Chapter 5

It was a beautiful, sunny July morning, it was also the day that Barney would be burying his mother. Barney stood at the entrance, even from where he stood, he could see the site where she would be buried. It was decorated tastefully, his mom's coffin was surrounded by pink lilies and white roses, her favourite flowers. Opposite there were chairs for those who wanted to pay their respects. The gang had been the first to arrive and pay their respects, but since they couldn't stay with him, they had gone to take their seats. While he stayed where he was, he could greet the guests and thank them for coming. The last of the guest to come were James and his father Sam, Barney couldn't express how glad he was to see them.

Finally, everyone had taken their seats. Barney went to the front and took a deep breath in quiet confidence. He read out the eulogy he had spent the previous night writing. "Good morning, I want to start by first thanking everyone who has come here to honour, my mother, Loretta Stinson. Since her passing, I have received, many phone calls, cards, emails, and flowers in condolences. They have been very comforting during this hard time because it shows me that my mom touched so many lives. I am sure that many of you know that my mom was a single parent, but she never let me realise that I was missing something as I was growing up. I thank her for being both a mother and a father to me. I have so many lasting memories of her as a hardworking, passionate figure of strength who never waned in her support or love. She was someone who soldiered on, even when times were tough. I am extremely honoured to be her son because I grew up with the most brilliant role model who taught me to be myself.

I would like to share one of my memories of the start of our traditional Stinson Christmas day celebration. I was four or five and having a hard time, so come Christmas day, I was miserable. So, to help me feel better my mom planned out our day, we spent the whole morning in PJs, the first thing we did was open all our gifts, then we would have a special breakfast. After that we would head to the Rockefeller Center for ice skating, we would stay there until we could barely feel our fingers. In the evening we would head over to the Gibb house, where our friends were, with a cooked turkey and dessert, we carried out this tradition until I headed off to college.

I will never forget her and I want to thank her for making me the person I am today. I love you mom and I will miss you."

Barney went and sat down while the rest of her family and friends got up to pay their respects, they lay flowers on her coffin and paid their respects to Barney.

"Is there a gathering afterwards?" asked Ted as he walked up to join the line.

Marshall shook his head, "It's written in the front, That the family has requested that there will be no gathering after the funeral."

After laying some white roses on Loretta's coffin the gang went over to Barney. The gang hugged Barney and walked away so that Barney had a chance to say his final goodbyes.

"Hey guys"

"James" the group called out at once.

"How's Tom?" asked Lily.

"He's ok, he wanted to come today but there was no one to cover him at work."

The gang nodded in understanding, as they waited for Barney, James and his dad told them stories about Loretta and young Barney, until Barney joined them. Then Sam took Barney to the side and small chat with him.

Later that night found Robin and Barney at Barney's apartment drinking scotch, well Robin was really nursing a glass of apple juice. The rest of the group joined them; Barney spent most of the night drinking quietly, just letting the conversation wash over him. However, at midnight the gang decided to leave, James left soon after, leaving Barney and Robin alone. Unable to take the silence anymore, Robin turned to look at Barney quietly looking into space. She decided to try and get him to speak to her, so asked him, "Have you heard about what happened at Altrucell?"

Barney looked at her for a moment before slowly nodding his head. Robin wondered, "Are you likely to get into trouble?"

A small smile crossed his face and he quietly said, "No."

"How are you so sure?"

"I will tell you, but not today." Replied Barney, and he set his glass down and headed to his bedroom without another word.

A few days later:

It had been a few days and Barney had spent most of his time in his apartment, he didn't bother to join the gang at McLaren's. Robin had so far spent every single night with him, to make sure that he was eating and sleeping. The gang had been worried about him but didn't want to disturb him in his mourning, none of them had any idea that Robin was spending her nights at Barney's.

Robin had respected Barney's decision not to explain what had happened at Altrucell. Seeing as there was something that she was keeping from him. However, the reporter in her was itching to know what happened at Barney's job.

Barney looked at Robin, who was quietly looking gazing into space, sighing heavily, "You want to know what happened don't you?"

Robin's head instantly snapped to him, and she nodded. Barney smirked, "Ok, you have been pretty patient. So, I will tell you."

"Barney, you don- "

"Please, you know I was not always like this. After Shannon left me, I was determined to get revenge and to do that, I changed myself completely. However, I had no idea how to get a job in the corporate world, so, I went to the one person who could help me learn."

"The guy Shannon dumped you for" murmured Robin.

Barney gave her a tight nod, "So, Greg gave me a job at Altrucell."

"What was your job?"

"Please"

"Barney" snapped Robin.

Barney grinned "Please stands for Provide Legal Exculpation and Sign Everything, I basically signed any documents they sent down to me."

"HOW THE HELL COULD YOU BE SO STUPID?" yelled Robin, slapping him repeatedly on the arm. "Your company was setting you up to be the fall guy."

Barney captured Robin's hand, stilling it, "Relax, of course, I knew what they were planning. After signing the contract, I went to the FBI. The FBI had been trying to get someone into Altrucell for years. So, they had me carry on and I collected evidence against Altrucell, against the CEO, senior VPs, and certain co-works. After my mum got sick, I got a visit from the lead FBI in charge, they were planning to take down Altrucell."

Robin looked at Barney in pure shock, "Wow" she whispered in amazement, not sure how else to respond.

With a knowing look Barney, gently pulled Robin up and the two of them headed to bed.

Next Day:

Barney headed to Shanghai 21; he was meeting Robin for lunch. Once Robin got there the two of them ordered. As they waited Robin nervously looked at Barney, this was it now was the time to tell Barney the news that was sure to change his life.

Twisting her hand together, she looked at Barney, "Barney there is something I need to tell you."

Barney looked up curiously, "Yeah?"

"Barney, I… I am pregnant" confessed Robin in a low voice.

Hearing the word pregnant caused him to spit out the drink he had just taken a sip off. "Preg.. pregnant" he sputtered repeatedly. Robin waited quietly letting him get used to the idea. After a few minutes, he looked at her, "Are you sure you're pregnant?"

Robin shrugged helplessly, "I took a test a few weeks ago two were positive and one was negative. But I haven't had it confirmed yet. But my boobs have been so tender, I have been really nauseous."

"You have been throwing up like crazy" added Barney, "Hold on you have been drinking with me. Isn't that bad for the baby if you are pregnant?"

"Relax, I have been drinking apple juice whenever we were drinking" giggled Robin.

Barney took a deep breath and asked "Ok so we have to confirm that you are pregnant first, right?"

Robin nodded and said, "I have booked an appointment next week to confirm it."

"Ok, I will come with you."

Robin let out a sigh of relief at least she will have him there for moral support. While Barney considered how much his life will change if Robin's pregnancy is confirmed. As they sat there is silence one of the waiters brought over their lunch. Together they quietly had their lunch and contemplated what the coming week will bring.