Barney was on his way to pick up Robin for lunch at the local tavern and maybe show her around after. She was only just beginning to explore the town and she was constantly getting lost. Far too many a tale had started with "... and I had no idea where I was..." or "... I was completely and utterly lost... "

When he got to where they were supposed to meet he barely had time to pause before he saw her come barreling down the road. She looked around frantically before their eyes meet and she noticed him.

"Barney! Barney! You need to come now!" She practically knocked him over when she reached him, unable to stop. He was anxious to hear what was so important but she was out of breath, bent over, hands on her knees, gasping.

"Robin, you are killing me! What happened?"

She considered acting bitter about his tone, but decided against it and just shot him a look. "They took Lily!"

"What!" Panic flooded through him; he wished so much that this wasn't happening. Not now. "Where." Robin grabbed his hand and took off again. They ran past village square and grabbed Ted, who was playing his lute there. He was scared that Robin might get lost and misdirect them, but she came through. She brought them to a dark part of town, kind of by the docks.

Ted lunged forward and Robin tried to as well but Barney stuck his arm out. "Wha- no, Barney I wanna help."

He paused and gave her a considering look before saying. "Alright Scherbatsky, give 'em all you got."

They both stepped forward. Robin started arguing with on of the huge goons right away. He went over to where Ted was and saw one of those jerks holding Lily. She was so small that he was actually holding her about a foot above the ground. She was screaming "Let me go!" repeatedly and kicking, trying desperately to escape the man's grasp.
He tried to push the man back. "Let her go, jerk!"

"Yeah," added Ted, " You have no right to take her."

"Hey buddy, I don't make the orders, I just follow them." Just as they were about to continue they heard a scream come from Robin's direction. They whipped their heads around and gaped at the scene. What they saw was maidenly Robin standing next to the gruff man on the ground. She had punched this guy out.

Everyone paused for a moment, but soon made a smooth transition into fighting again. Ted was getting more and more heated. He'd know Lily for so long; they can't just take her away without her will. The man kept dismissing him and Ted finally punched him in the face, taking a page from Robin's book.

The thug was taken aback, he wasn't too hurt, just a bloody nose, but he readily returned the blow. Then it was Barney who stepped up and put his fist in. He had his friends' backs. Another shot from the goon. Ted. Goon. Barney. Ted. Goon. It soon became a jumble of fists without order. It was utter chaos, complete madness, clutter-wonderful. Then over.

It wasn't exactly that their little gang had won the fight. More that it was over and they had successfully pulled Lily away and found Marshall slightly bruised and lying on the ground. Yep. They did have everyone and that was what they wanted, but the guys would come back and probably take them where they were trying to take Lily. As much as they hated it, these people had the power to do away with people. And they were next.

Just as they suspected the men came back. They came when the sun was just about setting and told them they had to go. Of course the group didn't want anymore trouble so they agreed, but only on their terms.

1) They'd leave by the end of the month, but no sooner

2) Lily and Marshall could stay together

3) They would all stay together and go wherever they wanted - not back to Lily's parents - but to where they wanted to go, and no one had to know where that was.

As they all sat around their regular table at their regular pub, there was an aura of sadness and nostalgia. In a month it would all be gone.