Support me on pat_reon.com/kapur69 (Delete "_") and read for 15 chapter ahead or more.
Disclaimer, i own nothing but my own idea.
-----------------
Ted's POV
I scanned the entire bar, trying to find a woman. One specific woman who's yelling at her phone.
But there is not a single woman yelling into her phone, calling herself stupid.
Yeah….I was looking for Kelly. Tracy's friend.
Why?
I don't even know.
Maybe I should just enjoy this new life.
Because, yeah, I'm a reincarnated man.
The new Ted Mosby.
And honestly? A much cooler version.
Still a dorky dad type, still a loyal friend… but this time, I actually know what's coming.
Sometimes I wonder what would happen if I tried meeting new people — built my own version of Ted Mosby's best friends.
But I can't.
The moment I woke up in this new life was the same day I met Marshall.
I tried hanging out with other students, but somehow, I always ended up back with him.
I even tried flirting with Lily once. But she didn't budge a little, I just saw that she wanted some college life.
We only kissed at the freshman party.
Yeah, it was me who kissed Lily. Not someone else.
I just hope she was drunk enough to forget about it — or maybe she remembers me as the 'too much tongue guy.'
That's fine, too. As long as no love is in her eyes toward me.
After that, I saw it in her eyes, she was drawn to Marshall. Like it was fate or something like that.
So I let it go and it's not like I like her like that.
Because I couldn't be that guy, the one who ruins something beautiful before it even starts.
That's a story for another time, though.
Right now, I'm looking for Kelly, the one who's supposed to show up around this point.
But maybe she's not here tonight. Maybe she walked into the other MacLaren's Pub, the right one.
Tracy's probably mourning too right now.
Wait… what am I even saying?
I should be enjoying this life.
"So… good cop and bad cop?" I said to Barney, who was still staring at a group of women across the bar.
I met him exactly like in the show — at the urinals.
No goatee beard, no pickup attempt. Just me, standing there, drinking beer with Marshall before I go to the urinals, and this guy next to me trying to reinvent his pitiful life.
Barney peed beside me like we'd known each other for years. I'd seen him before in the bar a couple times — flirting, getting slapped, wearing his pride and pitiful excuse just to get laid.
Maybe that story's for another day, too.
"Okay," Barney said, taking a sip of his beer.
So yeah, we used Good Cop and Bad Cop right now.
It's a technique we came up with. Like parenting, when Mom's the bad cop and Dad's the good one.
The bad cop plays tough one, scolds, intimidates, until the kid feels scared.
Then the good cop swoops in, makes them feel safe and loved again.
Usually, it's the dad being the good cop because he's been too busy working to show love in the first place.
But!
I walked toward them with two glasses of scotch in hand, confidence wrapped in a gentle smile.
The kind of smile that says 'I'm safe and kind.'
"Good evening, ladies," I began, offering the glass to the one who looked most heartbroken. "Usually, I'd send the drinks through a waitress… but tonight, I thought I'd send myself."
I was playing the good cop which gave them comfort, security, a sense of dependability. The things they probably needed most right now.
And yeah, I knew what you're thinking — isn't Barney the one who wanted to get laid tonight?
Yes. But the girl I approached looked hurt, mostly being dumped by her boyfriend or being cheated on. She didn't need another guy trying to get in her pants or a hero right now.
Just like we predicted, my good intentions were met by one of her friends, the kind of woman who sees me as an enemy of the night.
"Can't you see we don't want you here?!" she snapped and frowned a little bit — though I caught her licking her lips at the same time.
"Oh, um… yeah, I was just trying to help," I stammered a little, letting the awkwardness sell my 'nice guy' image. "...That's why I brought scotch."
"We don't want your scotch. Go away!" another friend said sharply, staring at me like I'd committed a crime. She gave me the look of 'Good Friend' to her friend but at the same time 'I want to sleep with him' look to me.
The wink is there! Slow and enticed me! It's not narcissistic of me but it's the truth.
I was about to say something again when one of them gently pushed me back.
A woman in a green turtleneck.
Robin Scherbatsky.
The woman Ted Mosby would spend an entire lifetime falling for if not for his wife being there for him.
She looked at me, brow furrowed. "Okay, cool guy, maybe take a step back. She's not in the mood right now."
Before I could reply, Barney suddenly swooped in.
"She's mine," he said dramatically, pushing me aside. "Stay away, creep. She doesn't want you."
I blinked — how the hell did he get here so fast?
In a matter of seconds, Barney was already talking to the heartbroken woman, effortlessly charming her friends away so he could take the seat beside her.
"...Oh, okay," I muttered. "...Didn't know she already had a boyfriend."
I stepped back, awkwardly raising my glass. "I'll… be outside if you change your mind."
Robin just stared at her friend, now melting under Barney's bad-boy charm.
"I just want to forget my pain," the woman murmured.
"It's okay," Barney said softly, before kissing her — hard. "...You can be gone in the morning." he said and looking at the woman beside him, "You…wanted to join too?"
That was my cue to leave.
The rest was up to him. I don't care if he nailed it or not, my job is done.
As I walked past the bartender, "Carl… pouring me full, Barney pays." and Carl did so and smiled at me, "Nicely done Ted… I hope you don't use that on my girlfriend." he said half seriously before looking at Yasmin who's calmly sipping her drinks.
"You know me Carl." I raised my glass to him for a salute and walked out.
Before I walked out, I glanced at Robin again, she looked frozen, caught between shock and disbelief to her friends right now.
Outside, I lit a cigarette and sat on the stairs leading up to my apartment.
Yeah — that apartment.
The same one where Marshall would later cry after Lily went to San Francisco.
I took a long drag, feeling the smoke calm my thoughts.
I could find Tracy right now. I could skip everything, go straight to the ending.
But should I?
It's cruel, maybe. But… I don't think I want to, not yet.
This is my second life.
And I want to live it.
Drink beer every night. Hanging out with my friends. Falling in love with my girlfriend time after time.
Of course, not a one-night stand like Barney.
I was lost in thought when I heard a familiar voice.
"Hey…"
I turned. Robin stood there, holding a beer in one hand and that same half-smirk on her face.
"Do you still have some?" she asked, nodding at my cigarette.
I smiled, holding it out to her. "I do."
—----
3rd POV
Lily, exhausted from a long day wrangling kids at her kindergarten, walked slowly up to her apartment.
She loved her job — truly — especially caring for children. But today had drained every drop of energy she had left.
She pushed open the door and sighed deeply.
"Baby, I'm home…" she called out softly, hoping for a hug or maybe just a warm 'welcome home!.'
"Hey!" came Marshall's cheerful voice from the kitchen. He peeked out, spotting his girlfriend….or maybe a fiancée (though she didn't know that part yet).
He grinned, though his heart softened seeing how tired she looked. Thankfully, he'd decided to try cooking dinner tonight.
"I'm so exhausted!" Lily groaned, taking off her coat and tossing it aside. "It was painting day at school and one of my five-year-olds totally went for second base." She pointed to a small paint handprint across her chest.
Marshall laughed, shaking his head a little bit before putting serious mode on his face. "You can't tell me his name, or he's going straight to the hospital." he joked… or maybe not entirely joking.
Lily chuckled hearing that before she glanced toward the stove. "Oh thank God, you're cooking! I just want to eat, then lie on the couch and watch some old movie with you. Can we do that?"
She leaned in and kissed him, catching a faint but promising smell of whatever he was making.
Marshall grinned and gently ran his hand down her arm. "That's the plan too," he said. "But I actually have a little surprise for you…" he froze after saying that.
He almost said it.
Almost went down on one knee, almost pulled out the ring hidden in his pocket.
But he froze. His heart pounded loudly and his confidence cracked.
His smile faded and he was a little bit pale. He couldn't do it!.
{Marshall was in second year of Law School, so he was pretty good at thinking on his feet.} - Old Ted.
"…Ted got a new girlfriend!" Marshall blurted suddenly.
Lily blinked, surprised. "…He what?"
"...and she's Lebanese!" he added quickly, spinning back to the stove. "I'm… gonna keep cooking now."
"What?!" Lily followed Marshall into the kitchen, eyes wide. "How is she? Is she cute? Am I gonna hate her because she's hotter than me?!"
Marshall is just trying to distract himself to cooking something right now.
Of course he was lying and it was the only thing keeping him from collapsing in nerves.
"…I don't know," he stammered. "I haven't met her yet."
Then he smiled awkwardly. "But I'm sure you're way hotter, baby."
"Aww…" Lily swooned, then smirked. "Still… I bet I'm gonna hate her." she said and kissed him lightly.
Marshall chuckled, grabbing a spoonful of his cooking. "Here, try this. I hope it's edible."
Lily took a bite, chewed a little and tried so hard to swallow. "It's… good," she said, giving a thumbs up with a strained smile.
"…That bad, huh?" Marshall asked, wincing and smiling awkwardly.
"It's really bad," Lily admitted, sighing. "Alright, I'll cook. But you're staying here and talking to me, got it?" she said again and put on an apron.
She moved around the kitchen with ease, eggs cracking and giving some other ingredients with ease — while Marshall sat on the counter, watching her like she was his whole world.
He couldn't do this.
He had to do this.
The nerves are killing him right now!.
He wanted to propose now!.
Marshall's heart pounded as he watched her move — his nerves choking every word he wanted to say. He tried to make light conversations with her, but it always popped out in his mind. The ring, the proposed speech, all of that is always on his mind while he's talking.
{There are two big questions a man has to ask in life.} — Older Ted's voice.
"So, why were you even trying to cook, baby?" Lily asked, glancing back at him playfully.
Marshall froze again. His eyes darted around like maybe he'd find courage hiding behind the spice rack.
He knew she loved him. He knew she'd say yes.
But still, he couldn't breathe.
{One — the one you plan for months.} — Older Ted.
Marshall exhaled slowly… then climbed down from the counter.
Lily turned and saw him drop to one knee.
Her eyes widened. The world stopped itself.
In his shaking hands, she saw it — the tiny box that held the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen.
The ring.
Lily gasped, covering her mouth. So hard trying to breathe.
"Lily…" Marshall's voice trembled, but his eyes were steady now.
"Would you marry me?"
For a heartbeat, she was frozen still before then she screamed, "YES!!! OF COURSE YOU IDIOT!!!"
She tackled him to the floor, laughing and crying all at once, kissing him like she never wanted to stop.
She didn't care about the food, the mess, or the dirty floor.
This was her future — her husband, her family, her life. All of that is the one important thing to her mind right now.
"…Lily… the ring…" Marshall managed to whisper between kisses.
"Oh, right! My ring!" she giggled, practically bouncing in his hug. "Put it on! Hurry, hurry!"
Marshall laughed, sliding the ring onto her finger before kissing her hand.
"My future wife," he said softly.
"My future husband," she replied, and pulled him into another kiss.
And then, well…
Let's just say they didn't care about how dirty the kitchen floor was.
Because they already forgot everything Ted said and gave in to something way more primal than fear.
Sex in the kitchen.
"...Ted is gonna be… mad." Marshall said but he didn't stop and kept kissing her body.
"I don't care!" Lily grinned madly while looking at her rings between his kisses and her shudder.