Ch.5

It was about 6:15 when Barney and Robin arrived at the Mosby's house. Ted was so happy to see the two of them it was almost uncanny.

"Hey guys! I'm so glad you could make it. Come in, everyone else is in the living room. Where's Ellie, Barney? The kids were looking forward to seeing her."

"Oh I left her home with a sitter. I didn't know how late I'm going to be out and she gets cranky when she's tired."

"Oh okay, how has her mother been lately?" Ted asked as they made there way into the living room.

"I'm not really sure, we don't talk much and ever since I got full custody of Ellie I've had no reason to talk to her. I think it would just be bad if she was in mine or Ellie's life at all."

"Wait, you have full custody of Ellie? How did that happen?" Robin asked truly intrigued by how someone like Barney could ever receive or even want full custody of a little girl.

"Well her mom got herself into a bit of trouble with the law and I just thought it would be best if she didn't have any influence on Ellie's life. Plus, she had no job which meant no way to support her and I want the best for Ellie, so I filed for full custody."

"Wow, good for you." Robin said, not hiding the fact that she was impressed with what Barney had done. They had just reached the living room where Lily, Marshall, and Tracey were sitting.

"Hey, oh my god its so good to see you, its been forever." Tracey shot over to Robin and gave her the biggest hug. Robin reciprocated and didn't want to let go.

"It's so good to see you too. How have you been?"

"Well I've been better but I'm just enjoying every moment I get." Tracey then let go of Robin and went to give Barney a hug. "And how have you been Barney, making out okay?"

"Yeah, it's been a little tough but I'm getting through it."

"Good to hear. Remember if you need anything let me know." Barney just nodded his head at her in response. This was so like Tracey. She is the one with a brain tumor and she's offering her services to help someone else.

Just then, Penny ran into the room screaming 'Mommy Mommy!'

"Yes baby?"

"Can we play with the play dough, pretty please?"

"Maybe after dinner okay. We are going to be eating soon. Why don't you go say hi to Uncle Barney and Aunt Robin. They just got here."

"Hi!" Penny yelled with a big smile on her face and then ran off out of the room.

"She's just a little shy. Although she shouldn't be, she knows you guys." Ted said.

"That's okay, I'll see her later." Robin responded.

The gang continued to talk about everything going on in each others lives, which mainly consisted of the kids. Robin didn't have much to say and that's when she realized how alone she was. Her she was, sitting in a room with all of her best friends and not being able to relate to any of them. She hadn't seen them in about a year for starters, but they also all had kids and had been a part of each others lives while she had disappeared. Robin never felt so out of place in her life. Robin's thoughts were interrupted when Marshall asked her a question.

"So Robin, how has World Wide News been treating you?"

"Pretty good I guess. I got to travel the world and get paid for it so that's pretty cool."

"Yeah it is. That's super cool!" Marshall said a little to excitedly. "So where are they sending you next?"

"Well actually…" Robin didn't get to continue her thought before being cut of by Barney.

"Doesn't really matter though right? Because either way she wont be here." Robin could hear the bitterness in his voice and wondered why he was acting like this.

"No, actually I'm back in Manhattan for good. I got offered an anchoring job in the city. I figured I might as well start to settle down. Traveling is fun but I need some stability in my life."

"Good for you Robin, hopefully this means we'll be seeing you around a lot more. I miss my best friend." Lily said with some hope in her voice.

"I'm thinking that's exactly what that means. I know I have been gone for a lot of the big moments and I realized I can't miss them anymore. I need to be here with my best friends." Robin looked around at the people in the room with her and knew that she couldn't miss anymore, she was done being alone. She loved them all, and yes she even loved Barney, despite the fact that he was rolling his eyes at her. What was his deal?

"Well lets make a toast then, to old times!" Ted raised his glass and everyone else followed.

"To old times!"