Thank you to everyone who has read this story! You know, I was once complimented for being the most subtly over-the-top author ever. I'd say this fits into that category quite well :)

Here is the final chapter. I hope you like it!

The lobby was empty when she entered, with no one at the front desk. Robin's heels echoed loudly against the hard floor. The silence was eerie with anticipation. She slowly crossed the room to the elevator and pressed the button.

Robin's heart was racing. For a moment she couldn't tell if she was nervous or excited, which was strange because she had nothing to be excited about. She couldn't possibly imagine a scenario where this would lead to anything good.

As she waited, she once again wondered why she couldn't just let this go. Why was she risking everything when she already knew it would end badly? All her relationships ended badly. Things start out great, and then you get to know each other more, and eventually one of you realizes that the other is not as perfect as you thought and everything falls apart. Robin was terrible at relationships, and even if this somehow worked out, how long would it take for Barney to figure out that she wasn't as awesome as he thought?

She couldn't let that happen. She just couldn't.

Robin's stomach hurt at the thought. She felt a cold chill at the back of her neck, and she whipped her head around quickly to look behind her, suddenly worried that someone was following her. No one was there. Why was she worried about that anyway?

Maybe she was going insane. Maybe this was too much. She shouldn't do this. It was stupid.

Robin was about to turn around and ditch the whole thing, when the elevator dinged and the doors opened.

I'm going to regret this, Robin thought, as her body forced her to step into the elevator. She pressed the button to the top floor and the doors closed in front of her.

Standing alone in the elevator, Robin suddenly realized that she had no plan whatsoever. A million scenarios began playing in her head of what would happen when she got up to the roof.

She imagined getting up there and seeing Barney on one knee in front of Patrice. The image made Robin feel sick. She could run up to them and scream "Stop!" and then what? Confess her heart out? Tell Barney she was in love with him? God, what would he say? Would he get angry, and never forgive her for ruining the most important moment in his life? Would he just look at her with pity and make her feel even worse than she already felt? Robin shook her head. And that was the best-case scenario.

For all she knew, she would get up there and he would have already proposed, and he and Patrice would be having a lovely dinner, enjoying the amazing view and celebrating their happily ever after. What would Robin say then? In a way that would be more crushing than any other scenario, to see him happy with someone else. Despite everything, that was one thing she could not make herself believe. If Robin knew anything about Barney, it was that no one woman was going to make him happy. Unless there was the small chance that she…

Robin ran her hands through her hair and let out a shaky breath. She couldn't afford to get her hopes up about this. If she could even call it hopes. It was more like a combination of anticipation and desire with a hint of frustration and lust.

The elevator dinged and the doors opened to the top floor of the World Wide News building. Robin stepped out and climbed up the single flight of stairs to the roof.

One more scenario played out in Robin's head before she reached the door. She imaged walking out and hearing Barney proposing. He would tell Patrice how much he loved her, that he wanted to be with her forever, and that he knew from the moment they met that she was his.

Robin would stand there listening, unable to do anything except feel her heart shatter.

Her hands shook as she reached for the door handle. Robin had never been one to believe in destiny or fate, but she was once again struck by the absolute feeling that she needed to be here. Perhaps this was a kind of destiny. It didn't seem to matter that she technically could turn around, because she already knew that she wouldn't. Her body, heart, and soul weren't giving her a choice. Robin inhaled slowly. She took comfort in knowing that whatever happened, she was getting answers tonight.

Before she could think any further, Robin silently opened the door.

It was quiet when she stepped outside, and the cool air blew gently over her face. When she saw what was in front of her she suppressed a gasp.

The scene on the roof was beautiful. Barney had done so much to prepare for this. Red flower petals were scattered over the ground, creating a romantic pathway from the door. It was lined with soft, candle-lit lanterns, and there were lights strung above her on wires. Shimmering Christmas trees decorated the porch and there was a small table set up in the corner with a white tablecloth. It felt like something out of a dream.

Robin walked along the mythical rose path, momentarily forgetting that it was not put there for her. It didn't appear like anyone was there. Had she missed it? Was she too late?

Robin saw a piece of paper on the ground and stepped towards it to get a better look.

It had her name on it.

Robin felt a mix of surprise, nerves, and anger. What was this? Barney had written her a note? What, did he know she was going to show up here wanting an explanation, so he thought he'd leave her message?

Robin - Sorry I got engaged to your least favorite person in the world. Hope there are no hard feelings! - Barney

Robin braced herself for the worst. If he made her angry, then good. Maybe it would cure her of this uncontrollable curse of feelings.

She knelt down to pick up the paper, and quickly realized that it actually read The Robin, like it was a title. The paper was thick, like the pages of his Playbook.

The Playbook.

Robin's stomach did a somersault. Barney didn't name his plays just anything. Why did he name one after her?

There were numbered Steps listed down the page, written so formally in ink. Robin read the first one.

Step 1: Admit to yourself that you still have feelings for this girl.

Robin read the line ten more times. She felt like she had just been hit by a bus. Here she was, expecting to find Barney with Patrice planning a wedding, and instead she finds written proof that Barney still had feelings for her?

Once the shock passed, it was replaced with relief, happiness, and confusion. She had always suspected, and sometimes hoped, that he understood how she felt – this frustrating, indescribable, magical feeling – but it's not like they had ever talked about it. But here it was, written in ink. Could it really be true?

Robin flashed back to when he had given that confession speech at Splitsville that had sounded so unbelievably real, but which he had passed off as an act afterwards. She once again questioned if maybe her instincts were right.

"This woman has a hold on my heart that I could not break if I wanted to. And there have been times that I wanted to."

Robin shook her head in amazement, not daring to let herself fully believe it. That had been the most beautiful, most exhilarating speech she had ever heard. Had he actually meant that? Had he really, honestly meant that?

Robin swallowed nervously, and read the next line.

Step 2: Choose exactly the wrong moment to make a drunken move after hanging out at a strip club, and get shot down on purpose.

Robin's jaw dropped. He did that. He did exactly that, now that she thought about it. That was months ago! And he had planned it? Did he have any idea how much she'd ruminated over that, and how confused she'd felt?

Why would he do that? Robin had started second guessing everything after that happened. That kiss… it had been urgent and gentle at the same time. Like he wanted it so desperately, but also like he had all the time in the world. It was so filled with emotion, and Robin had freaked out.

It had been so good. Too good.

Robin quickly moved on to Step 3.

Step 3: Agree that you two don't work, locking the door on any future you could have together – which will drive Robin nuts.

Robin read this one over a few times, getting caught up on "locking the door." Lily had called it the Lobster Situation. Robin hated locked doors. Anything permanently out of reach only made her want it more. But when Barney had told her that he just wanted to be friends, it was way worse than the lobster. She hadn't even realized that Barney had been "trying to get her" at all. So when he admitted that he had been, she was terrified that if he stopped, she would stop feeling whatever the hell she felt when she was with him.

But this had been planned. Barney had intended to drive her crazy. She read Step 4.

Step 4: Robin goes nuts.

So he knew that she would act like a maniac, giggling uncontrollably, wearing the sexiest clothing she owned, making a complete and utter fool of herself.

Robin felt even more humiliated than before. He knew. He knew she would go out of control. He had wanted her to feel like that, he had wanted her to chase him. He had used and manipulated her into becoming a stupid, pining bimbo.

She could not believe that she'd fallen for it. He had played her.

She felt her throat clog with tears. Robin knew all the slimy things Barney had done to get girls. But this was by far the slimiest and most insulting one of all. Was that what all this was, all these years? One giant lie? One giant play? Robin had wanted answers, but now she was starting to regret it. How could he do this to her?

Step 5: Find the person who annoys Robin most in the world, and ask for her help. Explain everything to Patrice, and hope she agrees to help.

PATRICE. Robin gritted her teeth. So Patrice was a ploy. Robin simultaneously wanted to scream "I was right!" while also punching a wall. Or Barney's face.

Step 6: Check with your doctor about possible broken ribs.

Robin paused, long enough to feel confused. This "step" seemed strangely out of place and irrelevant. What was he expecting to do that needed medical attention?

It occurred to her that perhaps Barney wasn't a fan of Patrice either, and she found it rather amusing and gratifying that he might be afraid of her.

She rolled her eyes. Barney and his weirdness.

No, she didn't mean that endearingly.

She didn't.

Step 7: Pretend to be dating Patrice.

This step had gone on for two months. Robin recalled when she had gone over to his apartment attempting to look irresistible. Patrice had been there with him, and Robin was so embarrassed that she had gone home and cried for hours. She remembered staying up all night hating herself, and hating Barney, while simultaneously wanting to bang his brains out.

And now she finds out it was fake?

This was an awful, deceitful, evil play. He had treated her like a prize to be won. He had pulled a play on her.

He had pulled a play on her.

Robin's heart reeled with uncertainty. What did he want with her?

Step 8: Wait for Robin to inevitably break into your place to find the Playbook and show it to Patrice, which you'll monitor via the hidden cameras in your apartment.

Inevitably? Inevitably? How was that inevitable? That was Robin's best move! She had thought it was brilliant at the time. Was it crazy? Yes. Was it stupid? Probably. (How had she forgotten about his hidden cameras?)

But he knew. He knew she would do that.

Was it weird that she felt a sense of awe and admiration as well as a bit flattered that he knew she would do that?

Step 9: After Patrice "finds" The Playbook, have your first "big fight."

Robin recalled all if this as she read it. There was a reason Robin had had so much trouble believing this Patrice thing, and it was because it wasn't real.

He'd lied to her, tricked her into thinking he was dating Patrice, and for what? To make her angry?

She should be angry. She was angry. It was disgusting, what he did to her. So then why did Robin feel that strange hope forming in her chest?

Step 10: Prove your loyalty to Patrice by burning The Playbook. And actually burn it. You don't need it anymore.

Robin froze at the last sentence. You don't need it anymore. Her breathing became ragged, suddenly anticipating what might be going on here.

"I want to be a better person," he had said to Patrice that night. "You make me want to be a better person."

Oh God, Robin's heart raced, once again unsure if it was excitement or dread. Barney couldn't seriously think all this emotional manipulation would work, could he? He actually thought she would want to date him again after that? After he made her believe he didn't care about her, after making her think he didn't want... whatever it was they had?

She didn't want that.

She didn't.

Step 11: Because your friends have no boundaries, they will inevitably have an intervention for Robin, which you will monitor via the hidden cameras you have in Marshall and Lily's apartment.

That intervention had helped Robin some, but not nearly as much as it should have. Her friends had talked her through all the reasons why Barney would be doing what he had been doing, and all the reasons why she shouldn't be worried. But they didn't understand. None of them did. They weren't the ones who had to deal with these utterly confusing emotions and the inexplicable need for Barney to stay single. They didn't understand how lost she felt without his complete and consistent attention. She couldn't explain to her friends the weird bond she felt with him that she was terrified was going to disappear.

Step 12: Tell only Ted about your plan to propose to Patrice.

His plan to propose. Meaning his fake plan to propose. Robin felt bitter and angry about that, but couldn't stop the moment of relief that followed, knowing that Barney wasn't actually planning to get married.

Step 13: Wait and see if Ted tells Robin. And if he does, then it means your best bro in the world has let go of Robin, and has given you his blessing.

Real tears formed in Robin's eyes now. Ted hadn't known that she had been manipulated into feeling like this. He'd convinced her that she needed to do this, but now she wished she hadn't. She didn't want to be here. She had fallen into Barney's scheming trap and she hated herself for it.

What did he need Ted's blessing for?

Step 14: Robin arrives at her favorite spot in the city, and finds the secret, final page of The Playbook. The last play you'll ever run.

The last. The final. The ultimate. Was he giving up his Playbook... for her? He had put on this big show in the hopes that she would forgive him for it? How could she get back together with someone who hurt her, humiliated her, tortured her emotionally for weeks? They had been through all of this before, and Robin had thought they had agreed they didn't work. Everything about this scheme was wrong, and twisted, and sick. And to not only do it but to admit outright that he had done it...

It was an asshole move. An unforgivable lie.

Her heart fluttered in her chest, stubbornly fighting everything her mind was telling her.

Step 15: Robin realizes she's standing underneath mistletoe.

Robin swallowed her tears and looked above her. There was a lovely mistletoe hanging from a wire on a red ribbon. She felt lightheaded, having almost forgotten where she was. As she took in her surroundings again, she realized that the culprit himself was standing in front of her.

Oh she wanted to be angry. She wanted to be so angry. She wanted to beat him to a pulp and toss him off the roof.

But as soon as she met his eyes, she felt her entire body deflate. All the stress and confusion from the past few weeks dissipated, and she felt the urge to curl up in his arms and be held.

Exactly the opposite of what she should feel. Robin reminded herself that this guy had lied, tricked, and manipulated her, and made herself focus on that.

"Seriously Barney?" She said. She tried to sound angry, but her throat was choked up so she just sounded upset.

He came towards her, his expression maddeningly difficult to read. Did he even realize how messed up this plan was? Robin wanted to believe that he wasn't that emotionally disconnected. He had to know.

"Even you," she continued. "Even someone as certifiably insane as you must realize that this is too far!"

Robin expected to get some kind of a reaction from that accusation. She wanted him to get angry, make him try to defend himself, make him explain to her how he could do this.

Instead he just looked at her in a way that sent tingles up her arms. It was like he was still harboring some devilish secret from her. The soft buzz of electricity returned, and Robin stubbornly fought it.

What did he know?

"You lied to me!" Robin cried. "Manipulated me for weeks. Do– do you really think I could ever kiss you after that?" She asked, thinking of how he sneakily got her to stand under a mistletoe. She was not thinking about how much she wanted to kiss him right now, despite everything. Because she didn't. "Do you really think I could ever trust you after that?"

Now she really was feeling angry. Angry, and humiliated, and used, and upset, and betrayed. He was just standing there with an infuriating grin on his face. He was laughing at her! Was this some disturbing prank? How could he have pulled such an evil trick on her and think it's funny?

"This," she held up the beautifully-written page in her hand. "This is proof of why we don't work. Why we'll never work."

It was like he wasn't hearing her. Rejection! She wanted to scream at him. I am rejecting you! I will not cave to your dirty, perverted tricks!

She didn't know what else to say. His face was frustratingly unreadable. She couldn't tell if he was happy, or nervous, or angry. Robin knew in her head that she couldn't forgive him for this. She pointedly ignored how much her heart was banging painfully against her chest.

"So thank you!" She said sarcastically. "You've set me free. Because how could I be with a man who thinks that this trick," her voice cracked, "this enormous lie, could ever make me wanna date him again?"

A tear ran down her cheek. She had so many reasons to never forgive him. She had so many reasons to simply hate his guts. Shouldn't she have known by now that it was stupid to get involved with Barney Stinson? Didn't she know she would get hurt?

She did know that. She had always known that. It should make her feel better to take the upper ground, stand up for herself, and leave. So why did she still feel like she was losing something? Why did she still feel like shit?

All she wanted was an explanation. What was going on in his head that made him think this was okay? What did he think he was proving by doing this? Why did he keep looking at her in that infuriatingly wonderful way that made thousands of butterflies in her stomach?

Robin was usually so good at understanding Barney. Sometimes it felt like second nature. But with this, she couldn't see where this convoluted plan was headed. That was more frustrating to Robin than anything else. It was like a giant riddle and she was just waiting for the catch.

He finally spoke, staying perfectly calm, showing no sign of how he was feeling.

"Turn it over."

Robin didn't know why she listened. Maybe it was just her desperate need for answers. She turned the page over in her hands and read:

Step 16: Hope she says yes.

Hope she says yes? Yes to wh–

Robin's vision tunneled, and suddenly Barney was on one knee holding a ring in his hand and her brain seized to function.

Barney's getting engaged.

The words repeated over and over in her mind, and the truth of it all gradually sunk in. It wasn't a lie. None of it was a lie.

Robin stopped thinking entirely. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion, and all she heard was the kerthunk of her own heartbeat. Her eyes were glued to the beautiful diamond sitting in the velvet black box. She forgot how to swallow.

"Robin Sherbotsky," Barney's voice cut through the ringing silence. She lifted her gaze to meet his eyes, and in a single moment everything became crystal clear. She could read his hope, his fear, his devotion, his desire, his need. She could tell how life-changing this was for him, how long he had wanted this, and how much he cared. There was a challenge in his eyes, daring her to deny him.

"Will you marry me?"

The answer was on the tip of Robin's tongue before a single thought crossed her mind. She impulsively opened her mouth and almost spoke it on instinct, but caught herself as her brain began to catch up to her body.

It occurred to Robin that she should be wanting to run. What happened to not wanting to get married? She tried to recall the millions of reasons why everything about this was a bad idea. She tried to recall her rationalizations for wanting to stay single. She tried to recall why she was supposed to be furious with him right now.

But then she suddenly realized that none of it mattered. For the first time, Robin wasn't trying to logic her way into decisions, or rationalize, or second guess anything. She wasn't resisting her gut feelings, or wallowing in doubts. She wasn't afraid. This was exactly what she'd wanted, what she had always wanted. There was only one reason she'd ever get married: it had to be him. They belonged together.

It wasn't a choice. It was a fundamental truth. She was in love with him.

Robin felt herself smile, and an overwhelming happiness filled her heart. He had done all of this for a reason. He had planned all of this. And in the weirdest, most twisted way, it was the best, most romantic thing he could have ever done for her.

All the messiness, all the lies, all the confusion – it all pointed to one simple question with one clear, simple, obvious answer.

"Yes."

And then he stands up and he's so freaking happy, and then she's so freaking happy because he's so freaking happy, and then he puts the ring on and she's like ahhh this is perfect!

Thanks guys! Please leave a review!