PART THREE
Robin couldn't argue with that, and losing herself in some grand spectacle beat the hell out of awkward small talk. "So, what, we should put on a show?"
Barney broke into a wide, uncensored grin that seemed to light him from within. "Exactly. A spectacular, unforgettable show that these poor idiots will be telling their pathetic French grandchildren over sippy cups of Pinot Noir."
"So what do we do?" She glanced over her shoulder. "I could push you into that fountain with the mermaid statue." Then she'd kick off her heels, run like hell and be on the first flight leaving for anywhere on the planet. Grand, glorious moments always ended, always left her cold and alone. Even him. Especially him. She couldn't handle that again.
Barney held out his hand, palm up, fingers spread. "Trust me?" He didn't wait for a response, but tilted his head toward the center of the garden. "Follow my lead."
Despite her better judgement, Robin placed her hand in his, drawing strength from the familiar warmth, the slight, reassuring, pressure of his touch. The this-will-be-fun glint in his eyes. She'd follow that look anywhere. Together, they wove past the other guests, ducking beneath strings of lights, snaking around a cluster of marble statues. Robin resisted for only a moment when she saw the dance floor growing closer and closer, but only a moment. A whisper to one of the musicians, a transfer of crinkled paper from Barney's pocket to the musician's hand and the music changed, a brash, lively beat vibrating through the air. Her feet, her entire body, itched to move with him again, dance like they had at Punchy's wedding, at their wedding. It didn't matter that they hadn't planned, hadn't rehearsed. That they'd have to rely on instinct and instinct alone to make something glorious instead of grotesque.
It didn't matter that they hadn't talked to each other in over a year. The connection was there, flooding Robin with the love and the light and the life she'd dragged from day to day without for longer than she cared to admit. Time hadn't eroded it, silence hadn't drowned it, and the divorce decree hadn't done a damned thing to get rid of the bond that had always been between them. Would always be between them.
Memories of her life with Barney came at her rapid-fire. The time she'd invited him to her place to play battleship only to find him undressing when she came out of her bedroom with the game in hand. Barney, comforting her after Simon dumped her again, with his words, with his kisses, with his body. Barney making the stupid video resume that allowed her to stay in New York. Barney, chasing her all the way to Canada and standing on a table in Tim Horton's and chastising an entire country for letting her get away. Barney leaping across the rooftop to join her. Not the whole gang, but _her_. Oh God. Barney. She would always love, always want, always need Barney. No matter how far she ran, no matter where her work took her, her heart would forever be tied to this crazy, wild, perfect man.
She pulled her hand away from his. "I don't want to dance."
Barney blinked only once, then tugged at the knot of his tie. "What do you want to do? If you want to push me in the mermaid fountain, can I at least take off my jacket first?"