things done as he usually had to.

"Yeah?" Barney replied, moving around to face her.

Robin hesitated but finally said, "I made my decision."

Barney could feel how his heartbeat accelerated, "yeah?" he asked as calmly as possible.

Robin reached out and touched his bicep, "I'm going to break up with Ted."

Barney tried to keep himself from smiling, and to stay serious instead, "are you sure?"

"Yes."

"But what about Penny and Luke? And your dogs?" Barney asked, still trying to conceal his excitement.

"Penny doesn't like me, and Luke is probably indifferent about it."

"Still, it's a huge decision." Barney whispered.

"I know, and I've thought a lot about it in England. But let's face it, if I were truly happy, then I wouldn't have started this affair with you."

Barney nodded and moved forward to kiss her gently.

"Which brings me to the next point…us." Robin continued slowly.

Barney felt his heart skip a beat, was she going to break up with him as well? Was that the conclusion she had arrived at in England? That a clean slate would be the best thing right now.

"I don't want to go from living with one single father to the next. I want to get my independence back Barney, at least for a while."

"What does that mean for us exactly?" Barney asked.

"I want to get my own apartment, I want to just…date you. Without commitments." Robin replied.

Barney started to grin, "Ted wore you out with all this family stuff, didn't he?"

"Barney, come on, this is serious."

"I know, sorry. I'm just so relieved, for a second I thought you were going to dump me too."

Robin shook her head, "no, I want this, I do…I just don't want to rush anything."

"I totally get that Robin. You are getting out of a very serious relationship, it'd be a mistake to jump into something else immediately. And as much as I want to spend every night like the last, I also have Ellie to think about. I know we can't just pretend as if the divorce never happened."

"Exactly, and I honestly think it will be good for us. We will be able to enjoy each others company, while you still have your life with Ellie and I finally get my independence back."

Barney nodded and kissed her once again.

"Besides, I don't want the break-up with Ted to be about us. I want him to understand that the suburban life is suffocating me, and that I need to get my independence back. I want it to be about my needs, rather than you and our affair."

Barney nodded, "he doesn't need to know about that."

"I'd really prefer if he never found out. I don't want to hurt him. I know that's stupid, I mean our tete-a-tete has been going on a while now, so I'm obviously not too concerned about hurting him. But the break-up itself will already hurt him enough, you know?"

"When are you going to tell him?" he asked.

"Next weekend. I'll start looking for apartments as soon as we get back, I know I won't find anything this quickly, but Ted won't just kick me and the dogs out either. I just want to be as honest as possible with him, and I think opening up to him about it will be the best thing."

"You want to break up with him but stay there?"

"If he lets me, yeah."

"Isn't that going to be super weird?"

"We have a life together Barney. I can't just walk out, I have responsibilities, and things have to get figured out." She shrugged.

"You know he'll try to convince you to stay…and to sleep with you."

"Jealous?" Robin teased him.

"Not necessary jealous, grossed out thinking about you in bed with him, yeah, but jealous, nah."

Robin smiled, "he's not going to make me change my mind Barney. I promise."

"Did you sleep with him when he and the kids visited you in London?" he asked.

"Why does it matter?"

"Just curious."

"Yeah I did."

"Was it good?"

"I'm not going to discuss this with you Barney." Robin replied.

He could tell that she was getting aggravated with him.

"Look, I know I'm the other guy in this situation, I know I don't have any leverage here, but I just want you to do what makes you happy. And staying there with him and the kids for longer than necessary seems like a horrible idea."

"I need an apartment Barney, I can't just take my five dogs and move into a hotel room. That's not how it works."

"You could live with me." He suggested.

"No. I don't want us to start out like that, I don't want to put that much pressure on Ellie and our rekindling relationship."

Barney nodded, even though parts of him disagreed.

"I loved our secret get away's and dates these last couple of months, and I want that. I want to date you and have fun like that."

"I know, and I agree that taking things slow is good. I just don't think it's a good idea to stay up there after you told Ted that you are going to move out."

"It's the adult thing to do Barney. And I'm not talking weeks here, just long enough for me to find a suitable apartment and for all the transitions to take place."

Barney leaned in and kissed her again, "I don't want to talk about this anymore, I'd much rather celebrate getting a girlfriend again."

"Really?" Robin giggled into the kiss.

"Yeah, she's this super hot and successful chick."

"Sounds like a good match for such a handsome man." She whispered before their lips locked one again.