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3rd POV
After leaving Robin’s apartment, Ted didn’t go home. Instead, he headed straight to the publishing company. Claire had called this morning before Robin left his room, asking him to come after lunch, but Ted arrived early anyway.
He needed a distraction.
Something to occupy his brain before it circled back to Robin.
“Brittany!” Ted called brightly the moment he stepped inside, spotting her at her desk, scribbling in her planner or maybe some of her workbook with full concentration. “Let’s get some lunch!”
Brittany looked up, startled slightly looking at him so cheerful today and kinda confused why he's here.
“Ted? What are you doing here? You’re not on today’s appointment list.”
“Yes,” Ted admitted casually, leaning against her desk with an easy smile. “I came only to see you.”
It sounded smooth. A little bit too smooth.
Especially considering he had confessed emotional chaos to Robin just hours ago and now he was asking Brittany out for lunch. Part of him wondered if that was heartless.
But Robin hadn’t chosen him. Hadn’t stayed with him. Had rejected him.
So… was it wrong?
“Ted, you don’t have to do that,” Brittany said shyly, though the blush on her cheeks betrayed how pleased she actually was. “...And I still have work to finish.”
“Don’t worry, honeybee,” Ted said, already pulling out his phone. “I got you.” he said while texting Claire to give Brittany some permission to have lunch with him.
A few quick taps later, Claire texted back, apparently didn't really care what he planned and just let him take Brittany away.
‘Sure. Take her. Just bring her back before the meeting.’
Ted grinned.
Brittany exhaled, organizing her papers and shutting her notebook with a satisfied thud.
“Okay. Done. Let’s go.”
She grabbed her purse, and Ted gently took her hand, without letting go as they walked through the hallway and out into the sunlight. Brittany didn’t pull away either. In fact, she squeezed once more of his hand.
“So,” Brittany asked, glancing at him from the corner of her eye, “where are we going?”
“Well…” Ted looked at her thoughtfully, playful spark in his eyes. “How about your place? Maybe you could cook something for me?”
Brittany raised a brow, smirking.
“Really? You want my cooking? I was convinced you only wanted sex.”
She said it jokingly, but the edge of curiosity lingered in her voice.
She wanted to see his reaction.
Ted only grinned wider.
“...Unbelievable,” she muttered, though her smile softened. “You’re such a pervert, you know that?”
“Is that a no?” Ted asked, tilting his head.
She paused, then sighed.
“…Fine. Let’s go.”
Her apartment was only a block away, a convenient, small but private. Maybe that was why Ted suggested it. Or maybe because being around her felt easier than facing the knot in his chest named Robin.
They walked up the stairs, laughter light between them, the tension playful rather than heavy. The hallway was quiet when they stopped at her door. Brittany unlocked it, turning slightly to push it open....
And before she could say anything else, Ted gently caught her wrist and pulled her toward him.
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His lips found hers, eager and hungry, but not rushed things over. Brittany froze for half a heartbeat, breath catching, then melted into him, hands sliding up his chest. The door clicked behind him as she pushed him back lightly, kissing him again behind the door.
They didn’t even make it inside properly.
Just two people sharing heat and distraction in the doorway, the world outside fading slowly or in this room.
—----
After their session, they ended up in the kitchen together.
They moved lazily around the counter, preparing something simple for lunch, nothing fancy, just enough to fill their stomachs after what they’d just done.
They ate lunch together at the small table.
And Brittany couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“…Why did you want me to call you Daddy?” she asked suddenly, her tone casual but her eyes sharp. “We’ve slept together before, but today… you were different.”
Her instincts were flaring.
She wasn’t some clueless blonde girl who didn’t know what was happening around her. She felt it, something had shifted in him.
Well, she had been in the mood too, so she let it happen.
But that didn’t mean she didn’t notice.
“Is something going on?” she pressed.
Ted paused, fork hovering mid-air.
“Did you hate it?” he asked slowly, finally meeting her eyes. “I can stop if you want.”
Brittany clenched her jaw.
She knew exactly what he meant.
And she hated that she understood him so well.
“…You jerk.”
He could stop right now.
He could walk away and never call her again if she wanted that.
And the fact that he gave her that choice, every time made it harder, not easier.
“…Do you still want to hang out with me?” Ted asked again, calm and honest.
He wasn’t pretending and he wasn’t manipulating her either.
Ted already said that he didn’t want to be her boyfriend.
And Brittany knew it too. Crystal clear he talked about that.
She wanted more.
He kept saying no.
But when he wanted her, when it was just physical, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse either.
It was consensual.
They were adults and Ted never forced her. If she didn’t want it, he would stop.
Was that wrong?
She could refuse.
She just didn’t.
But today felt different.
The sex had been good, ike always but something underneath it was… off.
Something unsettled her.
“It’s not about that, Ted!” she snapped finally, her voice rising. “You selfish jerk! You’re just using my body to release your own pent up, right?! What? did you get dumped by your girlfriend or something?!”
The words spilled out before she could stop them.
Ted leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly.
“…Kind of,” he admitted honestly. “Yeah. I got rejected.”
Brittany scoffed, though a faint smirk tugged at her lips.
“Heh. Rejected, huh?” she said. “How does it feel? Hurt? Broken?”
“Anger,” Ted replied. “Something like that.”
He looked at her again, softer now.
“I’m sorry, Bri. I hurt you.”
He paused. “If you want to stop whatever this is… you can say it. I’ll respect that.”
She can't even say something right now. She's hurt, her feelings hurt right now, but the jerk right confessed so calmly like that. It hurts even more.
He stood and walked toward her slowly.
“I’m really sorry,” he said gently, stroking her hair. “Did it hurt?”
Then, quieter: “My slap didn’t hurt your ass… right?”
Brittany shot him a side glance, but she didn’t push his hand away.
She let him touch her.
Let him pull her into his arms. She can't help but curse herself right now. How easily her feelings flip like that just by his kindness and his warmth?
“It hurt a little,” she admitted, her voice lowering. “But… it’s okay.”
She purred softly against him.
Her emotions flipped completely, from anger to something needy, something soft. She hated how easily he could do that to her. How she could go from furious to clingy in seconds.
“I’m sorry, Bri,” Ted said again, sighing deeply. “I promise I won’t do that again.”
And yeah, he was angry.
The rejection hurt more than he wanted to admit.
Even though he laughed afterward.
Even though he kissed Robin again, like it was the last time.
He didn’t want it to be the last time.
…He was falling in love with her. Yeah, he can admit that.
And he couldn’t let that happen.
No.
He wouldn’t do that to Robin.
Even though he knew she liked him too.
Even though he knew she was happy with him.
She didn’t let him hold on to that happiness.
And Ted refused to push her.
Robin was his friend.
She would stay his friend....
....from now,
........and for decades to come.
—------
3rd POV
{Yes kids, Robin is a strong, independent woman.} - Old Ted said proudly to his kids, leaning back in his chair as if he was delivering a philosophical lesson instead of recapping his messy love life.
Of course he didn't say anything intimate behind his door.
Penny nodded patiently. “Yeah, I know Aunt Robin, Dad.”
Luke shot his sister a smirk, then turned to Ted with a raised brow. “Mhm….. And we’re pretty sure Aunt Robin made you tell this story just to clear her name, right?”
Old Ted’s eyes narrowed. {…That’s not part of the story.} He cleared his throat loudly, trying, and failing to look authoritative.
{Now, who wants to hear the time me and your Uncle Barney licked the Liberty Bell?!}
“Hold up, old man.”
Luke stretched out his arm dramatically, as if stopping a runaway bus like a superhero in slow motion. You know, with your hand stretched out and your other hand touching your forehead and acting like you are the coolest guy in the world?
“....You’re not skipping parts. You said Aunt Robin went back to MacLaren’s. What happened?”
Penny leaned forward with a mischievous grin, hugging her pillow to her chest. She blinked at Ted with exaggerated cuteness. If Luke acts like a nerd hero, then she acts like a cute baby girl she has to be.
“Yes Dad, what happened?”
Old Ted groaned with the kind of long, suffering groan only exhausted parents possess.
{…You two KNOW she texted me to clear her name, right?! Why are you making me tell this part?!}
Penny and Luke only grinned wider, like cats watching their prey walk into a trap. They didn’t say anything, they didn’t have to. Their expressions alone demanded Ted continue.
Old Ted glared between them, but there was no winning this battle.
He exhaled in defeat.
{Fine… but don’t tell your Aunt Robin, okay?!}
Both kids nodded way too fast, obviously lying with their whole faces.
Ted pointed at them suspiciously.
But eventually, his shoulders relaxed, and a nostalgic, reluctant smile tugged at his lips.
{So…}
He leaned forward, voice dropping into storyteller mode.
