Chapter 59- Disappointment

It had been a long day for Barney. Not that work was stressful, it actually had been a successful day at the office. It had, however, been his first day back since the baby was born, and he spent the majority of the day worrying about his two girls. He didn't think anything would happen, he just missed them, and missed being with them.

So when he walks in the door to the apartment to see a tearful Robin sitting in the dark with the bassinet next to her, he can't help but wonder what went wrong.

"Robin? Are you okay? What's wrong?" he asks, moving to sit down next to her on the couch.

"He canceled again," she blubbers, tissue balled up in her hand, as she dabs her eyes.

"Oh," he murmurs. The topic of her father's visit had been a sore subject since Barney hung up on him at the hospital that night. Even though Robin said she could have cared less about him not showing up, he knew she did, and the longer time went on, and the more he kept canceling, the more Robin showed that it bothered her. Now, it looks like she has finally snapped.

"My father has yet to see my daughter," she sobs. "It's been two weeks, Barney. Two weeks, and he cancels again."

"Did he say why?" he asks, because he wants her to still give him the benefit of the doubt, especially after their lovely Christmas exchange.

"Something with Carol," she mumbles.

"Maybe she's not well," he suggests, hoping somehow to calm her down.

"No, come on Barney. He's ignoring me. He's ignoring us."

"So what? Robin, I know he's your dad, and I know you really want to have a relationship, but maybe it's for the best of you just kept your distance again."

"But... I don't know..."

"I will support you no matter what you choose." He barely finishes her sentence, and she goes from teary-eyed to bawling. He hates that what he said has pushed her over the edge. He wants her to feel happy, and for the exception of the hospital, he hasn't seen her truly happy except for those moments she is with Brianna. "Robin," he mumbles reaching out to console her, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean…"

"It's not your fault Barney. I don't even get why I'm so damn sad. I just am. I've never left him bother me before, and yet, now, it does. I don't want what I had for her. I don't. I want her to be happy, and it's all making me unhappy…" The words kept pouring out of her mouth, until she collapses on his shoulder, the tears soaking the shoulder of his suit. He just wishes he could help. He's gone through many of his cheer up Robin tricks in the past two weeks, but now, he realizes that he has one left to try.

"Robin?" he asks, hoping that she might play along.

"Yeah?" she sniffles, pulling away from his shoulder a bit to look at his face.

"I think I have something that might cheer you up," he teases, showing off his trademark grin, hoping it will bring some sort of reaction out of her.

"Barney, now is not the time for that," she scolds, wiping the tears from her eyes. He thanks god that his lechery at least got her to stop crying. "Plus, we still have at least four weeks to go until the doctor approves us for that."

"That's not what I meant, Scherbatsky," he says, getting up from the couch and moving into the kitchen. He starts opening up cabinet doors, looking for something, before he continues. "I bought us something. I was going to save it for our wedding anniversary, but I think you need it now."

"What's that?" she questions, confused, because she has no idea what would he have put in the kitchen for their anniversary.

"This," he announces, pulling a bottle down from a high shelf.

"What's this? I mean besides the obvious answer of scotch."

"It is a bottle of scotch, but not just any bottle of scotch. It's a Balvenie Fifty."

"A fifty?" she asks, not sure she heard him correctly.

"Yep. A fifty year."

"How did you get this?"

"I heard about it and bought one," he shrugs.

"But I can't drink it. You know that," she argues.

"Yes, you can. I know the doctors said that as long as you feed her, or pump, you can have a drink." She stares at him, unsure. "When did you feed her last?"

"About a half hour ago," she sighs, not sure whether to give in. It had been a long day, but she isn't sure if she has a drink, that she will be able to stop.

"So have a half a glass," he shrugs, trying to encourage her to just enjoy herself. "You deserve it. You haven't had a drink since August."

He watches as she deliberates, and he can see it's a struggle. He understands her reasoning. He really does, yet he knows her well enough to know that she needs to relax, for her own health, and so that she can be the mom that Brianna needs.

"So should I get two glasses?"

"Yeah," she says, with the hint of a smile. "That actually sounds nice."

He jumps up, and quickly moves to the counter, pulling the glasses away from the bar area, and carrying them back to Robin.

Robin watches as he pours a finger's worth the dark amber liquid in to each glass. She's amazed by how fast the warning and comforting scent fills her nose. It had indeed been a long time.

He hands her the glass, and to her surprise, raises his own.

"To your first scotch of motherhood."

The glasses clink, and they simultaneously sip.

"I don't know whether it's good, or if I just haven't had scotch in so long," she comments, moaning slightly at the taste.

"Oh no Scherbatsky. It's damn good."

"Mmmmm, wow..."

"I was so worried it was going to be like that time we split that bottle."

"You mean the first time we were dating? And it was not any different than regular scotch?"

"That's the one," he agrees.

"Thank you, Barney. I really needed this," she says, a look of adoration spilling over her features.

"I know," he answers, pulling her in for a peck on the lips. He pulls away, and looks in her eyes, and is quickly interrupted by the sounds of what could become a wailing cry if they aren't careful.

She sighs, quickly shoving her glass in his direction.

"No," he responds quickly. "Let me get her." She sinks back, taking her glass with her, and taking a sip.

As he pulls up Bri, shushing her with calming baby talk, he can't help but notice the serene smile on Robin's face.

He takes his place next to Robin again, placing Brianna on his chest towards Robin, where she quickly snuggles up and falls asleep.

"You know, I never thought I'd say this, but nothing beats the feeling of a sleeping baby on your chest," he whispers, and Robin's smile grows.

"It is pretty great. Do you want your scotch back?"

"Nah. I've got her."

"Alright, just leaves more for me," she teases, and he immediately smiles, happy that she's finally come out of her funk.

"Go ahead. Enjoy it."

"I will. Oh, I will," she insists.

A/N: Sorry, work has been going just the way I thought. I get up early, get home, and by the time I do everything I need to do, I'm so exhausted that I can't think. I've been working on this chapter for the last few weeks, and I know almost exactly what I want to say, but I have had zero time to sit down in front of a computer, or even my phone and get it out there. But with today being Brianna's birthday, I just had to finish this.

And thanks to our wonderful Neil, I was able to add some inspiration to this chapter. If you have not seen the picture of him holding his godson that he posted on Instagram yesterday, you need to. It is absolutely adorable.