Hey guys, I am oh so extremely sorry for the long wait, but I hope it's worth it. School might hold me up a bit, but I will try to write as much as I can. Truth be told, I'm really proud of this chapter, it's a lot longer than I'm used to. Let me know if you like it this way or not. Reviews equal happiness; honestly they are the best stress relievers for me! Love to all y'all!

And then there was Robin. In Barney's bed, staring unyieldingly at the ceiling. She was thinking so many things, but she turned her attention only on to how to get out. No walk of shame for her.

When she heard Barney stir her mind went into total overload. Please don't say anything, please don't say anything, please please don't say anything.

"Morning," Crap! He yawned hard, clearly tired from last night. "You hungry? Because I am starving."

Robin pushed herself up with her elbows, twiddling her thumbs pensively. He sat up as well, wanting a better view of her face. It took him no time at all to tell she was uncomfortable.

"Robin, relax, okay? Let's talk this out over some breakfast." The genuine sweetness in his voice made her able to let go a little and unwind. It was a side of him she didn't see every day, and she savored the moments when she did.

Robin finally climbed out from the warmth of the blankets to follow Barney to the kitchen. To answer his question from before, she was starving.

"So, what's cooking?" she hummed, hands over her growling stomach.

"Actually, I haven't gotten around to buying food, so…"

"Barney! You promised me breakfast!" She crossed her arms and he laughed at her pouty face.

"Well then, my lady," he joked, holding out his hand, "Let's go fetch some breakfast."

"Get down!" Barney whispered. The two hit the ground as fast as they could. "Okay, it's clear."

"Stop that!" Robin stood up to brush the dirt off and punch his arm.

"Ow! Stop what?" he said innocently, shrugging ever so slightly.

"Making me dive on the ground! No one was there you dork." She pushed his shoulder back slightly, pretending to be mad, which of course made Barney chuckle. She always made him laugh.

"Okay, fine. Did Marshall and Lily buy any food yet?"

"No. But, Ted did!" she said excited at the thought of eating.

"Alright Scherbatsky, let's go."

The short walk to Ted's seemed to take years. They stopped after every step, entering into fits of laughter. Not the stealthiest bunch.

"Shhhh," Barney instructed, still laughing.

"You shhhh!" Robin laughed out. He waved his hand, dismissing her toying.

He put his hand on the door and mouthed, one, two, three GO!

Barney, followed by Robin, burst through the door, acting like spies. They jumped down onto the floor and rolled like there were lasers above them. They, of course, failed miserable and erupted into laughter.

Barney covered Robin's mouth with his hand, but they both kept laughing, maybe a little too loud.

"Get down!"

"Ha-ha, very funny, Barney."

She turned around, but didn't see him anywhere in the room. A hand reached out and pulled her under the table. That same hand, attached to Barney, pointed to Ted.

"Hello? Who's there?" Ted said in a sheepish voice that was gaining more confidence as he spoke more words. "I don't want to, but I will beat you up if you have to!"

At that Barney and Robin started to laugh again. And again, it was loud.

"Barney? Robin? … Are you two drunk or something?"

He didn't get an answer from the giggling duo under the table, but he didn't expect one anyway. Tired, Ted dragged his hand over his face.

"I'm going back to bed. You two… just try not to be so naïve." He sulked back to his room, shaking his head at his two friends.

Barney, trying not to laugh, took Robin by the hand and led her to the pantry. He snatched some bread and put a finger over his mouth.

"Nailed it!" he sang once they were out of the house. Robin rolled her eyes and pushed him over. He was such an idiot.

Robin thought breakfast was going to be weird, but it was actually legen- wait for it- dary. Oh no, he was already rubbing off on her.

They talked about their jobs, well Robin did, about the dumb things they did when they were kids and their childhoods all together, about food and books and… everything. They told jokes and stories. They even shared secrets. Neither one could have expected their brunch to go so well.

Then the bothersome topic of last night came up. As much as they loved talking to each other, this was one talk they both didn't want to have, even if it was with the other.

"But relationships can be so much pressure…" Robin examined.

"And you know how are friends can be…" Barney reasoned.

"But don't you wanna…"

"Yeah, I do. D-do you?"

"Of course. So, what are we going to do?"

"Well," Barney reflected, "Neither of us wants the pressure, but neither of us wants to stop… this."

They both thought for a minute before Barney decided he had a great idea, typical.

"What if we spend the rest of the day apart, and I mean totally apart, and we see how it goes. So if either of us wants to rekindle this thing, we will. And then we'll know if we want this, like really actually want this."

"Barney, that's- not a bad idea. That could actually work! Let's try it." Immediately after the words left her mouth a smug look formed on his face.

"Alright then, get out!"

"What!?" she said taken aback.

"Yeah, we have to start now," he insisted. He'd already crowded her half way to the door.

She threw her head back, both laughing at his ridiculousness and wailing in exasperation. "You are insane!"

"Yeah, isn't it wonderful? Seya Robin!"

"Bye crazy!" she closed the door and took a deep breath. "Here goes nothing."

After going home, showering, and most importantly changing her clothes, because nothing screams one-night-stand more than last-night's-clothes, she set out to meet Lily for their lunch date.

On the walk over she kicked a pebble to keep her mind off of Barney. It didn't really work; it felt like her mind had one setting, repeat. The same words bounced around in her brain, Barney, boyfriend, and crap.

May not be the most poetic words, but they the only ones that captured her emotions. Was she obtuse? Not important. What was important was figuring this mess out. She sighed thoughtfully.

She had made her choice: ask Lily

Lily took a huge bite out of her crimson red apple, scanning the crowd for Robin. Where was she?

Her eyes honed in on one brunette in particular, that had to be Robin. She might lose it if it wasn't.

"Robin!" she said more than slightly annoyed. The woman turned around, deep in thought. Fortunately it was Robin. She stood there passive, eyes focused on a cobblestone, and chewing her pinky nail.

"Robin? Robin! Earth to Robin!" Lily shook her friend softly by the shoulders, shooting her a concerned look. The Robin Scherbatsky she knew was more focused.

"Oh, um, sorry my mind's a little boggled right now."

"A little? I feel like Barney," she paused, gearing up for her impression. "Robin, Robin! Look at me! Robin I loveeeee you!"

Lily laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world, while Robin couldn't even try to hide her confusion and panic. Did she know?

"Oh, c'mon Robin, it's funny!" Lily giggled out.

"What! No, no it's not. That doesn't even make sense. It's just not funny, okay?" Robin said rapidly.

Lily scrunched her eyebrows together. What is up with her today? It's probably something to do with Barney, yep definitely Barney. There's the poop.

"Did you sleep with Barney!?"

Robin hesitated; she looked up then down, and made snorting noises in protest. "Well, yes! I did and it was amazing, we had so much fun just talking and-and…" she sighed," And he said if we missed each other during the day then we should date. What do I do Lily?"

Lily leapt up and hugged Robin. She saw this coming from day one and she couldn't be more glad that it was finally here. "Robin, what you do is go. Go, be with him now! Ahhh! You're finally gonna be a couple!"

Lily gave her a reassuring smile and an apple as she pounded the cobblestone, excited to get to Barney. Her boyfriend. This was going to happen.

"Hey! Barney!"

"Robin?!" Barney was leaning causally against the wall talking with Ted and Marshall. To be honest he was a little bored, well not bored just downcast. He was so confused about Robin, but he didn't want to chase her. That is until Robin ran up and he perked up with excitement.

"Barney," she said out of breath. "I came to tell you," she took another massive breath, "That… I wanna do this. Us."

"Really?" he said totally sincerely, a side not often shown.

The guys looked at each other then at the scene playing out before them with complete befuddlement. Here stood night stand and Mrs. never getting married actually wanting to commit- and to each other no less. Noticing their stares Barney repositioned Robin and himself out of earshot.

"Really. I mean, it's not gonna be perfect or even easy, but I definitely want to try. I wanna be with you." She kissed him sweetly. It was totally out of character, but felt it right. "Let's get out of here."

And with that the two walked away, his arm around her, her head on his shoulder. Maybe it would crash and burn, but maybe it wouldn't. And wasn't that half the fun?