A/N

Things have been CRAZY for me these last couple of weeks, but things are settling down now. I've said this before, but I'm so sorry about the lack of updating, but I should be back on track soon. Also, I'm working on a new story! Can't wait to publish! Enjoy this chapter!

Also: this continues directly from the flashback in chapter four :)

Say Love

I'm not gonna run away, I'm not the type to leave you, on your own.

2016

Barney was struggling to catch his breath. Pregnant? No. No way. No way, no way. Impossible. Why would anyone even say that? Nope. No. No. No. No. Robin couldn't even get pregnant. She was infertile. That's why they were so careless with birth control.

"Mr Stinson?" The doctor asked.

Barney looked up. "No way. It's not even possible. There's no way Robin's pregnant."

"She is, trust me. I've run multiple tests, and I'm a hundred percent certain."

"But…" Barney tried desperately. "She…she can't! She can't even get pregnant! She's infertile!"

The doctor shook his head. "Look, I don't know who told you that, or why, but she is most certainly not infertile. Your wife is pregnant." He bit his lip and looked around. "Look, I'm sorry, but I can't stay here and tell you again and again that you're going to be a father. I have patients to take care of. Including Robin. But you need to know, she is pregnant."

Barney nodded unsurely. Another thought crossed his mind. "Please don't tell her. I'll tell her tomorrow, but she'll panic and freak out here."

The doctor nodded, then walked away. James sunk into the chair beside his brother and put a hand on his back. Barney tried to steady his breathing. He was excited, really, but he was also petrified. Right now though, he couldn't stop thinking about Robin. He didn't even know how she would react. This might not be so great for their relationship, after all, they'd been on the verge of going through with a divorce five weeks ago. He prayed this wouldn't end their marriage for good. "This is great, Barney." James reassured.

"No, no it's not. Robin's going to freak."

James raised an eyebrow. "Don't worry about her, what do you want?"

"Don't worry about her? DON'T WORRY ABOUT HER? James, she's never wanted this."

"What about you, what do you want?" James asked.

"This isn't about me. This is about Robin. It's completely up to her. I'll go with whatever makes her happy. After all, she's the one who'd have to carry the child for nine months, birth it, nurse it...I can't do that to her."

James shrugged. "Have you considered the possibility that she might want the baby? That could happen." He paused. "I guess my opinion doesn't count, but I really think you should keep it. You and Robin would be such good parents. That kid would be so damn lucky."

Barney nodded. He had some thinking to do.

…

"Oh, oh my god, I'm so sorry." Robin whispered weakly as she jerked away from her husband.

"Hey, it's okay." Barney replied tenderly. He reached over to fix a strand of her hair and get it out of her face. He understood why she was apologetic. Five years ago, he probably would've yelled and threw a temper tantrum if she had puked on him. Now though, he really didn't give a crap. He was more concerned for his wife's health than for the damn suit.

"It's probably just nausea from whatever meds they've pumped into me." She mumbled. "Barn, I'm so sorry. I really didn't mean to puke all over you." She sounded and looked so sick. All he wanted to do was pull her back towards him and hold her until she felt better, then a little longer after that, but he was covered in vomit.

"Baby, I don't care." He replied. "The suit can be washed. Or replaced. I didn't really like it that much anyways."

"Am I seriously talking to Barney Stinson? The man who once gave CPR to a red tie that he spilt ketchup on? The man that ran through the city with a suit in his arms when he tore it? What happened?" Robin laughed, but it wasn't heartily. She still sounded so sick and weak.

"I know you're joking, but you need to know that you are ten times more important to me than a piece of clothing, okay?" Barney replied earnestly. Robin nodded. "Good." He stood up and paced into the kitchen, then opened the medicine cabinet. "Okay, do you want something to help with the nausea? Pain meds of some kind? What other symptoms do you have?"

"Just the nausea." She replied.

Barney nodded and began sorting through the many packets of medication they had. He checked the labels on all of them, looking for one that said it was suitable to be taken by pregnant women.

Robin looked up at the packet he had in his hands. "That'll do, Barn."

He shook his head. She stood up and walked over to the kitchen, leaning against the countertop. She picked up the first packet of pills and skimmed what it was used for before shrugging and popping two out of the bottle and into her hands.

"No, you can't take that!" Barney yelled, practically diving across the counter to take the pills from her.

"Why not?" Robin asked curiously, turning the packet over in her hands and reading the information.

Barney watched anxiously as she read the fine print. He noticed her eyes locking on to one sentence. Not safe for consumption if pregnant. Barney watched her face and could see the cogs in her mind turning as she put two and two together.

"No, no, no. Barney no. Please no. I can't…that can't…no…" She was hyperventilating and only standing with the aid of the counter. Her knees were bucking and she was trembling. Barney scrambled over the counter and took hold of her shoulders, pulling her closer to him. He whispered reassuringly into her ear and ran his fingers through her hair, hoping to calm her down.

"Baby. Listen to me. Shh, breathe. Just breathe." He whispered. "It's all going to be just fine."

…

The subject wasn't addressed again until later that night. Robin was in bed already by the time Barney got out of the shower. He got changed and quietly slipped into bed beside her. As he was turning out the lamp, she rolled over.

"What are we going to do?" She asked, sounding so powerless. That wasn't an adjective many people would use to describe Robin Stinson-Scherbatsky. Independent, strong, powerful, but not powerless. She was vulnerable. This was a side of her only Barney ever saw.

He spun around to face her so she knew she had his undivided attention. "Babe, it's completely up to you. I support and understand whatever decision you make. Just know though, I'm not going anywhere. I'm here for you, and for this kid if that's what you want."

"Is it crazy that I kind of want to keep it?"

"Not even a little bit. That's completely sane."

"But I freaked out before…mostly because I was scared. Not of having a baby, but for the baby. Having us as parents? Come on, the kid would be doomed."

Barney shook his head. "Don't say that. Our kid wouldn't be doomed. She or he would be the most awesome kid on the planet. And we're fully capable of taking care of babies. We've done it before." Robin nodded unsurely. "We'd be amazing parents, babe."

And they were.

…

A/N

I had two choices for this chapter and I'm glad I went with this one. It kind of changes up the whole perfect, unproblematic storyline of the AU universe. Hope you liked it! Please review :)