AN: Guys, I'm back after an extremely short break! As promised, this will be my big Robin/Barney fic, entitled 'Together', so stay tuned for updates on this! It continues from the morning after Barney proposed, but I suppose is AU from there on, as I'm keeping away from what happens on the actual show. You'll get it, so I'm shutting up now.

Barney's eyes flickered open slowly in a drowsy state of fatigue. Just as he was about to close them again, he was reminded of last night's events.

"Robin Scherbatsky, will you marry me?"
"Yes."

A smile formed on Barney's face as he thought about how beautiful his fiancée looked. An even bigger smile crept up on his face as he thought about what they'd done after the proposal. What up, he thought to himself. But, all of a sudden, as his hand slid over to Robin's side of the bed, his smile soon faded. She wasn't there. Barney felt like all his nightmares were happening at once, and slammed his head back onto the pillow. She's gone, he thought. I can't believe it.

"Sandcastles in the saaand..." Barney heard the familiar voice of Robin Sparkles coming from the kitchen. Robin. She hadn't left. He leapt out of bed with joy, and there she was. Robin was making pancakes in his kitchen, wearing nothing but one of his shirts. "Thought I could fly when you held my hand..." she sang under her breath. Her back was turned from Barney, so he took this opportunity to sneak up on her.
"Morning, baby." he whispered. She jumped out of her skin, turning around to face him.
"Barney- oh my god, you're naked!" she exclaimed.
"Well, now that we're engaged, I'm comfortable displaying my body around you, and seeing as you're only wearing that," he gestured at the shirt. "I'd say you are too." Barney leaned in to kiss her, but she blocked him with her spatula.
"Go put some pants on, or... no more sex!" Wisely, Barney retreated to the bedroom.

He returned two minutes later, far better clothed, and was welcomed by a lingering kiss from Robin.
"Mm, good morning to you, too." she murmured.
They sat near the dinner table before Barney piped up.
"Robin, you didn't have to do this, you know, it's too much."
"No, you really impressed with that proposal, so now it's time to pay you back..." Robin smiled sweetly at him.
He took her hand in his. "Hey, you did enough by saying yes, that's all I care about." They shared a loving glance, before tucking into their pancakes, complete, of course, with Canada's finest maple syrup.

-Swarkles-

After keeping it quiet for a few weeks over Christmas, as not to jinx it, Robin and Barney had called the gang to MacLaren's to inform them of the news weeks later. Barney and Robin were getting ready in his apartment, and Robin was anxious to say the least.
"Do you think they're going to freak out?" she said, putting on her high heels. Barney, who was doing his tie at the time, shrugged it off.
"You know what? I don't think they will. I know Lily's gonna be thrilled." He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "And if they do, then screw 'em, they're just jealous that we, as a couple, are totally awesome." He kissed her cheek in reassurance, and with that, they left the apartment.

When they arrived MacLaren's, Lily, Marshall and Ted were already seated at the booth. Lily was the first to say anything.
"So... what's so urgent that you guys need to see us?" Her excitement was evident.
"Well, Lily, Robin and I have some news. We're-" Before Barney could finish, Robin blurted it out.
"We're getting married!" she said, and Lily could not contain her screams. Ted and Marshall pulled Barney in for a hug, and there were 'congratulations' all around. Robin shot Barney a look that read Hm, that was easy, and the two of the, sat down on the same side of the booth.

As the night went on and everyone got drunk, Robin was hit with a sudden pang of guilt and sadness. She'd realised that there was something Barney didn't know, and this was something that could be a potential deal breaker for him. She excused herself quickly, and rushed to the restroom. Robin didn't know whether it was the drink, but soon the tears started flowing and the emotions were all too much for her. She slammed the cubicle door and sat, her head in her hands, weeping. How could she have thought it would be this easy? Once Barney found out that she couldn't have kids, he'd feel differently about her, Robin was sure. Barney liked kids, and maybe even wanted some someday. He was a natural with Marvin, and Robin couldn't bear to keep him from being a father.

Suddenly, she heard the restroom door swing open, and Lily's voice yell "Robin!" loudly. Trying her best to stay silent, Robin sat as still as possible, but even that couldn't stop Lily from interfering. The next thing Robin saw was Lily's face at the bottom of the cubicle door, clearly lying on the floor.
"Lily, what are you-" Robin began, sniffling.
"No, Robin, what are you doing in here? What's up? You look really sad." Lily asked, confused.
"Nothing, I'm just drunk, Lil'."
"I'm not moving until you tell me, so are you gonna let me in?" Lily always got her way, as was evident when Robin finally gave in, and opened the door. "I'm waiting, Scherbatsky. You just got engaged last night, you should be ecstatic!"
"I was, I am."
"So... Spill."
"I just... I haven't told Barney about the baby thing, and I don't think he's going to want me after he finds out, which sucks, because I really love him, Lil'. I mean, I've never felt this way before, and now I'm going to ruin it."
"Oh, Robin." Lily hugged her best friend tightly. "Barney won't care about the baby thing... He loves you, baby or no baby."

Before either could notice Barney at the door, listening in, the restroom door slammed shut.
"What was that?" asked Robin, concerned.
"I think... I think somebody heard us."
"Crap. It could have been Barney, I have to go back in there."
Robin checked her makeup quickly before walking back to the booth, where Barney seemed fine. Little did Robin know that Barney had heard the whole thing, and not only that, had misunderstood the whole situation...

-Swarkles-

Back at the apartment, Robin and Barney were cuddling in bed after a long night of... strenuous activity.
"I love you, Barney." she stated, resting her head on his chest.
"I love you, too." he paused before adding "And I love our baby."
Panic rushed through Robin like a bolt of thunder. Baby?
"Barney-"
"Robin, it's okay. I know you think this will freak me out, but if I'm getting the opportunity to be a father to anyone's baby, I'm glad it's yours."
"Wait, you-"
"Ssh, I get it, you're scared, and babies were never part of the plan for you, or for me either. But, Robin, I love you, and something that's half you and half me, that we made... How could I not love that?" He went to place a hand on her stomach, before Robin jerked away, and began crying.

Over the years, Barney had been able to understand that Robin had only two types of crying: The 'oh-my-god-the-Canucks-won-the-championship-crying', and the 'something-is-seriously-wrong-crying'. Looking at her in that moment, he was certain it was the latter.
"Robin? Baby, what's wrong?" he said tenderly.
"I-I'm not pregnant, Barney..." she sobbed.
"Well, that's okay, there's plenty of time for that, I-"
"No, Barney... I should've told you this before..." her voice broke. "I can't have kids."

Barney said nothing for a while. The only thing he did was hold her, and that was enough. He rubbed her back and kissed her forehead as she told him the whole story.
"Robin, look at me... I love you. I love you more than anything; possibly more than my suits. I don't care if you can't have kids, all I want is you. You're worth more to me than anything, and you're all that matters, okay?"
Robin nodded.
"And if there's anything troubling either of us, we tell one another, okay? We'll go through everything, no matter how bad; together. Okay?"
"Okay."
And with that, Robin snuggled into Barney's chest, and fell slowly asleep. Sure, this wasn't to be their final bump in the road, but they could overcome anything. They were Barney and Robin, and no challenge was too big or scary for them to accept.

AN: Please review and favorite and follow - I want to know what you think! Tell your friends!