Chapter 18- Two is Better than One
A/N- Sorry this took so long. Between vacation and some personal problems, I haven't gotten to write much lately. Of course, I also wrote most of this chapter in line at a bagel shop, and went to copy it off of my iPod, and managed to delete it. Rewriting was not a fun task, and while it isn't quite as good as the original, I think that I got everything back in it, and I am finally happy with it.
Robin's jaw drops. She can't believe it. Tracy and Ted are having a baby too. She feels Barney's hand squeeze her shoulder. She knows exactly what he is thinking. Of all the days Ted and Tracy could have announced this, they picked the day that they found out. It's not as if she is unhappy, but she is feeling a bit less excited about telling them now. She turns around to give Barney a nervous look. Thankfully, no one else notices, because they are so busy sharing congratulatory hugs. They break the look quickly, realizing that if they stay there too long, someone might catch on. Quickly, they avert their attention back to the rest of the gang.
"So when are you due?" Lily squeals, so excited to finally become an aunt. It's not that she doesn't love Marvin, but she is looking forward to being there for a child that isn't her responsibility.
"March 15th," Tracy says. No way. This can't be real. They beat Ted to having a baby without even knowing it. Barney, who has gotten up to share in the hugging, glances back over at Robin who stayed sitting, and tries to get her attention. He doesn't know how she is going to feel about this. On one hand, she doesn't have to go through pregnancy alone, but she also doesn't get to be independent in this. Not to mention, Tracy is up and walking around. That fact alone has to be killing her.
"Congrats," Robin manages to squeak, still somewhat nervous about the gang's reaction to her news as well. Not that she has any reason to be nervous.
Tracy and Ted come over to Robin to hug her, probably because they think she is sick. That is what the gang knows after all. After all the hugs, she starts to get nervous again.
"What's wrong?" Lily asks, puzzled. "You seem like you are out in outer space. What's up?"
Robin notices that everyone has moved to the kitchen, while she is still on the chair. She has no idea how long she zoned out for.
"Uhh…" Robin looks over in Barney's direction. "Uhhh…nothing. Nothing."
"This upsets you doesn't it? It's all really fresh again. That you can't have a baby. Isn't it?"
"No," she shakes her head. "No, that's not it at all. It's just why today?"
"Huh?" Lily asks, completely lost to Robin's train of thought.
Robin looks in the kitchen at Barney who gives her a look of calming reassurance. She raises her voice so that everyone can hear.
"Umm, Barney and I have an announcement to make too." Lily gives her a stunned look, and everyone moves back into the living room. Barney smiles and comes to stand behind her again.
"The reason that I didn't come to the bar tonight is not because I'm not feeling well. I'm, well, actually on bed rest."
"Bed rest? Since when?" Ted asks.
"Since a few hours ago," Robin says simply, waiting for the realization to sink in to the rest of their minds.
"Why bed rest?" Marshall asks.
"Wait a minute!" Lily exclaims.
"No..." Ted says.
The smiles on Barney and Robin's faces give them away like a two year old caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
"Yes," Barney says, confirming their thoughts.
"You're pregnant?" Tracy asks.
"Yes." Robin says.
"Oh my god! That is amazing! We are so happy for you!" Tracy exclaims.
"How did... I thought you...I thought…" Ted stutters, clearly still stunned from the news.
"I thought so too. I still don't think I would know if Barney hadn't convinced me to go to the doctor," Robin explains.
"When is your due date?" Tracy asks. "Are we close together?"
"February 13, so, I guess so."
"Yep. Desperation Day. Only an awesome baby would arrive on a holiday such as Desperation Day. I'm so proud." Barney interjects, and everyone else rolls their eyes.
"Wow." Ted says silently, but then his face lights up. "Oh my god! Guys! Our kids are going to be the same age and they can be best friends," Ted says with such conviction. Barney and Robin roll their eyes at each other, but they miss that Lily, Marshall and Tracy all rolls their eyes at each other too. "And they'll have play dates together, and spend all their time together, and they will start school together, and if you have a boy and we have a girl they could even get married. This is going to be Ah-May-ZING!"
"Ted!" They all shout to bring him back down to earth.
"So, bed rest?" Lily questions, completely ignoring Ted. "What exactly does that mean, and why do you have to be on bed rest?"
"Well, it turns out I should have never been told that I couldn't have children, but that it was very unlikely to happen, and well..."
"Miracle!" Marshall shouts out. Lily rolls her eyes.
"Not a miracle, Marshall," Robin groans.
"Yes it is," Marshall argues.
"No it isn't," Robin stands her ground.
Ted leans over to Tracy to whisper, "they had the same argument the day that Barney got hit by the bus. I don't think they ever settled it."
"Yes it is." Marshall insists.
"Honey, just let it go," Lily says sweetly. "She isn't going to agree with you."
"But…" he argues with her. Lily frowns at him. "Fine," he huffs.
"Go on Robin." Lily instructs.
"The point is, the reason that they said I couldn't have a baby also makes the pregnancy more high risk, and it makes me more likely to have a miscarriage," Robin explains.
The group stays silent for a moment, acknowledging the weight of the statement. It's Lily that breaks the silence.
"We are here for you Robin, whatever you need. You just call and we will do whatever either of you need. And, of course, we can keep you company."
"Thanks guys," Robin answers while Barney sighs and nods behind her.
"So... how long have you known?" Robin asks Ted and Tracy, removing the uncomfortable focus off of herself.
"About four weeks. We really wanted to wait to tell you until we knew nothing was going to happen, but..." Tracy explains.
"Wow." Marshall says.
"Yeah, I don't know how you guys did it. I don't think we lasted three days before we caved, and then of course, Marshall ruined a wedding because of it," Lily states matter-of-factly.
"Ruined a wedding?" Tracy asks, stunned.
"Yep. It was Punchy's wedding," Lily explains. "Ted was the best man. We had just found out, and were trying to keep it a secret. Marshall was sloshed after trying to drink for two all night, and Ted was of course freaking out about his toast, because, well, you know how he gets." Tracy laughs at this comment. She was present for Robin and Barney's best man speech. That was bad enough. And of course, she had seen the Classic Schmosby remixes. "We eventually told everyone right before his toast, and he started crying because of it. When he got made fun of, Marshall stepped up to defend him, saying that this beautiful woman was pregnant. The bad part was that the bride was sitting in between us."
"Oh no," Tracy gasps with horror.
"Yep," Lily says over enunciating the p. "Turns out Punchy and his wife were doing the same thing we were the whole night. But it basically started an all-out brawl between the families."
"Wow," Tracy says in shock. She recovers quickly, however, and turns her attention back to Robin and Barney. "So how long have you two actually known?"
Robin turns to Barney mentally telling him that he can take this one. "A whole twelve hours."
"So you really had no idea?" Ted asks.
"I really had no idea," Robin replies. "Well, that's not quite true, everything makes sense now, but it didn't add up at the time. I spent a lot of time ignoring it because I thought that it couldn't mean anything. But, I guess this means that Barney and I won the race of telling you first."
"Well, yes, but most importantly, everyone's happy," Lily argues. "How about we take a picture for the photo album to celebrate!"
Of course, everyone rolls their eyes, but they happily oblige. Marshall may look stoned, and Barney may take the perfect picture as always, but Robin feels different. For the first time, her smile in one of Lily's group photos is not faked. She is completely happy and wouldn't change it for the world.