Chapter 3: Some Kind of Harmony

Three Weeks, Five Days, Eighteen Hours Post Incident

"She's gone guys…" the whimpering moan of Marshall Erikson across the booth was the only thing that made Ted Mosby unplug his tongue from Robin Scherbatsky's mouth. Ted groaned, and he could feel the exhale of breath against his chin from Robin's sigh, "she's really gone…"

"Marshall," Ted suddenly felt guilty. Marshall had been having the worst past few weeks of his life. He was sad and mopey and barely wore pants anymore, let alone leave the apartment. He'd been that way ever since he discovered Lily's secret application—and acceptance—into that stupid art program in California…and she left. The perfect couple broke up because one of them needed to "find herself", to figure out who she was away from Marshall. It broke his heart.

Meanwhile Ted had been having a few of the greatest days in his existence! He was with Robin. Finally, finally, he was with Robin. And as of five minutes ago he was making out with Robin. He felt bad about making Marshall watch that—especially since it was Ted who forced Marshall to throw on a pair of jeans and get his ass off the couch in the first place. He couldn't help it. Robin's eyes were just so blue…

"Ahem, Marshall," Ted began again before distraction could over take him, "You've got to forget about her!

"You're free, you should be celebrating! You got that red-headed tumor removed."

Ted froze. "Did you say something?"

Robin returned the question with a quizzical look, "me? No."

The architect shuddered. No, he hadn't thought the voice belonged to Robin for a minute. Ted didn't tell the others yet, nor did he really plan to, but he had been sort of…hearing things for a few weeks now. Well, not things. "Things" makes it sound a little too vague. What Ted had been hearing was Barney.

Ted missed his friend. Early on he would often imagine Barney sitting at the booth when he really wasn't there. He would hear Barney make a comment that was never really said. It was Ted's way of coping. The video he found (that he also had yet to inform the group about) was what finally convinced Ted that Barney really might be gone. Oh, and a super villain. Ted still had his doubts. Of course they weren't so much doubts as they were hopes, but that somehow had morphed into the same thing in Ted's brain. Pretending Barney was there, happy and hanging with the gang, was how Ted was coping with the…incident. It was easier to pretend the pervert was still around rather than fully except he'd never be around again.

Although lately it seemed Ted's imagination had taken on a mind of its own. Two days ago he accidently burst into uncontrollable fit of laughter during one of Marshall's pity parties. He found himself thinking of what Barney would do if he happened to be sitting at the table. Ted pictured a bored Barney hanging himself with an invisible rope, and then that to Ted wondering how Barney would react to his and Robin's new relationship. Similar patterns emerged. He saw Barney committing faux hari kari, complete with invisible samurai sword and sword effects. It was very convincing, and Ted simply couldn't control himself.

Robin elbowed him. "Ted," she hissed, shaking her head. Clearly whatever Marshall had just lamented wasn't remotely funny (or at least that's what Ted and Robin were supposed to pretend) however, Ted had been chuckling again.

"S-sorry," he cleared his throat, "I was just thinking…"

He looked at Robin, with her worried blue eyes. She was so devastated after the incident. She was there. She saw it all happen. Ted was who she looked to as a shoulder to cry on. He helped her through the grief and liked think the pair were rewarded for their suffering when they found love at last. She didn't deserve to have that pain resurface.

"Nothing. It's nothing."

WHAAATTT? I'm alive? I updated? It's been months! Where have I been? I was so worried! I thought I'd never return to this project!

Yeah, I know, I'm awful. You must hate me. Title me the worst updated ever, but look, Penny Lane isn't dead! (pun?). Sorry I temporarily abandoned you all. for a while I thought it was going to be permanent, but every time I checked my inbox I'd actually see new notifications from readers like you showing my stories some love and I couldn't stay away forever, I just couldn't!

As for where have been all summer and fall? Long story short (er, maybe medium length): Life is hard. Life has this nasty habit of getting in the way of everything too. My life and the people surrounding it have been through some pretty yucky stuff in that past few months and I think the monstrous dust cloud hovering over the Midwest is finally settled.

Also, I during my FF. net hiatus I had the must epic life changing revelation: I'm going to write shit for a living! I finally decided what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, I'm applying to art school, and I'm setting my sights for the department of Writing for Film and Television (I cannot remember the name of the reviewer who left it but one of you once joked that I must be Joss Whedon in disguise and that my friend I will never forget. Must excellent compliment ever!) Meanwhile! I've actually started an original novel in alignment with NaNoWriMo. It's shaping up to be waaayyy beyond 50K words and it will possess the majority of my attention, but I will try to update some more, I promise! (like that transition? Haha).

I should end this now, before I give you my memoirs. The moral of this story? Uhhh please forgive Eccentrikpyrate, she's trying to balance her life and her future and the internet, is apparently horrible at it!