Chapter 7 - So close, yet so far

March 2029

Penny Mosby took another quick look in her mirror before she headed downstairs. Her dad and brother were waiting for her so they could go out to dinner. But she had to look her best because the restaurant they were going to was owned by HIS family. He was Peter Jacobs. The ultimate catch at Pleasantville Middle School. She had had a crush on him since 5th grade, but was now determined to make him notice her. She bounded down the stairs towards her waiting family, and noticed that there was someone there she hadn't expected. "Aunt Robin? What are you doing here?"

Robin smiled at her niece. "Well, I decided to surprise you guys and come take you to dinner, but it seems like you were already going out. You kids mind if I tag along?"

Penny was conflicted. She loved her aunt and loved every moment they spent together, because unlike her father's stories, Aunt Robin's were always entertaining. On the other hand, with her beautiful, famous aunt at dinner, there was no way Peter would notice her.

Robin looked at Penny, and they began one of their telepathic conversations. What's wrong, Pen?

You picked the absolute worst night for a surprise, Aunt Robin.

Why? I thought you loved it when I - Ohhh. It's his family's restaurant we're going to, isn't it?

Yes. And there is no way he will notice me with you there!

Leave it to me, Penny. I'll help you out. Trust me. I played wingman for your dad and Uncle Barney a lot.

Fine. But if it doesn't work out, you owe me.

Mani/pedi's at Mrs. Woo's and 5th avenue shopping?

Deal.

Ted looked between his friend and daughter, completely bewildered at what had just happened. "Everything okay?"

"Fine, Dad, let's just go," Penny sighed as she led the way to the car.

HIMYM

As they sat down in the booth they were directed to, Ted could not help but notice that there was something different about Penny. He continued to stare at her as someone came up to the table. "Hi, my name is Peter. I'll be serving your drinks tonight. We have Coke products, iced tea, coffee, lemonade. What will you have?"

Ted noticed that his daughters cheeks began to flush when the boy started speaking. Oh, no. No, no, no, no. "I'll have a Coke please," he said when Peter's gaze fell on him. The young busboy finished taking their drink orders, and hurried to fill them. Ted stared hard at his daughter, who finally met his gaze. "Penny? What's going on?"

"Nothing, Dad. Just leave it alone," she said as she dipped her head to keep him from seeing her blush again.

Ted was about to speak again when he received a sharp kick in the shin from Robin. Be cool, Ted.

But, she's way too young to think of boys that way.

No, she's not. Girls mature faster than boys.

So? He has a job, he's got to be like, 16 or 17. Too old for her!

Ted, his family owns the restaurant. He helps serve the drinks. Pull your head out of your ass.

My head is not in my ass, Robin. I can't deal with this. This was supposed to be Tracy's area.

I know. That's why Penny came to me about this like, six months ago, and not you. She knew you would just freak out. Trust me, Ted. It's going to be ok. I've got this.

But, but-

No buts! Trust me. Please.

Fine. But we are so talking about this later.

Fine.

Ted sighed and picked up his menu. He was getting too old for this stuff.

HIMYM

It had been a successful outing, with Penny getting up the courage to talk to Peter alone. Ted had nearly blown a blood vessel, but Robin had talked him down, and now they were enjoying a nice glass of wine as Luke played video games and Penny locked herself in her room with the phone. "I still don't like it."

Robin smirked at Ted. "Oh, Ted. You knew this would happen someday. It's her first crush. Let her be."

"I guess I still have that idealized vision of a little girl in my head. The little girl who would listen to me talk about architecture and actually show interest. But now she's 13 going on 14. How did time go so fast?"

"In all fairness, Ted, you've had a rough few years. You were pretty broken there for a while. It took every ounce of strength you had just to function, let alone note the passage of time."

Ted sighed, and looked at his friend. "Robin, what would I do without you? Besides that first six months, you've always been here. You help me with the kids, you buck me up when I'm sad about Tracy. You have literally become my best friend."

Robin smiled, "You're my best friend, too, Ted. Don't you forget that." She laid her head on his shoulder and they watched as Luke blew up yet another zombie.

July 2029

Robin put her key in the lock of the Mosby house, and walked into chaos.

"Dad, where is my swimsuit?"

"Did you check the laundry room?"

"Yes. It's not there."

"Did you really check, or just glance at the clothes and decide it wasn't there?"

"It's not there!"

Ted grumbled to himself as he walked to the basement door to search for his daughters swimsuit. He was so preoccupied that he nearly ran Robin over. "Oh, god, Robin, I'm so sorry. I didn't see you there. When did you get here?" Ted spewed out as he continued his trek down into the basement, not waiting for an answer.

Robin smiled to herself as she watched Ted descend the stairs into the basement. He's so cute when he's flustered. Robin covered her mouth in horror. Stop that, brain. You are not allowed to think those thoughts.

I'll think whatever I want, and I think Ted's cute.

Knock it off!

NO!

Yes!

"Penny, I have your suit." Ted's shout disrupted her train of thought.

"Awesome. Where was it?"

"In the laundry room. It took me all of two seconds to find it."

"What can I say, Dad. You're better than I am!"

"Just come and get it so we can get going!", he said exasperatedly. "I'm sorry, Robin, we're almost ready, I promise… Are you ok? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Robin composed herself, and smiled. "Just fine, Ted. What's the hold up?"

"Everything. Luke hadn't packed a single thing, so I had to help with that, and Penny is trying to pack everything, so I'm trying to convince her that she doesn't need her entire wardrobe for one week in California. And you just saw the thing with the suit," he finished as Penny snagged the aforementioned swimsuit out of his hand and ran back upstairs.

"I got this," Robin said. "IF YOU TWO AREN'T READY IN TEN MINUTES, YOUR FATHER AND I ARE GOING TO CALIFORNIA BY OURSELVES WITH YOUR AUNTS, UNCLES AND COUSINS. I'LL HIRE A BABYSITTER, I SWEAR TO GOD!"

As if by magic, Luke and Penny were standing in the foyer in less than three minutes. Ted looked at Robin in awe. "Wow. I've never seen them get ready for anything that fast. Thanks," he said as he smiled his crooked smile at her.

She felt her heart skip a beat at this, and in order to cover the flush rising in her cheeks, she marched out the front door and into the car.

HIMYM

The next day, they were all enjoying a beautiful day in La Jolla Shores in San Diego. They had decided that a beach vacation would be a good fit this year, as they had experienced a very long winter in New York. Marshall and Lily were seated comfortably together on beach chairs, Barney was laughing as Ben and Ellie tackled Quinn into the ocean, and Ted watched as Luke played in the waves with Daisy and Little Ted. Marvin had elected to stay at the house and relax. Ted looked around again. "Hey guys, have you seen-" He was stopped in mid sentence by the appearance of the person he was about whom he was about to inquire. Robin stepped off the last step onto the beach, and all the air left Ted's body. Oh, crap. Not again. Suck it up Mosby. Think of Penny and Luke. You're not ready.

But she's so hot!

Shut up, brain.

No! I'll think what I want and you can't stop me!

Yes I can!

No you can't!

Yes I - his inner argument was interrupted by a vigorous shake of his shoulder. "Ted, buddy, you ok?", Barney asked, concern evident in his voice.

"Yeah, sorry. Just kinda went out of focus there for a bit."

Robin laid on a chair next to Lily and started a conversation with her. Ted continued to fight an inner war with himself as he also continued to sneak glances at Robin. He had to get up and go. He had to cool off. He had to work this out of his system. "Guys, I'm gonna go for a walk. Can you keep an eye on my kids?" His friends answered in the affirmative as he walked up the stairs towards the beach house, grabbed some shoes, and went for a walk down Spindrift Drive. He heard footsteps closing in on him, and turned to see Marshall jogging to catch up to him. "Ted, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just needed to go for a walk. Stretch my legs."

Marshall just chuckled to himself silently. "Ted, how long have we been friends?"

"Something like 32 years."

"And in all that time, have you ever been able to successfully lie to me?"

"Only once."

"The fish list?"

"Yup."

"I still say you were wrong about that, but we'll come back to that later. Ted, what's bothering you?" Marshall pulled Ted down to the curb.

Ted looked at the ground. "I noticed Robin."

"I would hope so. She's here with us. I noticed her - Ohhhh. Like you NOTICED her."

"Yeah. It actually started last September at Barney and Quinn's wedding. I just started to have these little twinges. I put them aside for the good of my kids and I just was not ready to think of anyone in any way near that. She's been spending a lot of time with me and the kids lately, and I've been having trouble shoving the feelings away. I just - I don't know what to do."

Marshall looked up at the bright blue sky with a smile. "That does sound confusing."

"Why are you smiling, then?"

Marshall turned to him and said, "Buddy, you're healing. And that makes me happy. I never thought you would be okay. Especially after your dad died. It just makes me so happy that you are finally coming back."

"I'm not there yet, Marshall. Not by a long shot."

"But you will be. And that gives me hope. You know what you have to do, don't you?"

"What?"

"You have to talk to her."

"I cannot talk to Robin about this - no way."

"Not her, not yet anyway. I agree, you're not quite there yet," and then Marshall pointed to the sky, "I meant HER."

A/N: I have made a decision. I love this story too much to end it at the finale, so I am going to carry it on. Keep the reviews coming. You are the best!