Chapter 6 - The Beginning

The group stared open mouthed at the woman who had just walked in. Robin, however, still looked completely unfazed. Lily was the first to speak. "Wow. I'm just… wow."

"I know, right. I knew you guys would be totally shocked. The looks on all your faces, so worth it." Barney high fived his fiancee.

"Wait, but didn't you guys break up before because you couldn't trust each other?"

Quinn replied, "Yes, but that was 16 years ago. We've both changed a ton. Kids do that."

They sat down at the table as Ted asked "Well? What's the story?"

Barney laughed, "Please." Quinn lightly elbowed him. "Alright, fine. I'll tell you. It was May 13th, last year. Ellie really wanted to go to the park…"

Flashback - May 2027

Barney and his rambunctious daughter Ellie walked into the enclosed play park two blocks from their apartment. Ellie immediately ran to the playground as Barney took a seat on the nearest bench and smiled as he watched Ellie run free on the playground. He waved to some of the other parents who frequented the playground and then paused in shock as he laid eyes on someone he hadn't seen in years. "Quinn?"

"Barney? Oh my god. What are you doing here"

"I brought my daughter to play. What about you?"

"I'm here with my son. We just moved in a couple of blocks over. I can't believe you have a daughter!"

"I can't believe you have a son!", Barney exclaimed. "When did that happen?"

"5 years ago. His birthday was last month. His father and I were dating when I got pregnant. He got scared, signed over his rights, and we've been on our own since."

"I'm sorry. What a jerk."

"I was upset at first, but truthfully it's been pretty good. I'd much rather be a single mom than deal with an idiot who doesn't want anything to do with him. And I make more than enough to support the both of us."

Barney looked sheepish as he asked his next question. "So, then, are you still…?"

Quinn smiled at his obvious avoidance of her previous career. "No, I have that up ten years ago. Got a job managing a restaurant, and after a couple of years, I bought the place. Hired a great staff, and only need to peek in a couple of times a week. I also have some stocks and small investments, so I get to be a full time mom."

Barney couldn't hide the look of astonishment from his face. "Wow, that is so great." He waved at Ellie as she climbed to the top of the slide.

"So, what's your story? You and Robin have a kid?"

"Umm, no actually. Robin and I divorced 11 years ago. Ellie is the product of a one night stand. After our marriage fell apart, I slipped back into the old Barney, and started sleeping around again. But once I had Ellie, I stopped all that, took custody of her because her mom is too busy. and I've just been busy being a dad since then." Barney was startled as Ellie flew into his lap, just as a little blur attached himself to Quinn's leg. "Ha, well, speak of the devil. Ellie, this is my old friend Quinn. Quinn, this is my beautiful daughter Ellie."

Quinn laughed as Ellie extended her little hand. "Hi, Ellie, it's very nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too, Quinn. Who is that little boy with the dirty face hanging on your leg?" Ellie inquired with the straightforwardness she had inherited from her father.

Quinn laughed again as Barney shook his head. "This dirty little boy is my son, Ben. Ben, this is my friend Barney and his daughter Ellie. Be nice and say hi."

Little Ben peeked out from behind his mothers leg long enough to squeak out a barely audible "Hi."

Barney looked at his watch, and noticed that it had somehow gotten to be dinner time. "Oh, man, Ellie. We have to go. It's about dinner time. Where do you wanna go tonight?"

"I want pasta."

Barney looked apologetically at Quinn, and said, "I wish we had more time to catch up. I have to keep her on a schedule, or she gets a little wild."

Ellie piped in again. "I want Quinn and Ben to come too."

Barney looked aghast at his daughter, turned to Quinn to apologize, but she cut him off.

"Actually, Ben and I are free. And I know this dynamite Italian place over near 40th and Lexington. My treat."

Barney smiled at Quinn, put Ellie on his shoulder, and motioned for Quinn to take the lead.

End Flashback

"So we went to dinner, talked, then we walked her and Ben home, I called her the next day, and we've been together ever since." Barney pulled Quinn in closer, and gave her a quick kiss.

Ted spoke first, "Well, I have to say, even though I'm in shock, and may believe this is all part of a dream, congratulations guys."

The rest of the gang gave their good wishes as well, and they all talked until the wee hours of the morning, welcoming Quinn back into their little circle.

September 2028

Ted walked into the small Staten Island church that Barney and Quinn had decided on for their vows, and quickly ushered Penny and Luke to the seats occupied by Robin, Marshall, and the rest of the kids. "You two behave for Uncle Marshall and Aunt Robin. No acting bored or making faces. This is a special day." He smirked as 11 year old Luke rolled his eyes, and 13 year old Penny gave him the impatient look of indulgence that mirrored her mother's so well.

"Dad, go be with Uncle Barney. We're good," she said, still staring a hole into the middle of his forehead.

He nearly laughed at how much his daughter was like Tracy, considering it had been four years since she had passed and hadn't been able to influence their daughter's attitude since then. He then sighed as he thought of Tracy and how much she would have enjoyed being here for this. And how much she would have loved to be able to make fun of Barney on his wedding day. He wiped a stray tear from his eye and made his way to the room that held Barney. "Barney, I'm coming in. So if you are trying to make a break for it, you better do it before I get in there." He slowly opened the door, praying that Barney hadn't really run off, and was surprised at what he found. Barney sat silently on a small couch towards the back of the room, looking up when Ted entered the room, and smiled.

"C'mon, Ted. This is the new me we're talking about. Besides, the windows don't open wide enough, I already checked." He laughed at the look of horror on Ted's face. "Ted, seriously, I'm kidding. I'm ready for this. I'm 52 years old and I have a 7 year old daughter. I'm finally grown up. It's time to begin a new chapter."

Ted smiled at his friend of 27 years, and nodded. "It is, buddy. It is."

HIMYM

It had been a beautiful ceremony. Quinn and Barney looked truly happy. Ted, Robin, Marshall, and Lily sat at a table with the kids, watching the newly married couple dancing with their children. Ted looked over at Robin, noticing she looked a bit wistful, nudged her to get her attention. "You okay?"

Robin turned her head to him and smiled a small, sad smile. "Yeah. It's just a little surreal that out of our marriage and divorce, who would have thought that Barney would be the first to settle down again."

Ted smiled back at her, "Yeah, I guess that part is a bit weird. But you've been working so hard on your career, it's no wonder. Now that you've slowed down though, They'll be lined up around the block."

Robin laughed at this. "Oh, Teddy. You are still quite the romantic."

"Well, I guess some things just never change."

As Robin was about to reply, James Stinson came up and asked her to dance, as they had opened up the floor to everyone, and he wanted to catch up with his ex-sister-in-law. Ted watched as they talked and laughed their way across the dance floor. He watched as the light hit Robin's eyes, making the blue shine, and how, even at 48 she was still so beaut- Oh, no. Do not go there Mosby. You have your kids to think about, and there is no way you are ready for this. Ted took a deep breath, calmed himself, and looked up, straight into Robin's eyes. Oh, crap.

A/N: Thank you to all the reviewers. You are what keeps me going. Just as the chapter's name says, this is just the beginning. Trust me, its still a little ways until the finale moment, but we are on track.