They're all positive.

Mechanically, Robin wraps all three tests in toilet paper, throws the package in the trash and makes sure it's well concealed. She washes her hands. Leaves the apartment for work, numbly takes the subway to the office and, half an hour later, finds herself taking the elevator up. She tries not to think about the panic creeping up on her.

That night, as she consumes two pints of cookie dough ice cream, Robin feels an overwhelming desire to do something. She wants to cry, go to the shooting range, rant to someone. But who does she have? She can't tell Kevin, because he isn't the father. She can't call Barney (and there's an entire list of reasons why).

She chose Kevin over him.

She doesn't know what to say.

She's pretty sure he'll never talk to her again, and it scares her, how much she's messed up with him.

He's the father.

He doesn't want kids.

XXX

Except, he lets her know now, he does want kids. Sort of.

'We'll be okay,' he says, glancing down at her tummy, allowing himself a smile.

'How can you be so calm?'

'Why?'

'I don't know, because we're having a baby? Do you know what that even means? Barney, we will be responsible for a living, breathing person, when the fact is, we don't even know what the right thing is sometimes. We choose the wrong things and we—we screw up. I screw up. I can't tell what's right from wrong anymore. I don't know what this is.'

'Are you talking about Kevin?' he asks quietly. His eyes are steady, looking at her. This is the first time they've acknowledged that night. Robin looks away and stands up, hands on her hips.

'I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow to confirm the news.'

He doesn't try to chase the subject, and she's grateful (because the truth is, they both know the answer to his question).

'I'll come with you,' he says, which is exactly what she'd been hoping to hear.

XXX

Barney is sitting next to her, as silent as she is. She knows they are both contemplating what this could mean for them, for their careers and lifestyle and relationship. So far, this mind-blowing new development is entirely their secret.

'Robin Scherbatsky,' the nurse calls out.

She stands slowly and so does Barney. It's just a simple blood test, really, but before they enter the testing center, he tugs at her wrist gently.

'Robin.'

'Yeah?'

'Whatever happens, pregnant or not, I want you to know I'm here for you.'

And she melts all over again, but Robin catches herself and nods, forcing herself to focus on being potentially pregnant. She can't remember what she was thinking the night she chose to stay with Kevin—something on the lines of him, objectively, being a better choice.

Kevin is responsible, sweet, adoring and affectionate.

It's been her mantra as of late, she thinks.

But maybe it was that she felt scared about using her heart instead of her head (remembering the Don disaster) and backtracked. Without a thought, she would have picked Barney—Robin overcompensated for her bias. And now, they're all paying for it.

They take some blood from her, leaving a tiny puncture mark covered by a bandaid. Simple as that. The nurse tells her they will send her the results the next day, and Robin scribbles Barney's address to make sure Ted doesn't mistakenly receive the envelope.

'You okay?' he asks when she gets out.

She almost laughs, but she can't muster the energy for it. 'It was just a blood test, Barney.'

They grab lunch in a restaurant near the hospital, knowing nobody they know is even remotely close. It almost feels like normal again, the way he tries to lift the mood by chatting about work, retelling how Ted tried to adopt a baby with him and showing her some new magic tricks. She actually laughs. It's been so long since that's happened. For once, she doesn't think about anything that lies beyond the scope of the moment.

Right now, there's Barney, her, and maybe even their baby. And that's enough for the now.

XXX

Barney is sitting down on his couch with a brown envelope in his hand. He's a nervous wreck. Robin is due to arrive any second now to open the envelope with him.

Without her around, he doesn't have to pretend to be unfazed. Yes, he doesn't think it's such a terrible thing anymore. He kind of even wants to be a dad. But she's right; they wouldn't even know what to do. They're messed up. How can they raise a child together? He drinks some scotch to calm his nerves when the doorbell rings.

'Um, hey. Come in.'

They sit on the couch quietly. He wants to say they've been filled with so much silence lately, with what's happened.

'Ready?' she asks.

He gulps, nodding.

She rips it open nicely, pulls out the sheet of paper and scans it.

Positive.

They look at each other, overwhelmed. All his anxiety melts away, giving way to joy and excitement. He grins and hugs her tightly, forgetting that she isn't his and that it was her choice not to be. He imagines a new start for them, all three of them, they'll do things right this time, he'll be better to her—

'Why don't you hate me?' she asks. It's only then he realizes she's crying.

He is almost amused to think that, after all this time, she still doesn't get it. Barney is reminded of the night they first slept together, comforting her at the bar when stupid Simon broke up with her. Ridiculous to think that guy ever had anything on her.

'You know why,' he says softly.

'Even after what I did to you—'

'Robin, we both messed up the first time. I was a terrible boyfriend and ex-boyfriend. We've both done stuff to each other we'd rather forget, but it doesn't mean I hate you. I don't think I'm capable of that.'

He has never seen her more vulnerable, more broken then he has now. Not knowing what else to do, he wraps his arm around her; she leans in, fitting her head against the crook between his shoulder and head.

And it doesn't surprise him at all, never did, how well they fit together.

'I'm breaking up with Kevin tomorrow,' she mumbles.

They fall asleep on the couch, lying down, perfectly comfortable against each other.

XXX

The next day, Robin calls Kevin to meet her at the bar. He smiles when he sees her, says he's been a bit worried about her lately and kisses her.

But Robin gathers herself up and starts, before he says anything else.

'Kevin, remember the other night, at the hospital? When I said I had something to say?'

'Yeah. And we both decided I didn't have to hear it.'

'But you do.'

'Okay.'

'I was going to break up with you.'

He stops, frowning, opening his mouth to say something before closing it back. 'And now, you're breaking up with me?'

'You're a good guy, Kevin. I wish I didn't have to.'

'So why are you?'

'I think you know why, Kevin.' She feels sorry, truly. 'The same reason why I was sent to you in the first place. It's not fair to anyone, what we're doing.'

'Barney? He was with Nora and they just broke—' She sees the realization strike him.

She nods. 'There's more. I slept with him the night before. I—it just happened. And. . .I'm pregnant.'

'Holy shit. Why are you telling me all this?'

'Because you deserve the truth.'

'I think I need to rethink my career choice.'

'Kevin, I'm so sorry.'

'I should have known better. I mean, I did, but I thought you'd get over him.'

She wants to say 'Me too'. But she doesn't, just kisses him on the cheek after apologizing again and heads up to the apartment. The guilt is still gnawing at her, but it's better now, she thinks.

She calls Barney at work after resisting for half an hour.

'Barney Stinson.'

'I did it,' she tells him, and she can almost hear his restraint through the line.

'I'm sorry.'

She knows he's not.

'Hey, come over later, okay? There are stuff I want to show you,' he tells her. 'Around eight?'

'I'll be there.'

She gets there half past eight, bearing ice cream, some butterscotch and Chinese take-out, familiar as she is with his always-empty fridge.

He has his suit jacket off, sleeves rolled up. He grins and lets her in, showing her a bottle of sparkling grape juice he bought earlier that day. Next to his coffee table are a stack of pregnancy books, a book of baby names and some baby fasion catalogues.

'You think it's too early to order a crib? Handcrafted, with an engraving of SS?' he asks, handing her a design magazine.

'SS?'

'Scherbatsky-Stinson!'

'Right.' She smiles, picking up the top book. Baby names. There are already bookmarks inserted throughout. 'Uh, no to Alice. That's, like, a stripper name.'

'Alice—are you serious? That is not a stripper name.'

'And Lionel, really? That's like the most pretentious name ever.'

He grabs the book from her and flips through it. 'Anakin?'

'Over my dead body.'

'Luke?'

'No Star Wars.'

'Fine, no weird Canadian names then.'

She raises her eyebrows. 'Um, I don't know what you're talking about, we have normal names.'

He waves it off. 'Fine. Whatever. We have nine months to decide.'

'Yeah.' Her lips twist into a smile. For the first time, she feels as if it could all work out, her and Barney and this baby they're having together. They could be happy. 'We do,' she says, and they sit down on the couch together and turn his tv on.

She decides to surprise them both for a change. Robin finds Barney's hand and squeezes it, a silent acknowledgement of whatever this new thing is, of her gratitude and apology. They don't need to look at each othet to know that.

Sixteen years later, her kids will sit on that couch as she tells them the story of how they came to be. The boy, their first-born, will be blonde and wearing a suit. The girl will be the spitting image of her. And Barney will be right there with her, interrepting her story to slip a tiny, exaggerated detail or two or sneaking a kiss every now and then.

This week's episode was crushing. And, I just sort of imagined a happier ending for our favorite duo. I really hope they still get back together someday. For now, please review! :)