The First Date

"So, Barney, what do you do for a living?" He had brought her to a fancy restaurant, the kind you needed to book months in advance for, fifteen minutes after she had agreed to go out on a date with him

"Please. Let's not talk about me. What about you? What's your profession, Robin?"

"I'm a reporter for Metro News 1, kinda." He raised an eyebrow as she continued, "I do the little fluff stories at the end. You know like, "Twins turn 99" and how a cat got stuck in a tree."

"That's too bad; you could probably be a great reporter", he said in all honesty.

"Yeah, well I'm hoping to get some real stories soon."

"That's great!" He said excited, "hey maybe you could use your boss's comatose state to have a little fun."

"Fun?" She asked curiously.

"Yeah, you could say dirty words on tv!"

"I don't, Barney", she thoughtfully responded after a sip of wine, "I've only had this job for a couple of months. I wouldn't want to ruin any chances I have at getting promoted." He nodded understandingly as she looked away for a moment before adding: "Maybe later though." He returned her flirtatious grin.

"Hey Ted", Barney walked into Ted and Marshall's apartment the next day. Ted was sitting on the couch sipping some coffee. "Where's Marshall and Lily?"

"You don't want to know.." Ever since they were engaged – which was less than 24 hours ago – Lily had become very ... horny. "So how was your date?"

"It was great. She's actually a pretty interesting person," he thought for a moment before adding, "and she's hot."

"Does that mean you're gonna see her again?"

"Well I am dating her", he stated manner of fact.

"Yeah but I mean, is she actually willing to go out with Barney Stinson again?"

"I'll have you know that I am capable of being a gentleman when need be."

"Did you sleep with her?"

"Trick question, a gentleman doesn't kiss and tell", he looked around to make sure no one else was there. "But it did go very well... Had a great pick-up line... Right out front she saw me as a nice guy, some say charming even..."

"So when's your next date Prince Charming?" Ted teased, looking through his paper.

"Tomorrow night, it's gonna be awesome."

"So Robin, how was your date with the car guy?" Maurissa asked her over the phone. Robin was at work, on a break, and decided to call her while she waited for a squirrel, which supposedly looked like Harry Potter, to come out from a tree.

"It was good; he took me to a nice restaurant; had a great dinner; he's not that bad of a guy."

"You didn't sleep with him, did you?"

"No", she grinned, "but I was pretty flirty. Anyways I'm going out with him again tomorrow night, date numero dose."

"Yeah about that..."

"What?"

"Well it's just, we were all pretty drunk and Katey and I were talking and... I'm not sure if it was such a great idea..."

"What do you mean? This is gonna be fun, like the movie!"

"That movie had a really sad part..."

"Because they fell in love! Hello, not gonna happen to me."

"But you just said he's not that bad of a guy..."

"Yeah and you- oh shoot Hairy Potters coming out of his hole."

"... Are you still with him? ..."

"What? No. Listen I gotta go." And with that she hung up the phone.

That night, after running around a park chasing a rodent, Robin Scherbatsky headed to the first bar she saw, which just happen to be the one she was at last night, MacLaren. Barney, Marshall and Lily just happen to be there to. (What a coincidence.)

"So you're actually gonna date this girl?" Lily asked him.

"Yup."

"Because Ted challenged you?" Marshall asked in turn.

"That, plus she's hot. You too don't seem to understand that." He looked up and saw Robin walk into the bar. "Oh, there she is!" He pointed to her.

"Wow, she is hot", Lily remarked.

"Told ya."

"So, Barney, you going to invite her to meet your friends, it's the boyfriend thing to do." Marshall teased; he still had a hard time believing Barney would actually agree to such a challenge. And he definitely wanted to see it.

"Uh..." he alternated his stare between Marshall and Lily and Robin before deciding. "Yes, yes I am." He got up to go see her. He arrived behind her just as she was ordering a scotch.

"100 bucks says that when you turn around I say 'wow'." She turned around and he grinned. After a small pause during which he seemed to inch closer ever so much Robin whispered back.

"Isn't this when you're supposed to say 'wow'?"

"Is it?" He edge away for effect before coming back in, "sorry I was distracted by this incredibly hot girl, totally blanked out, won't happen again." She smiled and he leaned in even closer to kiss her. Pulling apart he paid for her drink, "Come on, I want you to meet my friends."

"Your friends?" She asked panicked.

"Yeah, you'll love them, well... okay they just got engaged-"

"Engaged?"

"Yeah, but besides that they're great. Come on." They went to sit in the gang's usual booth across from Marshall and Lily. Barney put his arm around her shoulder. "Marshall, Lily, I would like you to meet Robin Scherbatsky. Robin, this is Lily and that's Marshall."