Context: between 6x12 and 6x13 (sooooo Christmas Day :))
Prompt: #049 Christmas
Word count: 200
Comment: Thanks to all you lovely people for sticking to this story! :') It makes me smile so much whenever I get feeback from you guys. I hope you enjoy this one also. Merry Christmas to all of you! :)
The five of them are spending another Christmas together in Ted and Robin's apartment. They're an odd-looking group: everyone's in pyjamas (including Marshall and Lily, who came over from their apartment), except, of course, Barney, who's wearing a black suit with a brilliant red tie ('tis the season, after all).
They're drinking hot punch as they unwrap presents, which totally doesn't make Ted tear up (like every year). Since Lily can't keep a secret for the life of her, there are no big surprises, but it's a wonderful morning nevertheless.
When Robin goes into the kitchen to get some more punch, Barney follows her with something in his hand Lily doesn't know about.
He hands it to her, his eyes smiling as she unwraps it. It's a beautiful silver bracelet in a velvet box, and it's unexpectedly amazing.
"Wow," she says. "You shouldn't have -"
"Shush," he interrupts her, grinning. "Don't act like you don't wanna put it on right now."
She laughs and takes the delicate bracelet out of the box, motioning for him to put it around her wrist (which he does expertly).
"Merry Christmas," they say simultaneously, moving into a long hug (what a wonderful morning indeed).