Chapter 8 - Forward

November 2029

Despite his talk with Marshall four months prior, Ted still had not given much more thought to the burgeoning feelings he was having toward Robin. The memory of Tracy weighed heavily in his heart, and each day was a constant struggle between holding on or moving forward. Fate, however, intervened during a rather brisk fall day when Robin had come over for dinner. "Anybody want anything while I'm up?"

Robin shook her head, and Penny and Luke answered in the negative as well. Ted entered the kitchen, grabbed a beer from the fridge, and just as he was about to exit, slipped on a small wet spot on the floor, fell against the island, and was out cold.

One week later

Ted slowly opened his eyes to a very bright light. Is this it? Did I die? The notion of his untimely death was spoiled almost immediately by Barney's face hovering mere inches above his. "Gahhhhoooowww! Barney, what the hell?"

There was a commotion at the door as 11 other people crammed into the room. "Dad!" came the relieved shout of his kids as they wrapped their arms around him.

"Excuse me, I need everyone out of here while I examine my patient!" shouted an unfamiliar voice. "Please, you can all come back in a few minutes."

Ted's mind was a complete whirlwind. All he knew is that he seemed to be in a hospital, his friends were there, and the back of his head hurt like hell. "Excuse me, Doctor, what is going on?"

"Well, Mr. Mosby, you gave us quite a scare is what's going on. I need to ask you a few questions, and then I will tell you what's been happening, all right. First off, my name is Dr. Heren. I'm on staff here at Westchester Medical Center. How are you feeling?"

"My head is killing me."

"What is the last thing you remember before waking up?"

"Getting a beer out of my fridge."

"Very good. Well, Mr. Mosby, as far as we can tell from what your children and friend Robin tell us, you were eating dinner, got up to go to the kitchen, they heard the refrigerator door open and shut, and then you scream out in pain and the beer bottle falling to the floor. You were found laying on the kitchen floor with a laceration to the back of your head and you were unconscious. Now, this part is going to come as a bit of a shock to you, but this was one week ago."

"A week?!"

"Yes sir. You were brought by ambulance here, where you were found to have a one and a half inch laceration to the back of your head, a hairline fracture in your skull, and a possible concussion. You were bleeding very heavily. We were able to stop the bleeding, and stitch you up, but you are going to be sore for a few more weeks. The good news is, you seem to recall the events right before you sustained your injury, which bodes well for your short term memory, but I need to test a few other things before I let everyone back in."

"Go ahead"

"Your full name please?"

"Theodore Evelyn Mosby."

Dr. Heren paused, and looked between Ted and the chart in front of him. "Evelyn?"

"Don't ask."

"Okay… Your date of birth?"

"April 25, 1978."

"Your children's names?"

"Penny and Luke."

"Well, all in all, it seems like you are doing very well, Mr. Mosby, and we'll get another CT to check things out, but if that reads well, I don't see any reason why you can't get out tomorrow. Now, would you like me to let everyone back in?"

"Actually, Doc, can you give me a few minutes? This is a lot to process."

"Absolutely, Mr. Mosby. Take your time."

The doctor left the room, and Ted sat there stunned for at least two minutes. How had he missed a whole week? Penny and Luke must have been worried sick. Especially after already losing their mom. Ted blinked away the tears threatening to spill out of his eyes and looked out of the window of his room to the waiting group of friends, and motioned for them to come in. His kids immediately latched on to either side of him, as everyone else followed, smiling.

"Hey buddy, welcome back," Marshall grinned. "We were worried about you."

Ted smiled back at his best friend, "Well considering I didn't even know I was out for a week, thanks. The last thing I remember is grabbing a beer out of the fridge." He looked at his two kids next to him, both of whom looked much better than they had when he had first seen them. "You guys ok?"

Penny looked up at him with red rimmed eyes, "We are now." Luke nodded his ascent to Penny's words.

Ted clutched them a little tighter. "So, who took care of you while I was out?"

"I did." Ted looked at Robin as she continued speaking. "I took time off of work and made sure they got to school and everything." She began to cry. "The house is clean, and I had someone come and do the yard work, because I know you were going to get around to it this past week." She couldn't say anymore, as she had begun to cry even harder.

Ted lifted his arms off of his children and opened them to Robin, who welcomed the embrace. "I'm ok."

"Don't you ever scare me like that again, Ted. Never."

Ted hugged her again, and she released him. He was hugged by all his friends and their children, who were all thankful to have Uncle Ted back. As everyone began to fall into an easy talking pattern, Ted got Marshall's attention. "Marshall, it's time."

"Time?"

"When I get out of here, I need to go talk to Tracy."

Marshall nodded his understanding and smiled as Ted looked at Robin with a look Marshall had seen many times before.

April 2030

Despite his proclamation at the hospital, Ted had not done what he had promised. He let life fall into a routine again, with he and Robin tiptoeing around each other. The rest of their friends were all in on what the two of them denied, the fact that they had started to fall for each other again. Things came to a head late in April of 2030. Marshall and Lily were visiting Ted, and Robin was in Washington, D.C. attending the White House Correspondents Dinner. They fell into the same easy pattern of conversation that they always had, when Marshall leaned forward so as to talk in lower tones. "Did you do it yet?"

Ted looked down at the floor. "No."

Before Marshall could say another word, Lily smacked Ted upsided the head. "Dammit, Ted."

"Ow, Lily. That hurt! And what the hell, Marshall? You told Lily?"

"Only about that part. The falling for Robin part everyone can see."

"Wait, what do you mean everyone can see?" Ted exclaimed.

"Because we aren't blind Ted. not like you and Robin apparently are," said Lily.

"I'm not blind. I'm just… scared." He looked at his oldest friends with tears in his eyes. "I'm scared that if I admit that these are real feelings, then does that just completely erase my past with Tracy? She was the love of my life. I don't want to erase her." He wiped his eyes and looked imploringly at both Marshall and Lily. "Can you guys understand that?"

Marshall smiled sadly, "Yeah, we can. But Ted, that's why you need to talk to her. You remember what the letter said, that you should move on when you were ready. But maybe you just need to talk it out. With her."

HIMYM

So that's how Ted found himself sitting on the ground in the wooded cemetery, next to Tracy's grave once more. "Hi baby. I miss you. So much. Marshall said I should come talk to you. I think I might be ready. I've been feeling more and more like the old me every day. And with that comes my old romantic side. I just need to know that you are ok with this. So, I guess I just need a sign. It doesn't have to be neon or flashing, but just so I know that you know that no one could ever replace you, and that no one, no matter how great, could be my 'one' but you."He sat silently, staring at her grave, when he heard footsteps behind him. He looked around to see Barney coming towards him. "Barney, what are you doing here?"

"Well, Ted, I came here for two reasons. First, Marshall and Lily told me you were here, and I wanted to make sure you were ok. Second, I came to give you this." Barney reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a set of three white envelopes. He handed them to Ted, gave him a hug, and left. He looked down at the envelopes in his hand. The one on top said READ FIRST BEFORE LOOKING AT OTHER ENVELOPES. He smiled and opened the letter.

Pooh bear,

The time has come, just as I knew it would. You've found someone. If I know you, you've been hemming and hawing about this for months, and are finally ready to do something about it. Well, it's about damn time! Just kidding. I thank you, Ted, for grieving me. However long it took, I know that you were in it with your whole heart. I hope the grief counseling was helpful in getting you here.

I want you to know, here and now, that I fully support this. I told you in my first letter that this would happen, and I'm so happy that it has. Remember, we aren't just given one chance at happiness in this life. You were my second chance. But you were also my one. You are the love of my life. But my life is over. It's time to live, Ted Mosby.

And also, if I know you, this woman, whoever she is, is no fling. You're ready to settle down. Now, as for the two other letters. I had to write two letters for two possible outcomes to your journey. Both are addressed to your future mate. One is addressed generally. The other… is to Robin. If its the first letter you have to give, then I have guessed wrong, or things didn't progress the way I thought they might. Which is fine. However, if it is the second letter, let me clear your conscience. I know I am not second place. I know I am not just someone you married because you couldn't have Robin. But I do know you. I know that Robin has always been in your life, one way or another, and if she is still single, that it is likely, especially given her closeness with me and the kids, that the two of you have gotten close again. Let me tell you, you couldn't pick better, Teddy. Robin is an amazing woman, and has grown so much in just the short ten years I have known her, that I know she will make you happy.

In conclusion, this is the last letter you will be receiving from me. It's time, pooh bear, to live in the moment, to move forward. Be free and happy, my love. Because I am.

Tracy

P.S. Go big!

Ted smiled, wiped away his tears, chuckled, and kissed her headstone. "That was one hell of a sign, Mrs. Mosby."

June 2030

"Guys, come into my study, please." Ted was beyond nervous, but it was now time to talk to his kids. He had thought for over a month about what he was going to say, and was finally ready. Penny and Luke, both with looks of apprehension on their faces, sat on the couch across from their fathers desk. "Kids, I'm gonna tell you an incredible story, the story of how I met your mother…"