(A/N: Panic's Trade Mistakes, told from Barney's perspective this time, it's easier to do it from a male's POV for this story because it's Brendon's lyrics after all. I hope you guys like this.)
He looks at her from behind, and he shouldn't be surprised that he thinks this way, but even in his ill-fitting coat, she looks stunning as ever, those dark brown curls tumbled loosely over the thick collar. But he blinks, and realises that he's looking at a woman with the biggest dreams he knows, a woman who needs to leave New York, because as large as this city is, she's bigger than the city can offer her. She needs to explore the world, explore Morocco, Greece, Russia, the wonderfully exotic places, and experience what New York doesn't have. One day, she'll return, she'll return as the fulfilled person he knows she'll be, and perhaps, then is when is the right time.
They're at one of GNB's many social events, him, Ted and Marshall dressed in sharp tuxedos, Lily in a bright evening gown that makes her look taller than her slight build, and Robin in another of her many toga dresses. It's an excellent look for her, but then again, she could be wearing sweatpants and a hoodie and he'd still think she was beautiful. When you love a person, every thing they do becomes perfect, and it doesn't matter even if it's supposed to be obnoxious, you see the good points in their actions, and that's all you can really see.
A slow song comes on, and Barney finds himself walking towards her, a small smile on his face. A bittersweet smile, because he knows this is the last dance they'll share for a while. She laughs, her hearty laughter that's infectious that he can't help but laugh along, and they're easily the couple with the best moves, even though slow's not really their style. The next song is more upbeat, and a naughty glint is in her eyes, and even though he knows this dance will make him pine even more when he has to let her go, he obliges, lifting her up, an adapted version of Dirty Dancing, but in their easy, casual, "Barnman & Robin" style. The song fades off, and he grazes her cheek with the side of his hand, letting his fingers follow her sharp jawline, and her lips part to speak, but he quickly puts his finger over them, tenderly, and leans in a kiss. It's not their style, this slow, sweet, romantic thing, it's never been their style. They've always been hot, passionate, spontaneous, and he knows that she senses something amiss.
She comes back to his place that night, of course, it's their pattern, and since Ted has a date for the night, they can't go back to hers even though it's nearer. The sex is more familiar, he wants her, and she wants him too, there's no slipping up there. But it's the afterwards, that feels more final, more disjointed, more real. He stays awake by her side, he's tired but he refuses to let his eyes close, wanting to take in her features for hours more. He could continue, keeping her by his side, but it would be a mistake, he would be stifling her dreams.
She told him, when they got together for real, after all the bogus statements they rattled off to Lily and Marshall because Lily demanded that they defined their relationship, she told him that he saved her from herself. Saved her from becoming a mess of career-driven decisions and mistakes. Told him that he was the only mistake she was willing to make, the only risk she would take. But he knows that them staying on together, like this, would be the real mistake, because as much as they seem happy right now, he sees Robin for the dreams she has that aren't fulfilled, and he sees himself as a better person than a selfish man who would rather possess his beloved rather than let them be happy. If he held on, he'd be the anchor that sinks her, and right now, her oar's already sinking, and he wants to save her, wants to save her by cutting their strings right now before it's too late for her to go as far as she can.
They tell you that love's about meeting the right one, and knowing it, and sustaining that relationship because you know that you want to hold on to them no matter what it takes. They say that love's about caring for each other, understanding each other, and wanting the best for them. Love is all that, and more, because love changes a person. Love gives a person a wider angle to see life from, and love allows a person to make decisions that don't just benefit themselves, but rather, let their beloved thrive on before themselves. Love changes a person's character, and helps them become that better person that they've unconsciously always wanted to be.
If he didn't love Robin, he'd simply hold on, and keep on going in their pattern, become an old married couple like Ted always fantasises about. But it's because he loves her, that he's so sure that it doesn't matter which route they take - they'll always be together. After all, it's chemistry, that draws two people together, but it's the timing, that fuses them together forever.
(A/N: It's a little of an odd one, but I hope you guys liked it.)