Benefits • Barney Stinson

part 21

june 2009:

me and barney took a seat in front of Marshall and Lily in our usual booth in the bar.

i looked at Barney with a slight smile asking him with my eyes what to say.

ever since we kissed in the hospital we didn't really had the chance to talk about this. we did meet up though. and a lot. a lot of times. but we didn't really talk about this.

"me and barney kissed." i said looking at Lily.

"whoo!" lily screamed which made us really uncomfortable.

"lily, volume." marshall said to her as i took a sip from my drink. "use your indoor whoo."

"sorry. whoo." she did softly. "it's just they kissed! they're finally a couple." she gasped and looked at us. "oh my god you guys. this is our first double date! first of millions. what if our kids get married? oh i love this!"

"yeeaahh." barney said. "lily, listen."

"barney's awesome." i said.

"Aria's more than just awe 'some'. she's awe quite a bit." i smiled. "she's awe a while darn lot."

"wait. what are you guys saying?" lily asked nervously.

"we're just not feeling it right now, but we'll totally still be friends." i said quickly to her.

"oh yeah." barney nodded.

lily nodded shakily. "is it something i did?"

"oh, no, no, no. god no. lily it's not you. it's us." i said.

"yeah. it's us. you understand right?" barney asked her.

"sure, of course." she said, moving uncomfortably in her chair. "as long as you're happy, i'm happy."

september 2009:

the friday before Ted's first day as a college professor was here and we got him a fedora and a whip rope.

"that, my friend, is the Dominator 8000." Barney said to him with a laugh. "the best bookshop on the market, according to my whip guy." we looked at him confused . "yeah. i have a whip guy."

"you know what we should do?" ted said to us. "we should..."

"finish our drinks, go out in the alley and whip stuff." marshall said.

"god, you just get me." ted said emotionally.

i chuckled. "i should go. i got a date." i said, standing up from the booth.

"oh, you're still seeing that guy?" barney asked me.

"better, seeing him naked. what!" me and barney fist bump, mimicking explosion sound.

"i should go too." barney stood up. "i hooked up with this Chinese girl last night, and i don't know, it's weird. i already feel like seconds." we fist bump again and then left the group behind.

Barney grabbed my waist and then pulled me into an ally, kissing me. "let's go to your apartment." i said against his lips.

"let's just go upstairs. they will be out all night." he replied, still kissing me.

we did want to go upstairs we just couldn't move. "whoo!" we heard a voice and pulled out of the kiss to see Lily with a big smile.

i looked at him and we both took a step back. "whoo! whoo!" lily kept exclaiming as we walked to Ted's and Robin's apartment upstairs.

"how long has this been going on?" Lily asked happily.

Barney sighed. "all summer." he said.

"i knew it! i knew it! i knew it! you guys are boyfriend and girlfriend."