A/N: Before this fanfiction ends, I'd like to say a few words. Thanks to you guys, this is now the most reviewed fanfiction featuring both an original character, and the Mother. No number of thank yous can repay you for the support, but I think you can do even more to help when the next part comes out in a few weeks. Share this story with any friend who loves the show, because then it'll really mean a lot to me, it'll help me make more for you guys, and it proves that you're awesome. And while this is goodbye only for a few weeks, just know that I came into this not knowing if people would like the story I had only just started writing in July. Originally it was supposed to end at Ted running out of Ollie's apartment so many chapters ago, but you guys liked it so much, I kept writing. Now I write daily because of the amount of support you guys give me. Thanks so much, and without further ado, I give you the finale of Part 1 of "The Bartender".

Chapter 42: The Feather

Fate. That's one of the many mysteries of the universe. Are we on some kind of destiny to meet certain people throughout our lives, or is it just a series of coincidences? I've been a firm believer in that stuff. Fate, destiny, karma, you get it. I don't believe in coincidences most of the time, and throughout the course of my life, I met people who just reinforced my belief in it even further.

Ted Mosby, Barney Stinson, Marshall Eriksen, Robin Sherbatsky and Lily Aldrin. I had met each of them through good times, and bad times. They became as close of my friends as anyone could. And after 8 years of knowing Ted, I had found that the only reason that he met me, was because he was meant to meet and marry Juno. I was just part of the deal, and I now saw it as the sign that whatever happened this weekend had to happen. But we would have to go through the longest weekend ever to go through, first.

It was a week before the wedding, and I was at a Freakonomics practice. After practice, Darren brought us together.

"All right, mi amigos." He said like the typical douche he was. Juno had unofficially lost her leadership only months ago, and now only we were left as true members of the band. "I got a bit of bad news, and good news. The bad news is that our latest gig at the wedding just fell through. But the good news is that Juno got a job offer through an email for a new gig this weekend."

"Where is it?" I asked. This was the first I was hearing of it.

"There a couple marrying in Farhampton. Barney and Robin, I think they're called."

And just like that, destiny came through. I played my cards right, and won that hand. I smiled as Darren gave us the jist on getting to the wedding.

"Those who want to head out with me can ride in the van. The rest of you can get there your own way."

After practice I talked to Juno.

"I'm not sure I really want to do this, Ollie. Going to the wedding."

"What? After Louis? I told you that guy was a shithead when you first dated him. You can't say you saw this coming with him."

"Things are just...complicated with him."

I scoffed. "'Complicated'. What's complicated about this? He cheated on you! How can you let that shit slide? I want to see you dump him by the end of the week."

Juno nodded. "You're right, Ollie. I made a huge mistake of dating him. I just needed to hear it from you."

Now we were talking. There would be the wedding weekend coming up, and then Ted and Juno would finally find each other again.

Now I realized that this would be a busy weekend for me if I was guitarist for the band, and bartending. But I was convinced that I would make it work. Maybe Linus could help me out.

Everything was falling into place. I was planning on headed out to the wedding by the train, and Juno had planned on going with me, but I forgot to tell her that Barney had made different plans that he didn't reveal to me until the last minute.

"I want you to skydive with the booze." Said Barney, 2 weeks before the wedding.

"I'm sorry, what?" I said. Barney had come down to the bar for the first time in almost a month. I just assumed he hadn't been there in so long because of the wedding plans. At least we were talking again after the threats I had made to him when last we spoke.

"You heard me." He said. "The booze is an important cast member in the movie that is this wedding weekend. I'm having a guy bring the best liquors from all over the States to the wedding. I need another guy to deliver it, and present it."

"Presenting it how?" I asked, suspiciously, not liking where this was going.

"It's simple. We will be headed to the wedding in a lot of different ways. I want the drinks, and their server through air mail, if you know what I mean."

I snorted. "Barney, I'm not an object that can be mailed. I'm a real person with a job. I'm not going up there and skydiving to the wedding."

"I got something in it for you. A box of over ten bottles of 30 year old Glen Mckennas. It's yours if you dive to the island."

"Done." I said, immediately. "But what about training? The professionals have to go through so much training in order to get ready just for jumping out of the plane. I'm dropping down, on my own, with a giant crate of liquor."

"Don't worry. I got a guy. He'll be training you for the next few weeks, and then, the Friday morning of the weekend, you take the plane to the island."

"I'm just not sure about this, Barney."

"You get paid in full for this wedding as a job, plus the scotch."

"I'm in."

True to his word, Barney had me go through extensive training the next few weeks, where Keith, the pilot of the plane I'd be taking to the island, taught me as much of the basics as I could learn.

"It's not really going to be that hard. It'll only be the one time you're jumping." He said several times that day.

The time went by quicker than I thought. Finally, it was Friday, 10 am, with only 56 hours left till the wedding. That morning, I got up early, and packed my stuff for the weekend in my duffle bag. I called for a taxi, and soon found myself at JFK, on the runways.

I walked across the runways, where a gust of wind suddenly blew into my face. A feather suddenly floated into my hand. It was a large white feather, a little longer than the length of my hand. I looked up, seeing an eagle fly away. The feather seemed like a sort of sign. Like what I was planning to do was meant to happen. It gave me confidence. Maybe fate has existed just as I said, and I finally had my proof.

I put the feather carefully in my hoodie pocket, and headed to the hangar. As I kept walking, I started thinking about that song I heard months ago. Sung by mine and Juno's doppelgängers

"Falling slowly, sing your melody, I'll sing it loud."

It was like I could feel destiny was coming towards me as well. Like there might be a chance that I would meet her. The 'One' for me. Would it be this weekend? Or would it be a year after this? Frankly I didn't care just yet. Now came the moment that we all were heading towards. Whatever happened this weekend would have to happen.

Keith was there in the hangar waiting for me. Keith was a larger man, with a big beard and build: he was at least twice my size. In a way, he looked like a brown bearded Hagrid.

"Ollie! Glad you're here." He said. "We'll be leaving in a few hours, so make sure you got your gear. Oh! And don't forget these."

He handed me a pair of wind goggles, and what looked like a big watch. But the watch had only one hand, and colors on the face instead of numbers.

"That's an altimeter. Military grade. This will tell you when it's safe to pull the cord, when the hand points to green. Don't forget that you're responsible for also deploying the crate's chute as well as your own."

"Got it. Any advice?"

"Remain calm, and keep your wits about you."

My phone rang. "Talk quick. We're not supposed to be using any phones in here." Said Keith.

I picked it up. "Hello?"

"Where are you?" Asked Juno. "I'm on the train, it just left, and you're not here."

"Oh, hey, Juno. Listen, I'm not taking the train." I had forgotten to tell her I wasn't going to the wedding that way. The training had made me preoccupied too much, and I forgot to tell her at practice.

"What?" She said.

"I got a ride."

"Oh, thank god. I was a little worried."

"I think you should be more worried about rain. I hear there's a massive storm coming in Sunday night. Bring your umbrella."

"You know I did!" She said "So I guess I'll see you there?"

"Guess so. You'll see me this afternoon, when I 'drop in'." I smiled at my lame joke. "Bye."

I looked at the clock above the door. It was 10:15.

"All right, Ollie. The plane's fueled up, the crate's secured in place." Keith led me through the hangar into the plane. It was bare on the inside, with only two regular seats, up at the controls. There were other seats folded up on the walls of the cockpit. The massive crate filled with drinks was tightly secured with bungee cords hooked to several rings embedded in the floor.

"Did you get my duffle bag and my guitar in there?" I asked.

"Positive. And either one won't get crushed by the drinks inside. I made sure of that."

"Great. Then, let's fly."

In the interest of time...

I soon was looking out the window of the plane, to the ground. Long Island looked much smaller now than ever before.

"Oh, Barney said you'll need this." He handed me a radio. "Connect it to your headset, and hit the button. He said 'ask for the Barnacle'."

I was puzzled, but I put the headset on, and hit the button. "Barnacle, you there? Barnacle?"

"Barnacle, here. Report." Said Barney's voice.

I then realized that Barney was talking military. I replied back with the code name I always used.

"Arrow here." I said. "What is your location?"

"Within landing zone vicinity." he meant at the Inn. "Requesting progress report."

"Approaching drop zone with precious cargo. Be advised, I will need indicators for the following blind jump."

"Barnacle confirms, and has set up the drop zone personally. It will be clearly visible. You'll see."

"1 minute out. Better get ready, Arrow." Said Keith jokingly.

I unbuckled my seat belt, and got out of the seat. The drinks were still in their giant metal crate behind the seat, and on wheels for easy deployment from the plane. But the bungee cords remained secure.

"This is where I get off." I said.

"Affirmative." Replied Keith. He hit a switch, and the rear of the plane opened up downwards, the door giving a slanted path to run off of the plane. The rush of air was freezing cold and enough to fling me out the plane. But I kept calm like Keith told me to.

"Time on target: ten seconds!." Said Keith.

I got ready for the jump, securing my harness and pack. Here I would go down to everything that I had been preparing to do for months, after training for weeks.

"Holding steady at thirty knots, with an altitude of 15,000 feet." Yelled Keith. "Arrow, you are clear for the drop zone! GO, GO, GO!"

I unhooked the cords on the crate, and kicked it hard. It rolled out the door, and out of the plane.

"MAY THE FORCE BE WITH ME!" I screamed. "GERONIMO!" I leapt out the plane, and saw Long Island below me after falling through a snow white cloud. I rolled onto my back to see the plane fly away.

As I fell to the ground with the force of gravity accelerating me downwards, a million thoughts raced through my head, with one in particular. One that I was certain of: This would be the weekend where everything would change