Ch.7

Barney's apartment had not changed much. It was still the same dark grey color scheme with the storm trooper standing in the corner. The only major difference was the children toys scattered all over the floor. When they walked in the sitter stood up from the couch and turned off the television.

"Ellie is fast asleep. I gave her a bath and we had grilled chicken for dinner." The babysitter filled Barney in on their evening.

"Thank you so much. Here you go." Barney handed the sitter a stack of bills before she left for the night. "Goodnight Jeanie."

"Goodnight Mr. Stinson."

"You make yourself at home, I'll go get you some sweats and a t-shirt." Barney left Robin in the living room while he headed to his bedroom to get some clothes.

Robin knew she shouldn't snoop but she couldn't help it. She wanted to see what Barney had been up to so she walked around his apartment a bit. Nothing looked out of the ordinary. Laptop, Ellie's toys, and what looked like some work files. Robin continued to look around and saw some pictures on display. Some of his mom, Ellie, and the old gang hanging out at MacLarens. Nothing she didn't expect to see, until she came across a picture she never would have thought Barney would keep. It was a picture of him and her on their honeymoon after they got married. They were all dressed up ready to go out to dinner with Lei's around their necks and piña coladas in their hands. They looked so happy, and they were. Robin remembered that day like it was yesterday.

"So what do you say we do something fancy for dinner tonight." Barney suggested as he and Robin lay next to each other on the beach.

"Oh yeah that sounds nice. We can get dressed to the nines and order fancy champagne."

"That's the only way I know how to do it Scherbatsky."

"You have got to stop calling me Scherbatsky. We're married now remember. I am now Mrs. Robin Stinson." Robin giggled and pulled Barney onto her towel so they were looking directly into each others eyes.

"I love you so much. You know that right?" Barney leaned in and kissed Robin before she could answer.

"I do know that, and I love you." They kissed once more before Barney pulled away.

"Okay then, lets get back to the room, shower, together of course, whadup and get us some grub." And they did just that, and enjoyed every moment of it.

Robin remembers that as being one of the best nights of her life. It all just seemed so simple. They got to relax in each others company and joked around all night. Of course that night consisted of some other activity that they both enjoyed but that was just the nature of their relationship. Simple and fun. But it was only simple in the beginning, things got hard and that's why they divorced. Robin had to remind herself that before she started to question why they ended things in the first place.

Robin's thoughts were interrupted when Barney walked into the room with clothes for Robin.

"Here you go. Sweats and Tee. You can get changed in my room. I just have to grab an extra pillow so I can set up my bed." Barney gestured towards the couch and started to walk away.

"Wait Barney, I'm not taking your bed. Your being nice enough to let me sleep here in the first place I could at least stay on the couch."

"No way, absolutely not. There is no way I am sleeping in my bed when I know you are out here sleeping on the couch. Your taking my bed, end of discussion." And with that Barney walked out of the room to get himself a pillow and blanket.

Robin changed into the clothes Barney had given her and climbed under the covers of Barney's bed, a bed she had spent so many nights in before. It just felt different now, without him beside her. She kept thinking about all of the times she had shared with the man just a hallway away from her and how long it had been since she had made any new memories with him. Pushed by her thoughts, Robin got out of bed and made her way into the living room where Barney was laying on the couch.

"Barney?" Robin whispered. "Are you still awake?"

"What? Yeah I'm awake. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, every thing is fine. Its just…" Robin knew what she wanted to say but she didn't know if it would be a good idea. It wasn't to late for her to forget it and go back to bed, but she couldn't. "Its just, its been awhile since we talked, you know, about us. And to be completely honest, I miss how we used to be. Not necessarily when we were married but even before that. When we could just talk for hours and not get bored and joke around without thinking that it would make things awkward. I kind of just want that again."

Robin didn't hear anything from Barney for what seemed like minutes, but in reality she knew it was only a couple of seconds.

"Then come sit down, I guess we have a lot of catching up to do."