"You're really into this girl, aren't you?" Marshall asked Barney. They were at the bar watching Robin on the news on mute. Barney couldn't keep his eyes off her.

"I am," Barney nodded.

"It's so weird," Lily noted. "You're usually so...gross when it comes to women."

"I know," Barney grinned. "It's weird for me too."

"Ted is having a hard time letting go," Marshall informed him.

"I know," Barney sighed. Ted was annoying him about the whole thing. "Where is Ted anyway?"

"I don't know," Marshall said, looking at the door as if Ted was going to walk through it. He didn't appear.

"Well, I'm going to go up," Lily said, kissing Marshall. "See you up there."

"You bet," Marshall smiled.

Barney sipped his drink as he watched this exchange. He never liked to admit that Marshall and Lily's relationship was one that he admired. He felt like one day he and Robin could experience the same kind of relationship.

...

Lily came into the apartment to find Ted sitting at the computer with his fists in the air. She paused.

"What's going on?" she asked. He spun to face her.

"I figured it out," he answered.

"Figured what out?"

"How Barney knows Robin."

"From the bar?" Lily asked, confused. Ted shook his head vehemently.

"No, no, from before."

"Before?"

"Check this out," Ted said, pointing at the screen. In 1996, the same time Barney was in Niagara Falls Robin was also there."

"What?" Lily asked, leaning closer. "Robin Sparkles?"

"It's her," Ted said eagerly. "She was a teenage pop star. She did a show here the same night Barney was supposed to do his trick."

"You think they met then?"

"Most definitely."

"How can you prove that?"

"I...it's a hunch," Ted corrected himself quickly. He printed off the information.

"What are you going to do with that?" Lily asked, watching him. She felt worried.

"I'm going to make him confess that he knows her," Ted said triumphantly.

"What is that going to accomplish?" Lily asked, wanting to know.

"It'll come to me," Ted replied, grabbing his coat.

"Ted, it's only going to make you look like an idiot," Lily told him. "Robin's not into you. So what?"

"He's playing a game with her," Ted said, pointing at her. "I know he is. For some reason, she doesn't remember him, so he's using that to his advantage."

"You're not making any sense to me," Lily said, exasperated. Ted didn't answer as he left the apartment. Lily hoped he wouldn't do anything stupid.

...

Robin was getting her makeup redone when Ted showed up. She jumped in her seat when he was suddenly in front of her.

"Whoa, dude," she said. "What are you doing here?"

"Barney is messing with you," Ted said quickly.

"What?" she asked. He shoved the paper into her hands, and she looked at it. She then looked at him.

"Well?" he prompted.

"I don't get it," she said. Ted sighed loudly.

"He was there! At your concert. Obviously he didn't get to hook up with you then, so he's doing it now."

"Ted, what are you talking about?" Robin asked. Her senses were getting heightened now. Something was wriggling in the depth of her memory.

"Barney was at this magic show in Niagara Falls. You were there doing a show the same night. You probably blew him off, so he's getting you now. The only part that is confusing to me is why you don't remember him. Then again, he did look different..." Ted was rambling now. Robin continued to stare at him.

"I have to go back on the air. You need to leave," Robin said firmly.

"But...this is proof," Ted started.

"Ted, leave. Now," Robin said, pointing. He bowed his head and slunk out. Robin's heart was pounding. She looked at the paper again at her teenage self and the photo of a younger Barney advertised in the magic show. There was an article along with it saying the boys had switched, resulting in Nathan being the one killed instead. Robin stood up to go back on the air, but her mind was suddenly slammed with a memory.

Flashback

"I don't have a father," Barney admitted. "I never met him."

"I'm so sorry," Robin empathized. She touched his hand. He felt like he had been shocked. They looked at each other intensely then. Before he knew it, they were kissing. Ferociously.

"Oh, oh my God," Robin said, breaking them apart. "I'm so sorry."

"For what?"

"I...I don't know." She got up and paced.

"Was it gross?"

"No! I just...I shouldn't be here, doing this. I'm sorry. Thank you for helping me out," Robin said, opening the door and making to leave.

"Wait! Will I see you again?" Barney asked, scrambling to get off the floor.

"Probably not," Robin said. She closed the door firmly and disappeared.

...

"Breaking news tonight starts with a magic trick gone bad in Niagara Falls," the reporter said solemnly. "A 17 year old teenage boy has died by failing to escape his bonds while going over the falls in a barrel."

"Oh my God," Robin choked.

"No names will be released until the boy's family has been notified," the reporter went on. "This tragic event has people shocked. Why was this trick allowed in the first place? And why was a minor allowed to act it out? More on this later at 11."

"Barney," Robin whimpered.

Present

"Oh my God," Robin gasped. Her coworkers looked at her sharply.

"Are you all right?" one asked her. Robin clutched the papers in her hand.

"I have to go," Robin said, running to the exit. She ignored the voices calling after her. She had to find Barney.

...

"I told her," Ted said, sitting at the bar. Marshall and Barney were both staring at him as he filled them in on what happened with Robin.

"Why?" Marshall asked when he was finished. Barney still hadn't said a word. How could Ted do this to him? How could he have meddled like that? He had wanted Robin to remember on her own.

"I just...I thought you were messing with her," Ted said, looking at Barney, who shook his head.

"I wasn't," Barney said quietly. He stood then.

"Barney," Ted started.

"Shut up, Ted," Barney cut him off. "I know you're pissed that you lost Robin, but you didn't have to be this mean."

"I..."

Barney walked away then. He had no idea what Robin was thinking. Did she really believe he was just trying to trick her? Did she believe Ted's version? He felt very betrayed. He was walking fast to a cab. He didn't remember the drive to his apartment. He had no idea what to do. He didn't know if he should go talk to Robin or just let it all go now. She'd never believe him. She'd think he was lying, just like Ted said. Ted. Barney was furious at him right now. He paced his apartment, debating what to do when there was rapid knocking on his door. He yanked it open ready to tell off Ted when he saw it was Robin.

"Hi," she said, breathless.

"Hi," he said, unsure of what to do. She held up the papers, and he took them gingerly. He winced at seeing his young face looking back.

"You were there," she said.

"I was," he confessed. "Look, I didn't know how to tell you. I was hoping you'd remember me on your own. I..."

"Are you messing with me?" Robin cut him off. They stared at each other.

"No," Barney answered. "I'm not. I know my reputation makes me look bad, but I'm not messing with you. I'm crazy about you. I have been since 1996."

"So this isn't some weird thing where you're trying to sleep with me because you didn't get to back then?" Robin clarified.

"No!" Barney shouted. "Ted...Ted is stupid and jealous. He has no idea what happened between us."

"What happened between us, Barney?" Robin asked. She was testing him. She already knew.

"We hung out and then we kissed a little bit. That was all. You took off, and I never saw you again. God's honest truth," Barney finished, holding up his hand.

"I thought you were dead," Robin whispered. "I had seen the news, and I was so sure you had died. I...I wrote a song for you."

"You did?" Barney asked, surprised.

"Yea. It's stupid, and I buried it. Then I had my head injury, and I guess it all slipped away for a while," Robin said, frowning. Barney stood there feeling a little awkward now.

"So...so how do you feel about us?" Barney asked. Robin tilted her head at him.

"I feel really good," she answered, reaching to touch his cheek. Barney pulled her into a tight embrace then, and she gave a small choked cry. He was alive. She had another chance. Her heart was glowing. They rocked back and forth for a little while before she pulled back.

"You're crying," he said, noticing. She wiped at her eyes.

"I just thought I'd never see you again," she said. "Then I forgot all about you. I'm just...overwhelmed."

"I would never hurt you, Robin," Barney promised. "Please know that."

"That must have been so weird for you, knowing me but me not knowing you," she said.

"I figured I'd jog your memory eventually, and if not, I was going to tell you. I just didn't know if you didn't recognize me or if you were pretending not to," he joked.

"Well, it's all sorted out now," she said, smiling at him. Barney didn't waste anymore time. He moved in to kiss her, and she kissed him back passionately. This was what he had wanted since he had laid eyes on her. His dream had finally come true. Robin was here with him. He didn't want anything else.

Over Two Years Later

"You sure you're okay?" Lily asked Ted, who was sipping his drink. They were watching Robin and Barney dancing together at their wedding reception.

"I'm fine," Ted answered. "I have Stella, remember? Robin was never meant to be mine. I know that now."

"I can't believe Barney loved her since 1996," Marshall commented. He laced his fingers with Lily's. They had almost not made it, but in the end, love won, just like it had won with Barney and Robin.

"I like this version of Barney," Lily said. Ted and Marshall both nodded. Barney was whispering something into Robin's ear, making her laugh. Lily peeked to see Ted smiling. There was no hint of jealousy at all on his face.

"Wait til they have kids," Marshall smirked.

"Oh, I can see it now," Lily laughed.

"Wouldn't it be cool if they had kids the same time you guys did and then they fell in love with each other?" Ted asked, jostling Marshall.

"I know right?!" Marshall crowed. He and Ted high fived. Lily just rolled her eyes and shook her head.

...

"What do you think they're saying over there?" Robin asked Barney as he held her close.

"Probably something about our kids marrying theirs," Barney answered. He met Ted's eyes, and Ted raised his glass back and smiled at him. They were on good terms again once Ted realized Robin was meant for Barney.

"That would be crazy," Robin laughed. "And so cool."

"I never thought I'd be here," Barney said after a moment had passed. Robin looked up at him then.

"Why not?"

"I dunno. I just never saw myself marrying someone, but I love you so much, and this feels so right."

"I love you too, and yes, it does feel right," Robin smiled. She hadn't been one for marriage initially, but she didn't want to lose Barney ever again, and it just sort of happened.

"You and me forever," he smiled.

"And ever," she finished, giving him another kiss. She could hear Lily whooping in the background. Barney spun her around, making her laugh hard. He hadn't been lying. He was deliriously happy. He never wanted it to end. Life was good. The magician had finally gotten the rockstar.

The End

Thank you for all for reading/reviewing/following/favoriting! I hope you enjoyed the ending. Until next time!