He calls Robin for brunch.

"What's the occasion?"

"St. Patty's Day, loser."

"Uh-huh. And you just came from?"

"A dumpster."

"Oh, nice."

"Brunch?"

They meet up in Soho, at this brunch place that Barney suggested (which, hey, he offered to pay, and knowing his taste, she's not going to turn that down). He smells kind of like a dumpster but the wait staff know him by name (and have a suit on hand) and by the time he's done changing in the bathroom, he looks pretty normal. Everything feels pretty normal. Except she's pretty sure the waitresses are all glaring at her.

She stabs a piece of her Challah French toast as he takes another bite of his home fries. "How was your St. Patrick's Day?" he asks.

"I ended up playing Hungry, Hungry Hippos with Lily and Marshall in their crooked apartment."

"Oh, nice." They high five and she makes his fingers sticky (maple syrup).

"I hear you Barnified Ted."

Barney casts his eyes down. "What exactly did you hear?" She shrugs. "Ted does what he does. I told him to live. I'm not his fucking dad."

She licks her lips. "You don't have to defend yourself to me."