Hey lovelies- so I'm back with another oneshot from Robin's POV which is set in the closing minutes of 8x08 . I just love the way their relationship is going this season and am looking forward to them showing us how they're gunna eventually find their way back to each other.

A/N: I don't own the characters and reviews make me happy. Hope you enjoy

Huh

He wasn't going to try anymore?

It took her a few seconds to process what he'd just said. She'd heard her voice try to keep up with everything, to try and tell him that 'of course he hadn't made a fool out of himself,' but Christ she knew she hadn't sounded convincing, how the hell were you supposed to sound convincing when your mind was in some kind of whirlwind that was now only slowing down? So. Many. Questions. But the idea of asking them, especially as to him the answers were clearly so obvious, seemed both stupid and terrifying. Great.

God how had she read this so wrong? She'd written off last week as a drunken mistake and she'd just assumed he had too- for God's sake Scherbatsky if your mother had taught you anything it was never to assume (makes an ass out of u and me…)Idiot. Why hadn't she even allowed herself to even think of the possibility that it was some sort of attempt to get her back? But then, in her rather shoddy defence, he'd been engaged until like 2 months ago, how was she supposed to know he was still in love with her? Even Sherlock fricken Holmes could be forgiven at not coming to the epiphany that a drunken attempt at a kiss= the desire for a serious relationship. So see, it wasn't her fault at all, no responsibility whatsoever.

Her mind was silent, content for a moment, before the denial failed because she knew, as he did, that that drunken kiss was only the tip of their 'fuck-off-massive' ice berg.

First the music video, the sex, the hospital, the will they won't they, the perfect summer, the relationship they weren't ready for. The friendship, her tears, his tears, Don, Nora, the dance, the binge drinking, the court order, Kevin, the almost reunion, the pregnancy scare, Quinn, the box, Nick and then well there was the speech. That wonderful, gut wrenchingly confusing, perfect speech. Then the kiss and then now. Now her head was spinning again. God, they'd been through the mill, and yet somehow here they were, sitting in the bar where they'd first seen each other eight years ago, having a drink together, how did that even happen?

But God, how had she read this so wrong?! Barney wanted her? After everything, even all the crap that had happened with Kevin and Nora, how was that even possible? She wouldn't touch herself with a ten foot barge pole after that fiasco- but Barney still wanted her? He'd still been trying even after that? She knew this was cheesy but she could feel something inside her actually ache at the thought of it. How had she ever picked Kevin over him? She wants to travel back in time and scream at past her not to make the easy decision, to the take the chance. But isn't hindsight just the most wonderful thing?

And that's when she realises that now should be the time to put it all right, not to let him give up. She could neck scotch he's just about hand her, look him the eye and tell him, sincerely this time that he had never made a fool of himself, and if he had then they were fools together because she'd never noticed. Tell him that the only reason she pulled away from the kiss was because she didn't want this to be just a drunken onetime thing and that when he'd said what he'd said in Spitsville she'd momentarily forgotten how to breathe and it had taken everything, all of her strength, not just to throw her arms round his neck right there and then, in some kind of cheesy romantic comedy way. And tell him, lastly and most importantly, that of course she was his 'to get', she was here, not going anywhere ever again. She'd watched all the warm up acts come and go, the clever, the not so clever (bless Nick), the attractive, the not so attractive- but there was just one act on left on the program and it was the act she was only properly realising now that she'd always wanted.

So no, he couldn't stop coming to get her, she wouldn't allow it, because she was ready now for him to take her whenever or wherever he wanted (in the physical and metaphorical sense…..nice Scherbatsky)

But then she looked up, he was back from the bar, holding a scotch out to her. He was smiling, so beautifully smiling. And she realised there was a second option. She could smile, and ask him politely about the red head and talk to him about Patrice, graciously taking the 'get out clause' he had masterfully set up for her. She knew this was the coward's way out and she knew in six months' time that future her would be cursing present her if she chose it. She could be brave, she could. She just had to say it. It was perfect. It was poetic, in the place where they'd met. God he looked happy, she loved that. This was her time, go, say it, come on. He's waiting for this, you both are. For god's sake say it. He won't reject you, he won't. Oh for, Say it. Say something. She took a breath.

'So Patrice said the stupidest thing today,'

Idiot.