AN: So, so, so, so sorry for the long wait. I couldn´t think of a proper storyline and I had to finish my bachelor, so there was not much time for fan fiction. I know I had promised this before, but I´ll really try to update more regularly. Hope you guys forgive me and you still read my stories. xx

Two weeks after Barney´s surprise party, things have already gone back to normal. At least almost. Lily and Marshall still eye Barney and Robin suspiciously from time to time and Ted constantly tries to sit next to Robin. He is obviously jealous of Barney and Robin – every time they laugh about an insider joke or touch somehow, he tries to intervene. Both Barney and Robin are annoyed by his behaviour but they try to ignore it. They have worse problems. Lily, Marshall and Ted believed them that they are not together and that it was a one time thing, but they pay far more attention to their interactions than before. It´s not possible anymore to say code words and sneak out of MacLarens without the other ones noticing. They can´t even go to Laser Tag competitions alone. Lily, Marshall and Ted want to join them every single time they announce they want to play Laser Tag, go to the cigar bar or make a movie night. It´s very hard now to get rid of their friends and spend some time alone with each other. Every time they sleep with each other they have to be very quickly and rush home again. Sometimes, Barney and Robin think it would be far easier to just tell their friends they are friends with benefits, but they don´t want to risk a flood of accusations. Especially Lily would force them to have the talk and all of them would want to make them believe no relationship is possible when you don´t define it. Barney and Robin are happy as it is right now, they don´t want Lily, Marshall and Ted to have a say in their friends-with-benefits-relationship. Plus, Ted would freak out. He is still after Robin, even if he won´t admit it. The other day he even asked Robin again, if she may want to watch a movie with him.

„He did?", Barney asks Robin when she tells him about it.

„Yes. It´s annoying. I like him and I would watch a movie with him, but only as a friend. I don´t want to commit especially not to Ted. He is a nice guy, but not exactly my type. He is the kind of guy who always treats you like an angel, but as soon as you want something different than him, he judges you with his puppy eyes. I want an adventurous life! I don´t want to be Ted´s wife, bear him kids and die of boredom."

„Gosh, why can´t he just let it go? I honestly thought that as soon as he realizes you made out with me he would drop you like a hot potato. But I have the feeling he wants you even more now since they have caught us at my birthday party."

„Right? I need a good excuse. Do you know any?"

„Hmmm, I don´t know. Say you have to work."

„Already told him that last time."

„Dunno. Maybe you should marry him, so you wouldn´t have to find excuses anymore.", he grins.

„Hahaha, very funny.", Robin eyes him sarcastically. After a pause, she sighs and says, „Maybe I´ll really go this time. It´s one movie. I will survive it and I don´t have to look for another excuse."

„What? You want to go? But, it´s Ted. You better go to cinema with me."

„You just said I should marry Ted, now you say I should go out with you. Can you finally decide?", she teases him.

„Yes. Dump Ted."

„Actually, I already told Ted yes. I just thought maybe you have a good excuse, so I don´t have to go out with him. But as you don´t, I´ll just go on that one date with him."

„Date?"

„What would you call it?"

„Robin, listen. Ted is my friend and I like him, but I have to tell you: he is crazy. As soon as a woman agrees to go on a date with him or, as you do, call it a date in front of him, you´ll get a proposal in about a week. And you won´t get out of it anymore. You can´t just say no to him. Otherwise he´ll brag about his the One who left him for forever."

„Are you jealous?"

„Whaaaaat?", Barney asks in a high-pitched voice.

„You joke around when I talk about an excuse, but when I say I will accept that one date, you are telling me your best friend is crazy?"

„Don´t be stupid, Scherbatsky. Barney Stinson isn´t jealous. I just want to warn you, not as my lover, but as my best female friend, that a date with Ted could have bad consequences."

„Ok"

„Ok what?"

„Just ok."

„So what are you doing now?"

„I will go out with him."

„What? After I warned you?"

„Yes."

„Are you mad at me, Robin?"

„Nope. Just have to go." Robin takes her jacket and heads to the door.

„I thought..", Barney gets closer to her and places his hands on her hips, „I thought we could do some stuff.."

Barney starts kissing her, but Robin stops him.

„Not now. Maybe later. I have to go now."

„Are you sure you are not mad at me? I just wanted to protect you from dying of boredom because of Ted."

„It´s fine Barney. Please stop now, I have to go.", she turns around one more time and says, „And I will defiinitely go out with Ted."

Barney looks at her questioningly. He starts to get mad at her. Why is she acting so weird now? And why is she so keen on going out with Ted now? He is angry about her behaviour, so he just answers in an angry tone, „Fine."

„Fine.", she talks back and shuts the door.