Autumn in the year of 2013 was a wet one. The streets were constantly flooded, and no one ever left home without their umbrella, for fear of getting caught in a surprise downpour from the constant overcast overhead. The majority of the city's populous hadn't seen the sun for weeks.

However, despite the dreary weather and crabby New Yorkers, Ted Mosby had never been happier. It was odd for him to be so chipper, considering his dream girl had married his best friend a few weeks ago, but he was. For the first time in months, Ted woke up and went to bed with a smile on his face; and it was all because of her.

Jessica Milonsi was like his personal ray of sunshine. She walked into a room and her smile lit it up, and the hug she would greet him with made him feel warm inside and out, just like basking in sunlight would. You couldn't help being happy around her; she was just one of those people.

Although, even if he was happy, that didn't make the rain not annoying; it was the one month anniversary of the day the two of them had met, and Ted had wanted to do something special. His initial thought had been a picnic in Central Park, but that was clearly out due to the constant on again-off again rainfall. So, instead, they were walking to an Italian restaurant down the street from her apartment building, the two of them huddled beneath her umbrella to avoid the shower. The only problem was that, while it worked fine when they were standing still, sharing an umbrella while walking wasn't as simple of a task.

"Ted, I'm getting wet," Jessica stated unhappily, struggling to stay under the umbrella as well as they walked, and he sighed.

"Sorry. Why don't you try standing closer?"

"I am close," she stated with a small frown, her pace quickening a bit, "but you keep walking ahead of me, and my back is getting soaked."

"Well, if I don't walk fast, we're going to be late for our reservation and we could lose our table."

"You're being ridiculous," she stated huffily, grabbing his hand to hold the umbrella more firmly over her own head, causing his arm to get wet. "They won't give away our table if we're a few minutes late. You reserved it a week ago."

Frowning as his jacket sleeve began to sop with water, Ted pulled the umbrella back over a bit to stop the rain from getting at it. "They're a busy place, Jessica. They want to make money. Don't underestimate them."

Rolling her eyes, she gave another tug at the umbrella. "Stop hogging it, Ted. I'm in a dress! If my legs get wet, I'll get sick."

Scoffing, he tugged the umbrella back in his direction again. "Now who's being ridiculous?"

Scowling now, she tugged the umbrella harshly. "It's my umbrella!"

"Which you wouldn't even have if I hadn't found it at that party," he remarked, tugging just as hard, and she grabbed it with both hands, trying to pull it from his grasp.

"Ted, give it here-!"

Her words trailed off when she lost her grip on the umbrella handle and fell backwards, right into a puddle on the sidewalk, gasping as she got soaked. Ted gaped at her for a minute, making sure she was alright before he slowly began to shake with silent laughter.

"You're laughing?" she asked with disbelief as the rain covered her dress and hair, making her shiver as she frowned, "You're laughing at me!"

"I'm sorry, I just…" he tried to cover himself up, but he had no real excuse; she just looked hilariously cute sitting in that puddle with her hair stuck to her face, similar to how it had looked when he first spoke to her. However, apparently fate wasn't on his side, because at that very second karma struck, and a passing taxi hit a puddle, splashing him and soaking him just as badly as she was. Now it was Jessica's turn to laugh, a hand flying to cover her mouth as her eyes danced with mirth and satisfaction.

Groaning, Ted shook out his wet hair, shivering. Now they were going to be late, and they'd never be let in; not dripping wet and looking homeless. He was contemplating possible solutions to their problem when suddenly Jessica gave a tug on his hand, pulling him down onto the sidewalk with her swiftly, and he gasped with surprise, landing right on his ass in a puddle. She giggled, her anger at him having evaporated, and Ted couldn't help smiling faintly.

"You look like a kitten that got caught in a storm," he stated sheepishly, taking off his still marginally dry jacket and draping it over her shoulders. Laughing, she held it on with one hand, reaching over to fix his wet hair.

"You look like a drowned sewer rat."

Scoffing, Ted shook his head. "Gee, thanks."

Jessica smiled fondly at him despite his sarcastic remark, her hand sliding down to cup his cheek. "Happy One Month Anniversary, Mosby," she stated, and he smiled faintly, reaching over to tuck her hair behind her ear.

"Right back 'atcha, Milonsi…"

There, on the sidewalk as the rain soaked them on the bone, Ted finally felt brave enough to lean in and press his lips to hers as her hand lingered on his cheek. The kiss was soft, if not a bit hesitant, but it was the sweetest either of them had ever experienced. Sure, they didn't get their fancy Italian food, but beers back at her apartment while they snuggled under a blanket and watched cheesy movies to get warm was even better.

The yellow umbrella sat in the corner by the door, in the exact spot Ted had put it the day he caught a glimpse of his future girlfriend's foot after she had a shower. You could call it fate, if you wanted to; Ted did.