Thanks for all the reviews :) This is another shorter one, but as I said, I will post a few more chapters this weekend.
I know that from a logical standpoint that finale shouldn't undo the 9 seasons beforehand, but I can't help it. I am pretty sure that I won't watch another rerun or buy the dvd box. to me it feels like having a really good friend for years to lean on, and then you find out that they completely betrayed you. I wouldn't want to hang out with someone like that in my real life after something like that happens either.
As for living day-2-day, I just wrote the majority of a new chapter a week or two ago, so I am not sure what's going to happen with that now. I know people love it and I have already put a lot of effort into the next chapter, but on the other hand I am really deflated about it all.
Anyways, this story should pick up momentum shortly, there are just 8 more chapters until the huge game changer (altough it might be more, I oftentimes have last minute ideas for chapters that weren't planned).
Shannon
They had shared some awkward small talk on their way to the coffee shop and while they waited in line.
Apparently Shannon was working as a secretary now, but wasn't very fond of her boss. She went on a tangent when she talked about Max, and Barney spaced out for a second, contemplating what was happening right now.
"And you? What's been going on with you?" She asked when they finally sat down.
"The usual." He replied.
"Oh come on Barney, how did you end up in the corporate world?"
You breaking my heart sure had something to do with it, Barney thought, but instead replied, "guess we just all have to grow up at one point or another."
Shannon nodded, "I'll admit it was weird seeing you at the reunion in that expensive suit. You've changed so much."
"We all change Shannon, I am sure becoming a mom has changed you too."
She nodded, "yeah. The divorce did too."
Barney nodded, and took a sip from his drink, "well, you look great."
She blushed.
"And Max sounds like an awesome kid too." He added.
"How about you, are you still dating Ava?"
Barney couldn't help but laugh, "her name isn't really Ava, we were doing some role playing that night."
Shannon nodded knowingly, "I've recognized her on the news before, it's Robin, right?"
Barney nodded.
"She seems like someone who will go far. She's an anchor for CNN, right?"
Barney nodded once more, "technically she's a foreign correspondent, but yeah, she's the best they got."
"I take it you are still an item then?"
"Yeah. I just got back from visiting her in Lisbon."
"That must be tough, constantly having to say goodbye to each other and being apart for long periods of time."
"Skype helps." He winked, and added, "it's fine really. We've been doing it for over two years now and it works really well. I am really, really proud of her and what she does, and I would never blame her for being gone a lot. It's her dream, and what type of guy would I be if I get in the way?"
Shannon nodded absently, and Barney realized that his words had somehow hurt her.
"I really hope she knows how lucky she is to have you. Not many guys would think like that, you know?" She asked.
Barney shrugged, "I am the lucky one really."
Shannon looked like she had to bite back tears.
Okay, this was awkward. Faking a love story with Robin once again in order to hurt Shannon's feelings seemed cruel.
But then again, cheating on him and lying to him like she did was too.
"Do you think you are going to marry her?" Shannon finally asked.
Barney was caught off guard with that question, "nah."
She raised an eyebrow.
"I am not the marrying kind, and neither is Robin. We'll just wing it."
He nipped on his coffee once again and asked, "what about you? Are you going to re-marry?"
She laughed about it, "no way."
"Been there, done that, huh?" He asked.
Shannon nodded, "I've learned my lesson Barney. So Lisbon?"
He dove into a detailed account about Lisbon and Porto, and by the time he reached the end they had finished their coffee.
"It was good to see you Shannon." Barney said once they stood outside.
"You too." Shannon nodded.
Barney gave her a nod and then turned around, but Shannon stopped him by calling after him.
"Barney hold on a second."
He turned back around and she walked over to him, "do you…do you want to come to my place?"
To say that he was surprised would have been an understatement.
"Your place?" he asked.
She nodded, "I only live two blocks from here, and Max is at school…"
Barney contemplated his options, go with her and finally bang her, which honestly had been something he had always wanted to do.
Or walk away. He thought about the conversation he'd just had with her, and how he had portrayed his and Robin's relationship, it felt wrong to betray that.
"Shannon, I am with Robin, you know that." He said.
She looked as if she was going to back down, but then she said, "yeah but she's in Lisbon, right?"
Barney couldn't believe how desperate she was to get screwed by him, what was she thinking? That he would realize that he still loved her if they slept with each other? That he'd somehow giver her a second chance?
He bit his lip and thought about Robin once again, about the reunion and how Robin had made Shannon jealous.
Shannon had reached out, and was stroking his arm now, "come on Barney, for old times sake?"
Barney starred at her hand, was there a legit reason why he shouldn't go with her? He could have some fun and then ditch her afterwards and still get the revenge he'd always wanted.
A random thought popped into his head, the scene from his and Robin's tape, and how Robin had asked him about whether or not he had a sex tape with Shannon.
Robin and he weren't a real couple, and he never felt bad when he hooked up with other girls. But somehow that tape gave him the notion that this hookup would hurt Robin.
And he could never do that to her.
Shannon was the one girl that made Robin uncomfortable. And sleeping with her was the equivalent of Robin sleeping with Ted. He'd hate that as well.
"Just because she's not here doesn't mean I would ever hurt her like that Shannon." He said and shook her hand off.
She looked sad, and he added angrily, "thanks to you I know how it feels to be cheated on, and it's not something you put someone you truly care about through."
He turned around and walked away without saying another word.
He hailed a cab and pulled his phone out the second he sat down,
Hey u, good day so far? Guess who I ran into? He hit send and checked his watch, Robin was probably at work, which usually meant that she would answer quickly.
Who? It only took her a minute to answer.
Shannon.
And? This time it took her a little longer to type her response.
We had coffee and she invited me up to her apartment afterwards.
Oh wow. That's what you always wanted, right?
He starred at that message and regretted doing this via texts.
Not anymore though. I told her about you, and us…and I think that hurt her more than walking out on her ever would. Hope you don't mind that I still pretended that you were my girl.
You didn't sleep with her?
Nope. He almost added that he had slept with another girl though, but caught himself before hitting send.
I'll be your fake girlfriend anytime Barney.
It made him smile, and he noticed that the cab had almost reached his apartment.
Gotta go, but we'll talk tonight?
Yep. And Barn? I am glad you didn't go home with her.
He smiled, yes, he had certainly done the right thing.
