Wait For It (Sequel to Challenge Accepted)

Chapter Nineteen: Bombshells and Bull Rides

!

~~~Ted~~~

I sat in the bar with Lily, pondering a thought that I couldn't seem to get out of my head.

"Barney and Lauren are broken up, right?" I asked.

"Yeah, I think so. Why?" I shook my head.

"Nothing." He narrowed her eyes at me skeptically. "It's just that...she was so supportive with the whole Stella thing, and...I'm kind of wondering if maybe I screwed up our relationship before I really got to see how great it could be."

"Ted, you better not be saying what I think you're saying."

"I'm not! I'm just saying that-"

"You're just saying that you like Lauren again." She finished.

"Ok. So, maybe I am saying what you think I'm saying."

"Ted, Barney is in love with her. Would you really do that to him?"

"He seems fine to me." She punched me. "BUT I wouldn't try anything unless I knew Barney was ok with it."

"I should hope not."

"I have no control over how I feel about her though." She went to punch me again, but I got up, running out of the bar.

~~~Lauren~~~
Lily and I went to Giddy Ups, partially because Lily felt left out and dragged me along with her.

"Lily, this isn't working. You shouldn't be here." Robin told her, after she'd scared the Woo Girls off to the dance floor.

"Ugh, I get it. Because I'm happily married I'm some kind of loser."

"Exactly the opposite. Lily, why do you think the woo girls have to woo when they win a game of beer pong, or when a hot guy takes his shirt off? It's because that is as good as life gets for them. They're really sad people. And when they hang out with someone who's got it all figured out, someone like you...it bums them out. It takes away their woo."

"You're just saying that so I don't feel like an old married lady."

"What are their woos actually saying, Lily. Observe." I told her, nodding over at them.

"Woo!" I cry in the shower.

"Woo!" I've never been on a second date.

"Woo!"  What if I never get to be a mom?

"Woo!" I'm secretly in love with Jillian.

"Woo!" Ted screamed, suddenly appearing on the dance floor.  My career and love life are heading nowhere.

"On, those poor girls. And Ted. I just want to go give them all a hug."

"Lily, right now, I'm like them. I'm unemployed, I'm single, I'm a little lost. So, every once in a while, I need to woo.  But when I need to talk about something real, you guys are the ones I turn to. You're my best friends."

"And you're ours." Lily agreed. "And I promise, I'll make more time for just us.  Marshall doesn't have to tag along to everything we do."

"Barney either." I agreed.

"You're back together?" Robin asked.  I nodded.

"Turns out he had some weird, manipulative marriage proposal planned. Marshall exposed him, we talked about it, and he's gonna bring me another that really represents him."

"That's great." Lily said. I noticed her look behind me briefly.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing. It's not important. I'm so happy for you."

"Hey, have you guys tried theses purple hooter test tube shots? I've had like five of them and I don't even think there's alcohol in here." Marshall said, wearing a pink cowboy hat.

"Where'd you get that hat?" Lily asked.

"What hat?" Barney pushed past Marshall, and I reached out, grabbing his arm. He turned around, spotting me.

"Hey."

"Did you do it?" I asked.

"Yeah. We fired Sven. You and Marshall were right." I smile, grabbing his tie and gently pulling him down to meet my mouth.

"I missed that." He said, once I pulled away. I nodded.

"Yeah...me too."  He went over to Ted and I turned back to the table.

~~~

So...Ted found out why he didn't get the job in the first place. Marshall and Ted tied Barney to the Mechanical bull, put it on the paint mixer setting, and left him there. I sat there and waited three hours and then finally set him free.

"Three hours. That's a bar record."

"That's right, ladies." He got off, falling flat on his face.

"Ok, come on." I helped him up, wrapping an arm around his waist. he wrapped his around my shoulders and I led him outside and called a cab. "Let's get you home."

"Thanks, babe." I laughed.

"Babe? That's a knew one."

"Oh yeah? What would you like me to call you?" He asked.

"I don't know. Lauren? I'm not opposed to Laur. Lo has been used once or twice."

"What about my fiancé?" He asked. I rasied my eyebrows. He let go of me, falling down so that he was on one knee. He grabbed hold of my forearms, trying to steady himself.

"Barney, what-"

"You said you wanted a proposal that was me. But me is nothing without you, and I know you would want spontaneous and romantic, yet simple. So ehre we are, on the side of the street, I can barely see straight, it smells like urine, and I am asking you: Lauren Carson...will you marry me?" I smiled, nodding.

"Yes."

"Yes?" He asked.

"Yes. Of course, yes." I leaned down kissing him, but he almost fell over, so I had to stop. The cab pulled to a slow stop in front of us, and I helped him into it, climbing in through the same door while Barney gave the driver his address. He pulled out the ring, slipping it onto my finger.

"I love you, Lauren."

"I love you too...fiancé."