Ted's Living Room, 2030
On the black sofa sit his two children. His older daughter, with light brown hair, large expressive eyes, sits with her legs folded under her, a cushion on her lap, and a slightly resigned look. Next to her is her younger brother, with dark hair, light eyes, and fair skin, sitting with one foot on the coffee table in front of the sofa, a bored expression on his face.
And Ted, facing them, telling them the story of his life.
"It was June of 2006, that summer, life took an unexpected turn…" Ted began to narrate.
"Hey, skipping the story of how you met Mom seems like you've been talking to us for a year," interrupted his older daughter, already tired of so much story.
"Hey, everything I'm telling is important to the story," defended Ted.
"Hey, can I go to the bathroom?" now his son interrupts.
"No," says Ted.
"Ugh," his younger son murmurs with a bored and resigned expression regarding the story.
"The summer of 2006 for me was wonderful from the first day, since I finally won over Robin. But while I had one of the best nights of my life, your Uncle Marshall and Aunt Alyx had the worst of theirs—though at that moment we didn't know the depth sadness a broken heart can hold. Because although we saw how Marshall was dealing with Lily's departure, we didn't realize that the apparent order in his life and the classes Alyx was taking were more destructive than expected."
Year 2006, Apartment Living Room
There was Lily Aldrin, a beautiful woman with red hair, earlier that summer in June 2006, standing with her back to the door of the apartment she shared, her travel suitcase to her left, facing Marshall.
"That's it. We're done," said Marshall with a sad and pained expression.
"Marshall, I'm so sorry." "I need to go to San Francisco for the art program," said Lily as a final decision.
Then she continued, "I have to find out who I am independent of us," she said, her eyes shifting from Marshall in front of her to Alyx sitting on the sofa.
Alyx, who hadn't been able to mediate a single word since Lily insisted she had to go to the art program and Marshall argued that it was possible she would change even more in those months and if she then decided they couldn't get married—when Lily couldn't assure him that wouldn't happen—the shock was such that Alyx couldn't even try to argue, mediate, or anything.
"And the only way I can do that is if we… don't talk for a while," said Lily, hesitating slightly.
"Like this? Better never. If you walk out that door, we're over! You'll never hear my voice again," said Marshall, raising his voice slightly, culminating the conversation with that declaration.
With this, Marshall finished telling Ted what had happened while they remained seated on the sofa with Alyx in the middle, not knowing what to say, even though she had been a witness and silent part of the argument. The echo of the final ultimatum still resonated in the charged air of the apartment.
It had been his last desperate declaration to Lily. Now, sitting on the sofa between Ted and a petrified Alyx, he reached for the phone.
"I'm going to call her," he announced, his voice thick with emotion.
"No, no. If you call her when she told you not to, you'll look weak and you'll regret it," said Ted, taking the phone from his hands.
"I have to do it, Ted!" Marshall continued, agitated.
"Listen! When you feel like calling her, you come find me first. And I… will punch you in the face," said Ted, staring intently into Marshall's eyes.
Marshall looked at him and meaningfully said, "You're a good friend, Ted."
The door opened softly. It was Robin, radiant and smiling as she asked the room in general, "Have you heard the news?" Of course, she was referring to her new relationship with Ted.
What she didn't expect was Ted giving her a long look and trying, not so subtly, to tell her the real event. "You mean that Lily, Marshall, and Alyx broke up? And that Lily left and that nothing as important as that happened last night?" This not-so-subtle information caused Robin's smile to vanish instantly as she grasped the almost funereal drama existing in the apartment. "Yes, they already know," Ted finished telling.
"Oh my God! I'm sorry," said Robin, approaching. "What happened?" she inquired, her voice laden with confusion, as she sat in the armchair.
"Well, she left, and honestly, I don't know if she's coming back," concluded Marshall, not just to Robin but to himself.
At that same moment, Barney quickly entered through the door. "I didn't get your message until I woke up," he said as he approached the group. "Oh, I'm sorry," he continued as he sat in the last chair in the living room.
"Thank you," said Marshall softly.
"I know it must be hard, but get ready to hear something that will not only make you feel better but will thrill you," said Barney animatedly.
"Sure," Marshall waited expectantly.
Standing up and gesturing to express his enthusiasm, Barney continued, "It's the first time the three of us are single at the same time. I've dreamed of this day, guys, and it's going to be legen—wait for it—dary. Together, we own the city. Every time a girl wants to get back with her ex-boyfriend, we'll be there. And every time a girl wants to work out her daddy issues through promiscuity and drinks, we'll be there. And when a singles party is held in the city in a limo, with our heads out the sunroof screaming, 'What's up, New York!' We're going to give them their New York! Gentlemen, we are about to embark on—" Barney continued while positioning himself standing between the sofa where Robin sat and the one where Ted sat, placing his left hand on Robin's shoulder while still gesturing with his right to express his idea, which he couldn't conclude when he saw the looks exchanged between Robin and Ted and, observing their expressions as he stood near them, subtly understood the tension in the air.
"Darn! You two are together!" Barney said with resignation in his voice, as he couldn't fulfill what he so longed for.