Chapter 4- Barney

Barney couldn't sleep that night. He had tossed and turned wondering what the next day would bring. Ted and Tracey had insisted they all go to Maclaren's for a drink after they left the hospital. Sayuri was fine and little groggy and she had a pretty bad concussion. They were going to release her sometime the next day. Barney wasn't sure what would happen after that. Marshall had gotten him a meeting with Bernadette Chase to discuss it. The only time she could see him was at 8am in the morning. Robin had called into work to go with him.

Barney had gone over and over his encounter with Nozomi. It was like so many other one night stands. Nozomi had been sweet and smarter then most of the girl Barney normally went after. She had been looking for a fun time, he had given it to her. Aside from that, he hadn't know her at all. He had been different back then, it was just before he had met Robin. It had been years before he realized that he was in love with her. He couldn't imagine how different his life would have been if Nozomi had told him. He might have had completely different life.

As Barney and Robin sat hand in hand in the lobby of Bernadette's office, Barney thought back to the day before. He knew she had said they would do all of this together, but he also knew Robin w terrified of kids. She had never asked to anyone's mother. But, if Yuri really was Barney's daughter he had to take her in. She had nowhere else to go.

After several minutes a pretty blonde girl appeared, she looked about 22 and was in a skirt a little short the office. In the old days Barney would have been after her the moment she appeared. Robin grinned reading his mind about the hot secretary.

"Ms. Chase will see you now." the girl said. Barney took a deep breath as Robin gave him a reassuring smile.

"Thanks." Barney said as the woman lead them back to a large office. On the huge mahogany desk was picture of two attractive women with a young black boy. Barney immediately pegged this as the lawyer, her partner, and their adopted son. He couldn't be sure though. After a few seconds, one of the women from the picture entered. She had dark auburn hair cut short and whispy, her eyes were a shocking almost unnatural green. She was about 45 but still in very good physical shape. Old Barney probably would have gone after her as well.

"Mr. and Mrs. Stinson." She said as she shook each of their hands. "I'm Bernadette Chase."

"Thank you for seeing us on such short notice." Robin said before Barney had the chance. "We know you are a very busy woman."

"I owed Judge Eriksen a favor." She admitted. "Though after reviewing your case last night, I probably would have taken the case anyway. I looked over the file I received from child protective services on Sayuri Morton, as well as the incident report you filed. Do you stand by the statement that she could in fact be your child?" The lawyer asked clearly no nonsense. Barney immediately admired her.

"Yes, I had an... Encounter with her mother at approximately the right time for Yuri to be my daughter." Barney explained. "Though I had no knowledge of her existence until she showed up on my doorstep yesterday."

"Unfortunately it occurs more often then we would like." Bernadette said a little softer now. "How do you feel about the situation Mrs. Stinson."

"It's Sherbatsky actually." Robin corrected she had never taken his name and didn't particularly like being called Mrs. Stinson. She continued. "I am with Barney on whatever decision he makes. I think the first step is to find out if she truly is his daughter and go from there."

"I agree." Bernadette explained. "technically right now Sayuri is in the custody of the state of Illinois. I've already filed a special injunction of keep her in New York when she is released from the hospital this afternoon. As it stands you actually have two choices Mr. Stinson. As of right now you have no legal claim to Sayuri."

"okay." Barney said. "Why exactly?"

"because you are not listed as the father on her birth certificate, and you haven't legally adopted her." Bernadette paused got up and offered them both a drink of water. Robin accepted and then put the glass in front of both of them. "Right now you have no legal obligation to her. You could choose to leave it that way. If we take no action then Sayuri would go back to being in the custody of the state of Illinois and you two would go about your normal lives. She can't order you to have a paternity test. Not unless she is 18 and then she would have to get a judge to rule in favor. What you do next is your choice."

"From what she told us, there is no one else that would take her?" Robin asked. Bernadette signed.

"Her parents left her in the custody of Mr. Morton's parents." She explained. "Sam's mother rescinded her into the states custody saying that she had no interest in keeping the girl. When I called to verify that she made it very clear to me that she did not want Sayuri, and did not consider her a granddaughter."

"Why would someone be like that?" Barney asked

"Because some people are heartless." Bernadette explained Robin turned a little green, probably thinking of her own rocky relationship with her father. "The authorities are trying to reach Yuri's family in Japan, but she had never met any of them and didn't seem to think they would be too keen to have her join the family. So unless something changes, chances are without you she will end up in the system."

"I want to take the test." Barney said decisively. He looked at Robin she was still looking a little worried but she gave him an reassuring squeeze. "If she's mine we will go from there."

"I have to warn you company that the court uses for these tests is very backed up, you could try a private company and you might get better results, but for right now it will be 3-4 weeks before you would get the results back." Bernadette explained She was very warm now, clearly she glad that Barney wanted to take the responsibility.

"What happens to Sayuri until then?" He asked real concern in his voice.

"Most likely they will put her in a temporary foster home, until such time as we get the results on the test. If you are the father then you can begin working on custody."

"Can she stay with us?" Robin asked surprising both Bernadette and Barney.

"I can try to and see if the court would go for that. It's not typical but given the situation, I might be able to make that happen."

"Is that what you really want?" Barney said looking into Robin's eyes there was the shine of tears in them, but she pushed them back.

"It's what we should do." She said and at that it was decided.

"I'll get the paperwork for this started right now. I will try to get a hearing before they release her but I can't guarantee anything, as soon as it goes through, if they decide in your favor CPS will bring Sayuri to your home."

"Thank you for everything." Barney managed.

"It's refreshing to see Mr. Stinson, most the men I deal with are trying to get out of being that father, I'm glad you are willing take the responsibility."

"I'm willing to try." Barney said.

"We're willing to try." Robin added. Bernadette hugged them both goodbye. They walked hand in hand from the office.