"Robin, you just need to tell him." Barney urged. "Tell him you don't think the relationship is going in the right direction and call it off. It'll be so simple. Please just do it. Do it for me. Do it for the possibility of us."

"I don't think I can… I… Barney, I can't do this." She sighed, exasperated, as she sat down on the edge of his coffee table. "Please stop that. Please stop being in love with me. We're good friends and there's nothing more to that. This isn't right. I wish we could go back to normal."

"Robin," he started again, sternly, leaning towards her with his eyes firmly looking into hers, causing her to look away to avoid his gaze almost immediately, her face flushed crimson.

"Look at me." He commanded softly, his voice coming out in a whisper, and she obeyed, however reluctantly. "You have to do this, no matter how hard it seems. You're in a relationship with some big jerk and there is a ninety nine percent chance you don't love him anymore. That's not a healthy relationship and you need to get out of it."

"I will, when the time is right."

"This isn't good enough. I need you to say yes. And I need you to say it's going to happen now."

"Yes. Now."

"You promise me this?"

"Yes… No. I can't do it." Biting her lip, she turned away once again, breaking their mutual gaze the second time. "Please don't make me do this. I'm sorry. I just don't know how to deal with feelings."

"I know, and that's why we're dealing with this together." He turned to her, one hand holding her face, studying her features as he stroked her cheek lightly with his coarse thumb. "I need you to do this. It may seem overwhelming but I know you will get through it because you are the bravest person I know. Are you ready?"

She stared at him with an emotionless face and gulped. A hundred thoughts raced through her head. She wanted to get the relationship over and done with, but was it not too soon to call it off, especially now that they had just gotten back together? When will the time be right? And will the time ever be right?

"I think so."

Putting her hand into his, she stood up, brushing the wrinkles that had formed on her blouse for as long as she had been sitting down. Barney held a hand on his hip, allowing her arm to slink into his, forming a loop.

"Okay, honey. Let's go."