Ted took her hand. "Robin, not everyone has to have a complicated past. Sometimes people are simply good."
"Do you think so?"
"I know so, because you are good, and I don't know everything about your past. And yet, I trust you."
Robin smiled. "You're a cheesy guy, Ted Mosby."
"But you love me."
"A little."
"A little is enough."
They continued walking in silence, enjoying the night.
Lily, Marshall and Ted's Apartment
Ted arrived home and found Barney in the living room, dressed in an impeccable suit, watching The Price is Right videos on YouTube.
"Marshall is in the shower," said Barney without looking at him. "Lily left with Robin, and Alyx is in her studio, so we're alone."
"What are you doing?"
Barney turned around, his eyes shining. "Ted, I'm going to be a contestant on The Price is Right."
"What?"
"Yes. In a few days, Rich Fields is going to say my name, and I'm going to run out."
"And why is that important?"
Barney stood up. He approached Ted with a solemn expression.
"Because I'm going to meet my father."
"Your father? Bob Barker?"
"Yes, my mother told me when I was little. Bob Barker is my biological father."
Ted was silent. Then he said: "Barney, that's... that's crazy."
"Why? Can't it be? Don't I have the charisma? Don't I have the style? Don't I have the ability to host game shows?"
"I don't know if that's a requirement for being Bob Barker's son."
"It is, and I have it."
Ted sighed. "Okay, let's assume it's true. What are you going to do? Run out on the show and say 'Hello, Dad'?"
"Exactly. I'm going to win the Showcase Showdown. I'm going to make him proud, and then I'm going to reveal who I am."
"On national television?"
"It's the only way he can't run away."
Ted sat on the sofa. "Barney, this is crazy. What if it's not true? What if your mother lied to you?"
Barney was silent for a moment. Ted saw something in his eyes that he had never seen before: fear.
"She can't lie to me," said Barney. "Not about that."
Marshall came out of the shower with a towel around his waist. "What are you guys talking about?"
"Barney thinks Bob Barker is his father," said Ted.
Marshall froze. "Bob Barker? The one from The Price is Right?"
"The very same."
"And why does he think that?"
"Because his mother told him."
Marshall sat next to Ted. "Barney, what if it's not true?"
"It is true. It has to be true."
"What if it's not?"
Barney didn't reply. He just stood up and said: "I'm going to win that contest to make him proud, and then... then we'll see."
He left the apartment without saying anything else.
Ted and Marshall sat in silence.
"Do you think he'll do it?" asked Marshall.
"I don't know, but if anyone can win The Price is Right, it's Barney."
"And what about his father?"
Ted sighed. "That... that's more complicated."
Robin's Apartment
Robin had prepared the sofa for Lily, but Lily couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned, looked at the ceiling, and sighed.
"Lily, go to sleep," said Robin from her bedroom.
"I'm trying, but I can't."
"Do you miss Marshall and Alyx?"
"Yes, both of them."
"Then call them."
"No, I want to prove that I can be without them."
"Well then go to sleep."
"I can't."
Robin came out of her room. "Okay, what do you need?"
"I don't know. I'm hungry, but if I eat, I get fat, and if I get fat, the dress won't fit me. If the dress doesn't fit me, I can't marry them."
"Lily, that doesn't make sense."
"I know, but it's what I feel."
The door opened. It was Alyx.
"Alyx? What are you doing here?" asked Robin.
"I've come to help. Lily needs to eat, not sleep."
Alyx was carrying a paper bag. She put it on the table. Inside was food: a hamburger, french fries, a piece of cheesecake, and a bottle of milk.
"What is this?" asked Lily.
"Your dinner or your breakfast or whatever."
"I can't eat that, you know I'll get fat."
"Lily, you're losing weight. Your dress won't fit you because you're too thin, not because you're fat."
Lily looked at her. "How do you know?"
"Because I've seen you. Besides, I want to marry you, and I want you to be perfect. To be perfect, you have to be healthy."
Lily was silent. Then she took the hamburger.
"Do I start?"
"Start."
Lily took a bite. Then another. Robin and Alyx watched her eat.
"Is it good?" asked Robin.
"Yes. Very good."
"Well, keep going."
Lily continued. She ate the whole hamburger, then the french fries, the cheesecake, and when she finished, she sighed.
"My stomach hurts."
"That's normal," said Alyx. "You haven't eaten well in days, but tomorrow it will hurt less, the day after even less, and when the wedding arrives, you'll be perfect."
"Do you really believe that?"
"I know it. And Marshall and I love you. We want to marry you, but for that, you have to be alive, and to be alive, you have to eat."
Lily smiled. "You're a pain, Alyx."
"I know, that's why you love me."
They kissed. A soft, calm, unhurried kiss.
Robin watched them. "Okay, that's enough, I'm here."
"You can join," said Alyx.
"No thanks, I just sleep."
Lily lay down on the sofa. Alyx lay down next to her, the two of them together, hugged.
"Aren't you going home?" asked Lily.
"No, I'm staying with you."
"And Marshall?"
"Marshall will be fine. He has Ted, and you need me more."
Lily closed her eyes. "I love you, Alyx."
"And I love you. Now sleep."
Lily, Marshall and Ted's Apartment
Marshall couldn't sleep. He was in his bed, alone, looking at the ceiling.
Ted knocked on the door. "Marshall?"
"Come in."
Ted entered. "You can't sleep?"
"No. You neither?"
"I'm worried about the speech."
Marshall sat up. "You don't have it ready yet?"
"I have ten versions, but none of them convince me."
"Show me."
Ted took out his notebook and began to read. The first version was funny, but it had a story about Marshall being drunk.
The second was emotional, but it mentioned an ex-girlfriend.
The third was short, but boring.
The fourth... well, the fourth was terrible.
"Was that last one about a unicorn?" asked Marshall.
"I was experimenting."
"Experiment with something else."
Ted sighed. "I don't know what to do. I want it to be perfect."
Marshall looked at him. "Ted, you don't need a perfect speech. You need a sincere speech."
"And how do you do that?"
"Talk about what you feel, not what you think you should feel."
Ted was silent. Then he nodded. "I'll try."
"Good. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to call Lily."
"I thought you were going to go without calling each other."
"I know, but I miss her. And Alyx too."
Ted smiled and left the room.
Marshall picked up the phone. He dialed.
"Lily?"
"Marshall?"
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