Ch. 2

Robin exited the cab and ran over to embrace Ted.

"What's wrong? Is everything okay?"

"I'll tell you once everyone else gets here. Its not something I really want to talk about more than I need to." Robin could hear the pain in his voice and knew she made the right decision by going there today. Her best friend clearly needed her.

Once Marshall, Lily and Barney showed up and said there hello's, the gang went to there usual booth. Somehow Robin wound up sitting next to Barney, which she wouldn't normally mind, but he had completely ignored her when he walked through the door earlier, as if she didn't exist. She wasn't to fond of the idea of spending an afternoon with her ex-husband but at least she had the decency to say hello. Oh well, it didn't matter, because she was here for one reason and one reason only, and that was Ted.

"So are you going to tell us the news or are we going to continue to make pretend that wasn't the most awkward encounter we have ever seen." Lily was obviously responding to her and Barney. She was hoping they hadn't noticed.

"Uhm, okay so this isn't to easy to talk about. Even though we have drifted apart a little over the past couple of years, you guys are all still my best friends, so I really need to talk about this with you or else I think I may go crazy. About two weeks ago, Tracy started to not feel quite right. She was getting light headed and dizzy, and she kept complaining about headaches. We thought maybe it was because of how hot it has been but when this continued for a couple of days, we knew something wasn't right. I brought her to the doctors a week ago to get an MRI and the doctors found something. After a couple more tests and doctors visits it was confirmed that Tracy has a brain tumor. A very large one at that. The doctor told her if she is lucky she can live with it for another 2-3 months. I don't know what to do. We have two kids, how do you go about telling your 9 and 7 year old kids that there mom wont be around this time next year?"

Robin didn't know what to say. She sat starring at Ted with her mouth wide open for what seemed like a good 5 minutes, until Marshall finally broke the silence.

"Oh god man, I'm so sorry to hear that. If there is anything you need you just let us know and we will be there for you."

The rest of them murmured their condolences before Robin spoke up.

"How are you holding up Ted?

"Okay I guess. It still hasn't hit me that my wife will be gone within the next couple of months, and there is nothing I can do about it. Until then we just have to enjoy the time we have together. Maybe take a vacation and visit some relatives. Man, this is going to be tough."

At that moment Robin could tell he was about to break down, so she left her spot at the booth and pulled a chair over to sit next to Ted on the end. It was then that Ted broke down. Robin rubbed his back and told him it was all going to be okay, and that he had the four of them to help with anything he needed. Marshall and Lily both tried to cheer him up by agreeing with Robin and telling Ted they were there for him. But Robin could not help but notice that Barney had not said a word since Ted had told them the news.

Robin glanced over at Barney only to see his eyes downcast and him swirling his drink around in his cup. Why wasn't he trying to make Ted feel better? Whenever they got bad news Barney was always the one cracking jokes to try to make everyone feel better, but now he was silent.

After a couple more hours of catching up and chatting, Lily and Marshall decided to get back home. Ted left not much later to go home to his wife and kids and soon just Robin and Barney were left in the booth.

"What the fuck was that about?" Robin yelled to Barney.

"What was what about?"

"Ted needed us and you just sat here and said absolutely nothing to him. Don't you think he would have liked to hear some condolences or possibly even a ' I'm here for you bro' kind of thing?"

"Well what do you want me to tell you? I'm sorry for not saying I'm sorry? Listen, I don't need to hear this from you right now." And with that Barney got up and left the bar and Robin sat there alone wondering when her life turned to shit.