Ch. 3

*Please leave a message after the beep*

"Hey Ted, its Robin. I was just calling to let you know that I'll be able to make it to dinner tomorrow night. If there is anything that you want me to bring just let me know. Okay, I guess I'll be at your place tomorrow at 6:00. See you then."

It had been two weeks since Ted had told the gang the news about Tracey and Marshall, Lily and herself thought it would be a good idea to spend as much time with Tracey before, well you know. She had spoken to Ted and he had agreed with them, so he decided to have a little get together at his house, just to catch up. Barney of course had been invited but to Robin's knowledge he had not responded, so she didn't know if he would be there. Something weird had been going on with him the past couple weeks. He avoided conversation with all of his friends and rarely showed his face. Robin knew that she shouldn't let Barney's behavior get to her but she couldn't help it. If something was bothering she wanted to know.

*Ring Ring*

*Ring Ring*

Robin looked down at her phone and saw that it was Ted.

"Hey Ted, get my message?"

"Yes I did! I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again."

"Yeah, same here. Speaking of which, did Barney ever get back to you?"

"No, that's actually one of the reasons I'm calling you right now. You asked if you could bring anything tomorrow night. Would you mind bringing Barney?"

"What? How am I suppose to get Barney there?"

"Well I just figured you are the only one that lives in Manhattan so maybe you can just swing by his place and try to get him to come."

"Wait, so Barney still lives in Manhattan?"

"Yup, in the same apartment he's had for 20 years now."

"Wow, well I guess I can try but we haven't really been speaking much since the divorce so I don't know how convincing I will be towards him."

"Look, I'm just asking you to give it a shot. I know hes been going through some stuff but I would really like it if he were here tomorrow."

"Going through stuff? What do you mean going through stuff?"

"Oh you don't know? Its not really my place to say, just talk to Barney. I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow okay."

And with that all Robin could hear was the dial tone on the other end. What had Barney been going through? She hoped it wasn't anything serious. It was times like this that she wished her and Barney were still married. If he was going through something she wanted to be there to listen to his problems and comfort him. She still cared, maybe too much, but it didn't matter because Barney had made it very clear that he didn't need her in his life.

The next day Robin headed over to Barney's place. It brought back so many memories. She had lived there for three years with Barney, well when they weren't in some other country for her job. She knocked on Barney's door, heard some shuffling around and then Barney's voice say, "Who is it?"

"Its Robin. Barney can I come in for a second?"

The door opened and Barney stood in the doorway in a pair of blue jeans and a grey t-shirt. Barney had suited down, and there were not many times Robin had seen him suit down.

"What do you want?" Barney said with a bit of annoyance in his tone.

"I just want to talk, and possibly get you to come to Ted's with me tonight."

"Look Robin, as much as I really do want to be there for Ted, I just don't think I can. Not now any way." Barney started to shut the door on Robin but Robin pushed her way in.

"No, I am not taking no for an answer. Ted needs you, he is going through hell right now and all he wants is for his best friends to be there for him. Why can't you do that just for one night?"

"Because I can't okay? Just leave me alone."

"Barney, is something going on? I've never seen you so on edge before."

"What do you care? Its not like you ever cared before."

"How dare you say that to me. I loved you Barney, with every ounce of my being I loved and cared for you. Maybe over the past eight years we haven't been all that close but you cannot sit there and tell me that I never cared, because I really really did." Robin was screaming now and she would have continued if she didn't see a little girl peek her head out from around the corner. Robin had forgotten Barney had a daughter, and here she was.

"Daddy?"

"Oh hey princess how was your nap?"

"Who's that daddy?"

"This is an old friend of mine, Robin."

"Hi Ellie, I'm Robin." Ellie tucked her blonde head into Barney's leg, hiding her face from Robin.

"Look Robin, I need to get her some food, so I'll talk to you later okay."

Robin took that as her queue to leave. She nodded her head at Barney and started to walk out the door, but before she did, she turned on her heel and said "Barney, I don't know what's bothering you, and frankly its none of my business so you don't have to tell me, but just think about how your making Ted feel by not showing up tonight. If you were in his situation, you know he would be there for you every second you needed him." And with that, Robin walked out the door and didn't look back.