A/N: This chapter is a bit longer but it explains a lot of things that the last chapter didn't. I will explain more in the next chapter but for now this chapter has most of the information you need to understand the story better.
First: Barney and Robin did get divorced, but only for a few years they get back together in 2018 with a little help from Tracy it's why she's mentioned a lot in this chapter.
Second: Their daughter was born a year after Tracy's death and Ted doesn't know about their daughter and doesn't know that they got married again which I will explain in another chapter probably the next one.
Third: Barney and Robin got married in 2020, secretly which again will be explained more in the next chapter. Also, this story plays a little with time but the main year is 2030. I hope you enjoy this chapter, the title of the story is now changed and I like this title better which works with this story especially this and later chapters.
To say this plan would be perfect was an understatement because they knew it wasn't perfect. They needed a plan, a plan that would work right away instead of it not working at all or having it completely unravel in front of their eyes. This plan had to work, even if it doesn't work right away they have to get Ted to realize he isn't in 2005 anymore. Things happened, it was devastatingly sad but they happened and unfortunate as it was Tracy was a very special part of their group. She was the glue to hold them all together, the mamma bear who everyone would go to for advice, the almost perfect example as someone who had it all together but didn't. She was innocence, pure perfection but she wasn't perfect, only Ted knew she was perfect but everyone else knew she wasn't perfect, nobody's perfect. But, Tracy will forever hold that missing spot in everyone's minds, neither one of them will ever forget the big impact she made on them especially Barney and Robin because if it wasn't for her, they wouldn't have gotten married.
Yes, things did happen along the way after their wedding. Things they both want to not be reminded of, but they did happen and as much as they would like to forget that miserable past they had, Barney and Robin knew they couldn't forget it. Tracy, she had been a big reason why Barney and Robin reunited and it had nothing to do with her wedding to Ted. As much as they wanted a fairy tale of a reunion, their reunion wasn't at all like a fairy tale, far from it. And the days, and the months, and the years apart were some of the worst chapters of their lives. As much as they wanted to, they couldn't forget that time apart, but if it wasn't for Tracy interfering in their relationship they might not be where they are right now in 2030. They might just be much further apart than their heart would like them to be. They owed Tracy for being a big reason that they re happy now and if she was still here today they would thank her forever that she helped them put their relationship back together.
"If it wasn't for Tracy we probably wouldn't be together right now. Who knows what would've happened or where we would be if Tracy didn't see how miserable we were being apart. She's the reason why we're here now. Being a family is something I never thought would happen but if it wasn't for her realizing what we didn't see, we wouldn't be where we are today and with a daughter who I never thought I would get to have. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have realized what a big mistake I made almost letting you go much too soon than I actually wanted to." Robin had known that most of the problems they had were because of her, mostly because of her job and traveling. Even if Barney didn't mind traveling especially since he got to spend most of his days with her, but that was the beginning of the traveling. Towards the last couple of months things had turned between them and it all unraveled in that hotel room in Argentina.
"And, if it wasn't for her I wouldn't have realized that I still loved you. She was the reason why I asked you to marry me and the reason why I realized that you are and always will be the one for me, even if I wasn't showing it in those last couple of months before we divorce. I will always know that you are the only woman for me and the one I will always love no matter what our lives bring. Tracy, was the best person I knew, I'm grateful to have known her even if it was for a short time. She really did change my life forever." They are sitting in their old Maclaren's booth waiting for Lily and Marshall to come meet them talking about how Tracy was such a big key player in the relationship of Barney and Robin and she was also the reason why they are here hoping that the four of them could help their friend who is struggling to stay alive in a place that once was happiness for him.
"So, you think this plan will work?" Robin asked, she's a little worried that this will backfire on them and then they would have to find another way to help Ted get to normal, and they don't know what else to do so this plan has to work.
"I really hope so, I'm worried that it won't but hopefully it will because I don't like what's happening. I know Ted is trying to find a way to find some happiness but it's been six years, how can he still be in denial about what life he's actually living in and more importantly what year he's living in." Barney really hopes this will go well, he can't watch his friend continue down this path of delusion. He's also worried that Ted will end up doing something more worse than thinking he's still in love with Robin and he hates thinking this but for some reason he knows there's still some part of Ted that does still love Robin even if he was with Tracy.
"Well, let's find out." Robin said looking over to see Marshall and Lily approaching them with worried looks on their faces.
Marshall and Lily join Barney and Robin and sat opposite them when they arrived. It was like the old days all over again but in a sad situation which both couples hate. They know that this needs to end, it's crushing all of their hearts that their friend is in this condition he's in and they know that if it keeps going like this something really bad will likely happen and nobody wants that.
"Hi, guys it's been a while." Robin said greeting her friends. It has been about five months since they last saw each other, with them all being really busy they hadn't had time to see each other and with Marshall and Lily living in New Jersey it was hard getting together even at times they were available it was hard to see each other.
"Yeah, it has. How are you guys?" Lily asked smiling at her friends but also in a sad tone which gets them to discuss what's going to happen in 24 hours.
"We're great, Brailyn is quite the happy kid. She's already in school and learning fast for her age which is great." It had been a struggle for them to get pregnant, it took 8 years to conceive but after so much struggle they had Brailyn which was difficult for Robin because the pregnancy was not easy, there was a lot of issues during her pregnancy and early on their was almost a miscarriage, the second miscarriage they had in a year. But, after two miscarriages and many struggles they finally had their daughter after Tracy passed away. The conceived a few months after her death, another thing that they are thankful for in regards of Tracy and their relationship.
"She's a beautiful girl, looks just like you Robin." Lily said as Robin and Barney too showed their friends pictures of their daughter.
"I'm really happy for you guys you deserve to have such a beautiful young girl after everything you went through in the last decade." After being quiet for a while since sitting down Marshall was deep in thought as Robin and Lily talked briefly about Robin's daughter thinking about this plan they're about to talk about.
"Yeah, we're truly happy. If it wasn't for Tracy we wouldn't eve have Bri, we wouldn't even be here together even if it wasn't for Tracy realizing what we obviously didn't after the divorce." Barney says with a slight sadness in his voice both for Tracy and the time they almost really lost each other.
"So, how is this plan going to work? The situation is getting worse, I'm really scared that Ted will end up doing something crazier than stealing a locked up french horn." Marshall was both concerned and a little mad at this situation because it's been six years and Ted has been in this deep emotional state since Tracy's death and he's worried about him doing something to himself or to someone else.
"First, I know this plan might not be all that great and it might blow up in our faces but it's the best way to fix the problem we have. Not that Ted's a problem but it's getting to the point where he's crying himself to sleep every night and the kids are worried about him. They think he needs to be in a psych ward or something that's how bad it is right now." Barney explain, they're all really worried about not only this plan but also Ted who is walking around in this emotional state of his and it has been six years since Tracy died so the more he continues this way the more he's going to do something worse than thinking he's living in 2005.
"Ted has this idea that he's still in 2005 which is the year his life changed. He first met me after you two got engaged then we dated, which was his happiest time until we broke up until he finally found Tracy. In between those years, I was single for most of them, dated a lot of guys and dated Barney too. After that, some tough years happened where first I realized I was still in love with Barney then everything changed even more than after Ted and I broke up in which he said he loved me after I had broken up with my current boyfriend and still had feelings for Barney. That was his downfall until he met Tracy. He was the happiest with Tracy. So, the plan is that we go to his house, sit him down and tell him what's really going on in the present while still discussing the past. It might be hard for him to fully understand somethings, like the fact that Barney and I are together and have a kid which he didn't know about since Bri happened the year after Tracy died, which started his downward spiral forgetting the years he had with Tracy." Robin had been the one who came up with this idea, Barney just agreed to the plan which he hopes works since he knows that Ted had been telling his kids a story about how he met Tracy.
"Okay, I think this might just work but we have to be easy on him he's fragile right now and his mind might not be able to handle most of what you will be telling him, especially the fact that you and Barney are together now and are living together as well but not in your old apartment." Marshall thought this was a good plan, no real professional would really know how to get through to Ted but his friends might be able to knowing what he's going through and where his memories are at the moment. Marshall really hopes that this will work even if it's tough and hard to hear for Ted it needs to come out and make him realize and understand what's really happened in 2030 and not 2005.
"So, tomorrow we'll go to Ted's house and talk to him. He also thinks his kids are mine and his and that's really freaky since they are Tracy's kids. This was when I realized I had to get through to Ted and make him see what's really happening in this year." Robin didn't like the idea of Ted thinking his kids are from her when they aren't and it's even more sadder because he is forgetting all about Tracy and his life with her.
"Okay, this has to work it needs to work so we can all get back to our normal lives. This alternate universe of Ted's mind is not healthy or good for any of us and most certainly him." Marshall was a little doubtful but he thinks this will actually work and if they go easy on Ted then this will be smooth sailing and if it doesn't work than they really don't know what will.
"See you guys tomorrow, we got get back home I asked Marvin to watch the girls." Lily said before kissing Robin on the cheek and hugging Barney before leaving with Marshall back home to New Jersey.
"This better work Robin, I'm really done with this whole thing and I hate that Ted thinks he's dating you when you aren't with him and hadn't loved him in years." Robin could tell that Barney's frustrated, she hates this situation too but what can they do, so this has to work so this tension that Barney has could finally end because it's worrying Robin and making things between them also tense which causes useless fights they both don't want to have.
Ever since they got back together things between them has been wonderful, their lives was a little bumping in the beginning when they first got back together but now they are perfectly happy, settled and at peace with themselves and their relationship. Having Brailyn really changed their lives even more and once Robin really settled down they had discussed having kids. Robin was still young enough to conceive even though it was very hard to, she did and Barney well he made sure to freeze some of his sperm just in case they want to try having a baby. Things were difficult at first but soon they did have a baby and Brailyn was the best thing they ever could hope for.