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Ch. 13

Robin woke up the next day with a smile on her face. Last night was her date with Barney and it had gone amazing. They talked, they laughed and they kissed. The perfect way to end the night. Robin felt like she was a kid again, falling in love for the first time, nothing could ruin this moment, nothing. Robin reached over to her phone on her night stand and realized she had a message from Barney. It read Good morning beautiful. I hope you have an amazing day. Last night was fun, hopefully I'll see you later. This made Robin's stomach flip over on itself. This was what she missed about being with Barney, the little thoughtful things he would do just because. She responded Why don't you and Ellie come over for dinner tonight, I'll make spaghetti and meatballs, your favorite.

Not much longer, Robin got another text from Barney. Sounds good, we'll be there at 6:00.

Robin had realized that by dating Barney again, she was also becoming part of Ellie's life. She didn't know how to be an active part of a child's life but she needed to try. Dinner was a good place to start. She wondered if Barney was going to tell Ellie the nature of their relationship or if he was just going to continue saying 'my friend Robin.' She guessed it really didn't matter. Ellie was only 4, its not like she fully understood the concept of boyfriend and girlfriend. She would leave that up to Barney. But she did make another decision on her own not to tell Ted, Marshall and Lily yet. If what Barney and Robin had was anything, they needed to find out first. If they told the gang then they would feel obligated to stay together again despite possibly not wanting to. For now, this was just between them. And if Lily asked, Robin would just tell her that she had misunderstood Barney when he suggested dinner. It was completely platonic. Of course, she did need to let Barney know this so he didn't tell them. She decided to do that at dinner.

Robin felt her phone vibrate again, thinking it was going to be Barney she started to smile without looking at the screen, but once she did she realized it was Ted.

Hey gang, just wanted to let you know Tracey and I have a good idea, and hopefully you all will be on board. Want to meet somewhere in the city around 8:00 tonight so we can talk?

This kind of put a damper on the plans she had with Barney tonight, but Robin needed to be there for Ted and especially Tracey. She decided to text Barney before she texted Ted back.

Hey Barney, I'm assuming you got Ted's text. Would you be mad if I had the whole gang over for dinner tonight? I know it was just suppose to be the three of us but if Ted and Tracey need us it couldn't hurt.

Barney texted back almost immediately. I was just about to suggest something similar. That is fine with me, that way we can tell them all the good news! Just what she was afraid of, he wants to tell them.

Actually Barney idk if we should tell them right away. Maybe lets just see where this goes and if all goes well then we can tell them. Robin was hoping this wouldn't hurt his feelings.

Okay baby, if that's what you want. I'll see you tonight. Good, he had agreed. Now Robin just needed to text everyone else back. She used group messaging.

How about you all come to my place around 6:00 for dinner. We can talk then.

Within minutes she got texts from everybody confirming they would be there and one text from Lily asking if she could bring the kids. Robin, of course, told her yes before preparing for what was happening tonight. She couldn't help but wonder what Ted and Tracey's good idea was. She guessed she would have to wait.

The day came and went and soon it was 5:45. The gang would be here soon and Robin had just put the water on the stove. By the time they got here the food would be ready. Robin wasn't used to having people over for dinner, she usually never did because she burnt everything but when she was married to Barney she learned how to master spaghetti and meatballs because it was his favorite. Looks like it paid off. A minute later she heard a knock at the door. When she opened it she saw Barney carrying a sleeping Ellie in his arms.

"Hey, am I the first one here?"

"Why yes you are."

"Good, that means I can do this." He leaned down and placed a small kiss on Robin's lips. When he pulled away he had the biggest smile on his face. "I have been wanting to do that all day."

Robin just giggled before saying, "She must be tired. Long day?"

"Yeah, she was fussy all day. Wouldn't let me dress her, didn't want to eat. I don't know what got into her. I guess she was just tired."

"Well, you can let her lay down in my room for a little until its time for dinner. At least it will be quite in there."

"Okay, thanks. Which room is it?"

"Last one on the left." Barney disappeared into the room before coming out a minute later with no Ellie.

"Hopefully she will wake up in a better mood than before. I am so exhausted. I wont be able to deal with it if she is fussy again."

"Well you will have all of us here to help if she gets like that. No big deal." Robin didn't notice until now but Barney had suited down again. He was dressed in casual clothes, jeans and a t-shirt. "Why aren't you wearing a suit? I think I have only seen you leave the house maybe twice without wearing a suit."

"Well when you have to take care of a screaming four year old all day, just throwing on a pair of jeans and tee sounds more appealing than a full suit."

"Oh okay, so you're going for comfort now. Fatherhood has changed you."

"Yeah but not where it matters." Barney walked towards Robin and grabbed both of her hands. He leaned down and kissed her again, but this time he didn't back away. Once again, they melted into each other's touch, getting lost in this small but meaningful moment. That was, until there was a knock at the door. Barney and Robin pulled away hesitantly. "I guess I better get that." Robin said as she walked towards the door. She opened to the door to see Lily, Marshall and there three kids standing in the doorway.

"Hello! Wow Robin this place is awesome. And whatever your making smells amazing!" Marshall walked in and took a huge sniff of the air surrounding him.

"Thank you, come on in. Hey guys." Robin crouched down so she was even with the kids. "How are you guys? You're getting so big." Whenever Robin saw Marvin she was brought back to a time when things were simpler. When he was born, her and Barney had not yet been engaged, Ted hadn't met Tracey and no one else had kids. Things were so different then. She wondered if Marvin knew the impact he had on all of their lives, or if he knew how much they all loved him when he was born. He was around for it all. She knew he was young now, but there was no doubt in Robin's mind that when he was older Lily and Marshall would tell him the whole story, the story of life before he was born. And if they didn't then she was sure Ted would get a hold of him and do all the talking. At that moment Ted and Tracey came up behind them.

"Hey! How are you? Come in." Robin escorted Ted and Tracey inside, giving them each hugs on the way in. "Dinner should be done any minute." Robin went into the kitchen and got them each a glass of wine, and a glass of juice for each of the kids.

She finished preparing dinner and then brought it out to the dining room table where everybody was sitting. "Dinner is served!"

"I'm going to go get Ellie." Barney left his spot at the table to go wake up Ellie. Robin sat down next to Lily with Barney's open chair on her right. As she sat down, Robin felt Lily tap her on the leg underneath the table. Robin looked over at her and Lily whispered "So did you guys go on that date?"

"No, actually I misunderstood. I'll tell you about it later." Barney then came out carrying a sleepy eyed Ellie. Barney put Ellie down on a folding chair that was set up to accommodate the extra people and cut up her spaghetti and meatballs.

"You're going to eat for daddy right."

"No, not hungry."

"Baby you haven't eaten all day. You need to eat." Ellie just shook her head, folded her arms and rested them on the table that she could barely reach.

"Ellie, baby your daddy wants you to eat something. Why don't you listen to him okay? If you don't eat your dinner you cant have any of the cookies uncle Marshall and I brought." Lily was trying to help but Ellie was just being stubborn, she continued to refuse to eat.

"I don't have the patience for this anymore, Ellie either you eat or your going back in Robin's room by yourself and no desert." Robin could hear the frustration in Barney's voice. He was getting mad, and the fact that Ellie was still refusing to eat didn't help. "Okay that's it…" Barney got up from his chair, tore a screaming Ellie from the table and brought her to Robin's room. The remaining people at the table all shared a look when they heard a blood-curdling scream come from the other room. They then heard Barney screaming for her to stop kicking and sit on the bed. Barney then came back with a look of annoyance on his face.

"Sorry about that guys, she's been giving me a hard time all day, I just don't want to deal with it anymore."

"Its fine don't worry about it. That's just how kids are." Ted said to insure Barney it was no big deal, but all that was going through Robin's head, besides the piercing screams coming from Ellie in the other room, was, 'What did I get myself into?'