Ted watches them, teary eyed, as they say their vows.

He's happy for his friends. He really is, despite what Lily keeps telling him and the way that Marshall is holding his hand.

He's happy for them.

He has to be.

"You may now kiss the bride," Sam says and Ted can't watch as Barney and Robin lean in to kiss one another, Barney dipping her in some grand show of extravagance.

The band starts playing the wedding music as Barney sweeps her onto the dance floor and Ted has to take a minute. He smiles at Barney, turns his head to the ground and walks out, hands in his pockets.

He's standing on the porch outside when it starts to rain and he thinks this is a sign that he's meant to be alone forever. Any time he tries to get close to someone, they get swept out from under his feet.

Perhaps it's time to just move on.

"Ted!" Barney shouts, stumbling over to him, surprised to find it raining.

Ted takes a deep breath and turns towards Barney, smiling, trying to appear as happy as can be.

"Hey! Congrats on the wedding," Ted exclaims, clapping him on his back to which Barney laughs.

He seems happy, genuinely happy, for the first time in years, since before he slept with Robin and they had a fight. Ted watches as he talks about all the things they are planning to do together and he knows that he has to go to Chicago, but maybe he could wait a little longer before he tried to catch the train.

Barney dips back inside to go talk to his wife and Lily comes out.

Ted drops his façade and stares out at the grounds of the church.

"Ted?"

He doesn't say anything as she sidles up next to him.

"You're really leaving tomorrow?" she asks and he looks to her, eyes full of tears.

"I can't stay."

"But-"

"I can't, Lily. I can't watch him, every day, so happy with his wife. It hurts when all I want is to disappear, take him with me, and go live out our life together. It hurts too much. After years of pursuing other people, trying to forget how I feel, it didn't work. I can't stay here. I need to leave."

Lily is quiet for a moment, before pulling him into a hug and letting him cry. She understands how much it hurts, but she is going to miss her best friend, dearly.

The moment is interrupted by Barney, Robin, and Marshall joining them for one last goodbye.

And if Ted holds Barney a little too tightly, a little too long, no one has to know but him and Lily.

Barney is teary-eyed when Ted finally does take off, sending him a well wishing text when he makes it to Chicago the next day.

Ted looks around at his new apartment, takes a deep breath and settles on his new bean bag chair, trying to deal with the idea of living without his best friends for the first time in almost 20 years.

It's time to start his new life.