A/N

Okay, so this is a teaser into what's going to go down in the next few canon world chapters! I'm excited…there's no doubt in my mind, I'm totally sadistic :)

Black & Blue

"This isn't gonna work," you said with makeup running down your face. I can see you're hurt.

2034

Robin sat on the kitchen counter, looking at the yellow envelope beside her. She knew she was making the right decision, but she still felt bad. This was going to break Ted's heart. But staying with him was killing her. She needed room to breathe, with was something he wasn't fond of giving her. They spent their days arguing and yelling. It was way worse than things had been with Barney. As she sat there, fingering the ring in her hand, she couldn't help but realise how quickly she and Barney had given up. She didn't have a lot of time to think, because Ted wandered into the kitchen.

"What's up?" He asked, upon seeing her tearstained face. She pawed helplessly at the mascara streaking her face.

"Ted, I'm really sorry." Robin whispered. She cleared her throat. "Here." She placed her engagement and wedding rings into the palm of his hand.

"What?" He asked, glancing helplessly at them. She handed him the envelope.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, getting off the counter. He opened the envelope and looked at the sheets inside.

Ted looked up at Robin with wounded eyes. "Divorce papers?" His voice was barely above a whisper. He shook his head. "Why, Robin?"

"Are you kidding me? Have you not been paying attention for the last three years of our marriage? We don't work, Ted! All we do is argue and insult each other and get upset! I'm not happy at all, and it's not fair to me, or to you and your kids, that we stay in a relationship that neither of us are happy in. I'm sorry."

Ted closed his eyes and put a hand on the back of his neck. It was silent for a few minutes, before he cleared his throat. "When you and Barney got divorced, I blamed him. I thought he was being emotionally distant. But now, I see it's you. You're the problem. You're a sucky wife. Both of your marriages barely lasted three years."

That hurt. That comment cut her so deep. She tried to hide it, but the tears stinging the back of her eyes dropped down her face. He had no idea. She and Barney wanted different things, and the divorce was mutual. He was right though, she couldn't be a wife. She knew she sucked at it, but him pointing it out hurt a lot.

"I'm sorry if that hurts your feelings, but it's true." Ted added.

She shook her head. "Bye Ted."

"Robin-" He started. She ignored him, and left the kitchen. She grabbed her handbag and the duffle bag of essential possessions she needed and left.

…

"Aunt Robin!" Ellie cried, opening the door.

"Hey Elle." Robin replied, trying not to sound like she'd been crying. She was glad the fourteen-year-old didn't notice her tears. She pulled her niece into a hug. Barney looked at her questioningly from behind his daughter. Robin lifted her bare left hand up, as if proof she'd gone through with asking Ted for a divorce.

Barney's eyes widened. "Hey Ellie, can you let me and Aunt Robin talk in private for a minute.

Ellie shrugged. "Sure." She grabbed her phone from the counter and disappeared down the hallway, into her room. Barney put his arms around Robin and she crumpled. She sobbed into his arms and he gently and reassuringly let his hand rub her back.

"You did the right thing. You weren't happy with him."

"I know." She whispered. "Doesn't make it hurt any less."

"Yeah. I get it, Robin. Trust me."

…

Ted sat on the couch, staring at the rings in his hand. Silent tears were still flowing down his face. Lily and Marshall sat on the couch opposite him, watching. Both were sneaking looks at each other, neither sure what exactly to say to comfort their friend. Honestly, they were both still in shock. They didn't know Robin and Ted were having problems, so when he called in tears, saying she asked him for a divorce, they were utterly stunned.

"I'm not signing the divorce papers." He announced.

Marshall shook his head. "You can't do that buddy. You have to respect her wishes."

"I swear to god, if she gets back together with Barney, I'll-"

Lily cut him off. "You'll be a perfect gentleman and respect their relationship. This isn't Barney's fault, or Robin's for that matter. I know this isn't out of the blue, Robin wouldn't just do that. So, what happened?"

"I don't really know. We've been fighting for months. I guess that's what happens when you marry Robin Scherbatsky." Ted practically spat.

"Don't pin it on her." Lily was quick to jump to her best friend's defence.

Marshall, on the other hand, was quiet again. He knew there was something Ted wasn't telling them and he was determined to find out what it was.

…

A/N

This is a little short, sorry. Hope you liked it, and please review!