#Sunday

There's dew on the grass as Robin bends to re-tie her sneakers. Central Park glitters. And it's totally quiet except for the birdsong and the occasional fellow jogger. The hoards of runners, cyclists and yoga freaks that pepper the park during the week are absent, probably away for the weekend and taking advantage of the glorious weather to escape from the city. Later, families that will flock here for their lazy Sunday entertainment, but right now there's a weird feeling of solitude and space under the clear blue sky. Robin can see why Barney would get up so early to experience it.

"C'mon dude!" Barney shouts over his shoulder, as they set off again. Their footfalls make a muffled thump-thump along the asphalt path that splits the greenery. Barney sets a brisk pace, but Robin gets the feeling he's holding back for her. After the first five minutes her muscles are protest a little, just until the zing of adrenalin kicks in. Then her lungs begin to working steadily, drawing in the cool, sweet morning air in deep, even breaths.

When she closes her eyes, Robin feels like she's flying. Only once does she look over at Barney and it breaks her concentration, jarring her rudely out of that Zen feeling of calm.

Barney… Everything about him is hypnotic. From the way his muscles move under his skin through the lean line of his body, to the way his thigh and calves tense and relax as he shifts his weight from foot to foot. The sheer physicality of him is captivating. It takes her back to the whirlwind of last summer, when his body was everything to her, in all its secret, animal passion.

It takes her back to when he was hers, and hers alone.

Distracted, Robin almost trips on a tree-root as they cross the grass to another path. Rather than risk breaking an ankle, Robin determinedly fixes her gaze forward for the rest of their run, and wishes the horse-and-buggy carts were out this early. Maybe then she could steal a horse's blinkers and stop herself ogling her ex-boyfriend.

#~- #~-

Barney keeps meaning to tell her.

After all, it's not as if the Washington job is a secret. Twice now he's almost said it, but the words get stuck in his throat each time. He tells himself that he just wants to break it to her casually, because it's no big deal. He doesn't want to make this a thing. Then they can laugh about it, and she'll smile and not mind and they'll promise to keep in touch.

Like Bros do.

But he can't tell her; at least not yet. She keeps… confusing him. Like last night, when she came to find him and just stood there smoking and not talking. It's amazing how sometimes you know when someone is very definitely not talking. Not talking, and looking breathtakingly beautiful, with her hair all mussed and her makeup smudged. Barney even caught himself staring at her like a lovesick teenager.

He's not lovesick. He's just sick of love, that's all, and he knows it's time to move on.

And yet, there's no other girl who can light him up in that painful way that Robin does. That's why he agreed to let her come running with him today. That's why, when he sees that she was wearing those ridiculously short pants and that obscenely tiny top, he doesn't comment on the excess of breast on display, but merely makes the decision to stop by his church on the way back to his place.

"Barney, I'm not exactly dressed for this!" She hisses, as he lights a candle and slips into a pew at the back of the church. Shooting him a glare, she still looks gorgeous. Maybe on some level he loves that he can still make her this angry after everything that's happened between them. He grins at her and she silently thumps him in the arm.

This close, he can hear her ragged breathing, and feel the warmth of her bare arm pressed against his. It quickly lulls him. There's a security, knowing that he's allowed to be this close to her and not have it be weird. It feels safe, knowing that this doesn't have to mean anything.

Suddenly, Barney's phone buzzes and they both feel it where it's strapped to his waist. It breaks the spell and Robin waggles her eyebrows. It's all either of them can do to suppress their giggles as several people in the congregation turn to look at them.

He wonders if she can feel the tension thrum through him as he reads the message on his phone. It's from Joe Donovan calling him into work and it can only be about the Washington job because you can never drag Joe away from the golf course on Sunday in normal circumstances.

The more he thinks about it, the more he feels too nervy to sit still, so they duck out of church before the service ends and walk the two blocks to his apartment.

"Can I take a shower at your place before I head home?" Robin asks, following him inside.

It's a weird question. It feels like she's crossing a line. "You don't have your clothes here any more, remember?" Barney snaps back, archly. It's unfair of him to take his irritability out on her, he knows, but she's in his way right now.

"What, and you can't lend me a t-shirt?" She asks, tossing her hair.

"Whatever," he grumbles. "Me first." He should tell her about Washington. He should damn well tell her. But he can't.

He misses the disappointed look on her face as he strips off his sweat pants and heads for the bathroom. He has a quick, scalding shower, shaves, and dresses mechanically. In fact, he almost forgets Robin's still there until he sees her lying on his bed staring listlessly at the ceiling.

The sight of her pulls him up short.

"Where are you going, all dressed up on a Sunday?" She asks him, cocking her head to one side. "I thought you were coming to Lily and Marshall's Fourth of July thing? Lily's been planning that meal for weeks. She's going to get super intense if you don't make it."

He lifts a finger and snorts. "First, I always look this slick. Just because it's the weekend, that's no excuse to let standards slip. Second, I'll swing by the party later, but I have to take care of something at work. So you have your shower, and I'll meet you there? Okay? Okay."

Robin looks like she wants to say something but he grabs his keys and his wallet and heads quickly out the door. The words lodge in his throat again. Washington. This is basically a job interview for Washington. Next week he could be packing up and heading out of New York, maybe for good.

He tells himself that he's been holding back in telling everyone until it's definite. But deep in his gut he knows he's made up his mind to take the job. He's just putting off the inevitable.

It makes him feel like a coward.