Beginning of Season 2

EJ stared at Ben, disbelief etched on his face. "She left? What the hell do you mean she left?"

Ben nodded solemnly. "Exactly how you just put it, she just... left."

EJ felt his heart sink. Lily leaving Marshall for San Francisco was something he never expected. He remembered talking to Lily about it a couple of weeks ago, but he never thought she'd actually go through with it.

Marshall sat on the couch, his face a picture of misery. "I should call her."

Ted, ever the voice of reason, intervened. "No! No! If you call her when she asked you not to, you're just gonna look weak, and you'll regret it. Now, listen. Whenever you feel like calling her, you come find me first... and I will punch you in the face."

Marshall gave a weak smile. "You're a good friend, Ted."

EJ, trying to lighten the mood, chimed in. "If you try to call Lily, I will personally throw your phone out the window."

Ben nodded in agreement, doubling down. "And then I'll punch you in the face, just to make sure you get the message."

Marshall looked at them, a small, appreciative smile forming. "You guys are great friends."

Barney, always eager to shift the focus, clapped his hands together. "I know it must be tough, but are you ready to hear something that will not only make you feel better but will actively excite you?"

Marshall shrugged. "Sure."

Barney's eyes sparkled with excitement. "For the first time ever, the five of us are single at the same time. I've dreamed about this day, boys, and it's going to be legendary! Together, we will own this city. Any time a girl wants to get back at her ex-boyfriend, we'll be there. Any time a girl wants to solve her father issues through promiscuity and binge-drinking, we will be there. Any time a bachelorette party drives through the city in a limo sticking their heads out, shouting 'What's up New York?' we will be what is up New York!"

EJ shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He hadn't told everyone about his new relationship with Robin yet, except for Ben. Now, with Marshall and Lily's breakup fresh and raw, it didn't seem like the right time to share his news. He glanced at Ben, who gave him a sympathetic look.

Ted, sensing EJ's discomfort, gave Barney a nudge. "Maybe we should hold off on the plans for a bit, Barney. Marshall's going through a rough time."

Barney shrugged, undeterred. "Fine, but just know, the offer stands. Whenever you're ready, we will dominate this city."

Ted put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We'll get through this, Marshall. We're here for you."

EJ nodded in agreement. "Yeah, man. We're all here for you."

———

EJ sat at a booth in MacLaren's, his thoughts heavy. The door swung open, and Robin walked in, her eyes lighting up as she saw him. She hurried over and kissed him, but quickly pulled back when she noticed the somber expression on his face.

"Hey, what's wrong?" she asked softly, touching his cheek.

EJ sighed. "Lily and Marshall broke up. She's gone."

Robin's eyes widened in shock. "Oh my god! I'm so sorry. What happened?"

EJ shook his head. "Well, she left. And that's the extent of what happened."

Robin squeezed his hand, her eyes full of sympathy. "I can't believe it. They've been together forever."

"I know," EJ said. "Marshall is devastated. We're all trying to be there for him."

Robin nodded, understanding the weight of the situation. "Of course. It's going to be tough for a while."

EJ looked at her, his eyes earnest. "Robin, we can't tell the gang about us yet. Not for a couple of days. It just... it doesn't feel right with everything that's going on."

Robin smiled gently. "I understand. We'll keep it between us for now."

EJ felt a wave of relief wash over him. "Thanks, Robin."

She kissed him again, a brief, tender kiss that made him feel a little better. "Now, let's go out and have some fun. We could both use a distraction."

EJ agreed, and they left MacLaren's, heading out into the city. They decided to start with a walk in Central Park, enjoying the cool evening air. Robin told a funny story about an interview gone wrong, making EJ laugh for the first time that day.

"Wait, wait," EJ said, chuckling. "He really thought you were a famous dog trainer?"

Robin laughed, shaking her head. "Yeah! I guess I look like someone who says, 'Sit, stay, roll over,' for a living."

EJ grinned. "Well, you do have that authoritative presence. Maybe you missed your true calling."

They wandered through the park, stopping to watch a street performer who was juggling flaming torches. EJ tried to mimic the performer, causing Robin to burst into laughter when he nearly dropped the imaginary torches.

"Careful there, Rain Man," she teased. "We don't need another emergency room visit."

They grabbed ice cream cones from a vendor, and Robin playfully smeared a bit of hers on EJ's nose, making him chuckle.

"Hey!" EJ protested, wiping his nose. "What did I ever do to you?"

Robin smirked. "Just keeping you on your toes, EJ."

After the park, they found a small, cozy jazz club. They sat close together, listening to the smooth sounds of the saxophone and piano. EJ felt the tension of the day slowly melting away. He leaned over and whispered a joke in Robin's ear, and she laughed, resting her head on his shoulder.

"You know," Robin said, "if this real estate thing doesn't work out, you could always be a comedian."

EJ grinned. "Or a juggler. I've got options."

They finished the night at a rooftop bar, sipping cocktails and gazing at the twinkling lights of the city below. EJ looked at Robin, feeling grateful for her presence in his life.

"This was exactly what I needed," EJ said, his voice sincere.

Robin smiled, her eyes sparkling. "I'm glad. Sometimes, a little fun is the best way to deal with the tough stuff."

EJ leaned in and kissed her, feeling a sense of peace he hadn't felt in days. "You're amazing, you know that?"

Robin squeezed his hand and smirked. "I know I am."

As the night drew to a close, EJ and Robin strolled back towards her apartment. They walked close together, their hands brushing occasionally, each touch sending a pleasant jolt through EJ. They had spent the evening enjoying the city, and now it was time to say goodnight.

"So," Robin said, her eyes twinkling mischievously, "when are we going back to that arcade? Those high schoolers need a rematch, and this time, we're kicking their asses in air hockey."

EJ laughed, nodding. "Absolutely. I think they were getting too cocky. How about Friday night?"

Robin grinned. "Friday sounds perfect. We'll show them what real competition looks like."

———

Later, they reached her apartment building, and EJ turned to face her, a smile playing on his lips. "I had a great time tonight, Robin. Thanks for helping me get my mind off things."

Robin stepped closer, her expression softening. "Anytime, EJ. You know I'm here for you."

EJ leaned in and kissed her, a tender and lingering kiss that made him forget about everything else for a moment. When they pulled apart, he rested his forehead against hers, savoring the closeness.

"Goodnight, Robin," he whispered.

"Goodnight, EJ," she replied, her voice just as soft.

EJ watched her enter the building before turning to walk away. As he made his way down the street, a sense of contentment settled over him. Despite the turmoil with Marshall and Lily, tonight had been a reminder that there were still good moments to be found, and he was looking forward to many more with Robin.

———

EJ and Robin lay in bed, the soft glow of early morning filtering through the curtains. The room was filled with a comfortable silence, a stark contrast to the chaos of their friends' lives. They had just had sex, and now they lay tangled together, catching their breath.

"It's been 22 days since Lily left," EJ murmured, running his fingers through Robin's hair.

Robin sighed. "He was calling me last night. At first, it was sad, but now... it's kind of annoying."

EJ chuckled softly. "Yeah, Ben's been dealing with him a lot. He told me he almost air-talked Carl into killing him last night."

Robin laughed, imagining Ben's exasperated face. "Poor guy."

Meanwhile, at the bar, Barney was with Marshall, who was in the midst of another crying session.

Marshall sniffled, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. "It was a really beautiful song."

Barney smiled awkwardly, then glanced at Carl behind the bar, miming noose over his neck and saying, "Kill me. Right now."

Later, in the apartment, Ted was trying to cheer his friend up.

Ted walked over, trying to break the tension. "Hey Marshall."

Marshall looked up, eyes red and puffy. "Hey Ted."

Ted forced a smile. "Are you hungry?"

Marshall sighed dramatically. "What's the point? I could eat some food, but it's just gonna leave me."

Ted tried to inject a bit of humor. "At least in that scenario, you get to do the dumping. Come on, it's Sunday, it's pancakes day!"

A flicker of nostalgia crossed Marshall's face. "Lily always made the pancakes. God, I loved her pancakes. So soft. So warm. So perfectly shaped."

Ted chuckled softly. "Are we still talking about her pancakes? Come on, you gotta eat something. What can I get you?"

Marshall hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "Beer."

Ted raised an eyebrow. "No, that's what you had for dinner."

Marshall's shoulders slumped a little more, and he relented. "Fine. Then I'll just have the leftovers."

He reached into the couch cushions and pulled out a beer, his expression a mix of resignation and sadness.

Ted stepped closer to Marshall, a mix of concern and gentle humor in his voice. "Marshall, that's a couch beer. You've hit a new low."

Marshall let out a hollow chuckle, his gaze still fixed on the beer in his hand. "I know, but it's cold, it's carbonated, and it's right here."

Ted nodded, understanding Marshall's need for comfort in familiar things. "Alright, but after you finish that couch beer, I'm getting you real food. And we're gonna talk this out, okay?"

Marshall sighed heavily, shoulders slumping even more. "I don't want to talk. I just want to wallow in my misery with this couch beer."

Ted placed a reassuring hand on Marshall's shoulder. "I get it, buddy. But you can't live on couch beers forever. Trust me, I've tried."

Marshall took a long sip of the couch beer, the silence between them thick with unspoken emotions. His mind wandered, lost in thoughts of what went wrong and how his life seemed to unravel so suddenly.

———

Ted, EJ, Robin, and Barney were sitting at their usual booth at MacLaren's. EJ and Robin were cozied up next to each other, enjoying their drinks and the easy company.

Barney looked over at Ted with an exasperated expression. "So he stays home all the time not getting laid? No, see, that's what you do when you have a fiancée. He should be down here celebrating. He's free. He got that red-head-tumor removed."

Ted rolled his eyes. "You should write and illustrate children's books."

Barney ignored the jab. "You know what Marshall needs to do? He needs to stop being sad. When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story."

EJ raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Yeah, Barney, because that's definitely how emotions work. Like flipping a switch. Thanks, Dr. Awesome."

Robin nudged EJ, smiling, before they both turned serious. "Actually, we have something to tell you guys," she began, glancing at EJ for support.

EJ nodded, taking Robin's hand. "It's been a month now, and we thought it was time to let you know... Robin and I are dating."

Ted and Barney exchanged a knowing look.

Ted grinned. "Yeah, we know."

Robin looked surprised. "You knew?"

Barney smirked. "We've known for a while. Finally, you admit you're sleeping together."

EJ rolled his eyes. "Barney, we're dating."

Barney's smirk faltered as he noticed the serious expressions on their faces. "Oh, you're serious."

EJ squeezed Robin's hand, and they shared a loving smile. "Yep, serious."

Barney shrugged. "Well, congrats, I guess."

Ted leaned back in his seat. "Marshall just needs to go at his own pace. Anyway, Lily is the one who caused this whole mess."

Robin frowned. "Hey, cut her some slack! She's our friend too. She's just trying to figure out who she is."

EJ nodded but added, "No, Ted's right. Figure out who she is? She should call me. I got a whole list. She's selfish, she's immature, she's rash, she's..."

He trailed off as he looked into Robin's eyes, suddenly captivated. "God, you're beautiful."

Robin blushed, "What?"

EJ smiled softly. "I never realized how pretty your eyes are. They're so blue."

Robin smiled softly. "Aww, baby." They leaned in and kissed, their connection clear and strong.

Barney theatrically mimed his death with a sword, while Ted opted for a gun. EJ and Robin noticed but chose to ignore them and continue kissing, lost in their own world.

———

EJ and Robin were tangled up in each other, their lips locked in a passionate kiss, on his bed. The heat between them intensified until EJ suddenly broke away, a troubled look on his face.

"Uh-oh," he muttered.

Robin raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in her eye. "Already?"

EJ chuckled, shaking his head. "No, not that. He's calling her."

Robin looked puzzled. "And you can figure that out with your mind?"

Before EJ could respond, Ben's voice came from outside the room. "He's calling her again!"

EJ sighed, giving Robin an apologetic kiss. "I gotta go."

Robin watched him, concern mixed with amusement. "EJ! You better come back!" she called out as he hurried out of the apartment and into a waiting taxi.

EJ and Ben burst into the apartment just in time to see Ted tackling Marshall to the ground. "He's calling her!" Ted yelled, grappling with Marshall.

Marshall groaned. "Oh! OK, you're right. I won't call her. I will not call her."

EJ and Ben rushed to help Ted, holding Marshall down. EJ grabbed Marshall's phone and, with a determined look, threw it out the window. "And to make sure you don't."

Marshall stared in disbelief. "What the hell?"

EJ looked at him sternly. "This is for your own good, Marshall."

Ben nodded in agreement. "You need to stand your ground."

EJ glanced back at the door. "Now, I'm trying to have some time with my girlfriend. I don't want any more calls that are going to have me come over." He pointed at Ted. "Keep an eye on him."

Ted shrugged, gesturing toward his bedroom. "I'm kind of busy."

Ben smirked. "Niceeee." He and Ted shared a high five as EJ and Ben left the apartment.

From Ted's bedroom, Grace's voice rang out. "Ted, are you coming back or what?"

Ted rolled his eyes before heading back to his room. "Yeah, yeah, I'm coming."

———

Over the course of the week, Marshall's sadness has grown and disrupted the group in various ways. EJ and Robin, Ben, and Ted have all found their lives thrown off balance by Marshall's relentless misery.

EJ and Robin barely have time alone anymore to take care of their 27-year-old baby, Marshall. One evening, the frustration finally boiled over.

Robin threw her hands up in exasperation. "This has to stop! EJ, we just started dating, and yet somehow we have a baby. He can't feed himself, he cries a lot, he keeps us all up all night..."

Barney, never missing a beat, smirked. "Have you tried breastfeeding? Nailed it!"

Ted tried to mediate, his tone reasonable. "They were together nine years. It's only been a month and a half. He just needs to go at his own pace."

Robin crossed her arms, her patience wearing thin. "He slept on our floor last night, Ted." She turned to EJ. "He watched a scary movie."

EJ nodded sympathetically. "It was 'The Sixth Sense.'"

Robin shook her head. "It is time for some tough love. We need to get him out of that apartment. He needs fresh air. He needs sunshine."

Barney, grinning, added, "Mmm. Sunshine."

DAY FORTY-ONE, in a strip club.

A man on stage announced, "Gentlemen, please welcome to the stage, Sunshine!"

Marshall sat slumped in his seat. "Barney, I really don't think this is gonna help."

Barney, ever the optimist, explained his theory. "Do you know why you're not over Lily yet? It's because you can still picture her naked. You can't get over a woman until you can no longer picture her boobs. It's a scientific fact. The average male brain can only store a finite number of boob images, or BPEGs, and your hard drive's filled to capacity with Lily's."

Marshall sighed. "There are a lot of them."

Barney nodded, serious for once. "They won't go away until you overwrite them with images of other women's boobs. Now, this journey may take as many as a million boobs, so we begin here tonight, my friend. Two at a time. Those count as four."

DAY FORTY-FOUR, at a baseball game.

Ted tried to lift the mood. "Yeah, this is fun, right? We're outside, it's a beautiful day. The Indians are winning!"

Marshall managed a weak smile. "I gotta admit, it is really nice to be outside."

Just then, an announcer's voice boomed over the stadium speakers. "Yankees fans, please turn your attention to the Diamond Vision for a special seventh-inning-stretch surprise."

Ted's face fell. "Oh, no."

On the screen, a man was proposing to his girlfriend. Marshall stood up, rage boiling over, and hurled his hotdog at the couple. "It's all a big lie! She's just gonna break your heart!"

Security dragged Marshall out of the stadium as he continued to shout. "You can drag me outta here, but she has no soul!"

DAY FORTY-SIX, at MacLaren's.

Ted looked defeated. "We've tried everything. Baseball, strippers. The guy still won't eat a damn pancake. I think he's beyond repair."

Robin shook her head, frustrated. "See, this is the problem with guys. You don't know how to deal with heartbreak."

Barney leaned back in his chair, grinning. "So what's your prescription, Dr. Estrogen? Eat Häagen-Dazs and watch 'Love Actually' until your periods sync up?"

Ted, EJ, and Barney laughed, but Robin was not amused. She crossed her arms, glaring at them.

EJ, sensing the tension, pulled Robin closer and kissed her on the head. "Babe, we're joking. Come here."

———

Robin stood with confidence, her stance steady as she fired shots at the target. "Yeah, that's the stuff," she remarked, her voice tinged with satisfaction.

Marshall, watching her in awe, finally spoke up. "Oh my God! How long have you been doing this?"

Robin glanced over at Marshall, her gun still in hand. "My dad taught me to shoot when I was a kid. Now, whenever I'm feeling lonely or depressed, I come here. It reminds me that... guns are fun!"

Marshall looked hesitant. "Um, you know, Ted is kinda against guns."

Robin turned to face Marshall directly, a mischievous grin on her face. "That's why Ted's never gonna find out about this. Whoa! That got kind of scary with me holding a gun, didn't it? No, I just mean, please don't tell Ted. Or EJ. You wanna try?"

Marshall's eyes lit up. "Oh hell yes! Oh yeah, yeah. This is what I needed. I felt so powerless this whole time but this... This is power, this is..." He fired a shot, the recoil surprising him enough to make him stumble back.

Robin gasped. "I should have mentioned the recoil."

Ted observed Marshall carefully from across the bar. "I'll hand it to you. When he got home, Marshall was smiling. Did you sleep with him? 'Cause I was actually like three days away from suggesting that."

Robin leaned back against EJ, sharing a private smile with him. "Sometimes, all you need is to get in touch with your feminine side."

EJ looked at Robin, trying to keep a straight face. "You went to the gun range, didn't you?"

Robin hesitated for a moment, then tried to lie, but EJ saw through her immediately. He grinned, not at all upset. "You're such a badass. Now I know not to get on your bad side."

Ted, overhearing the conversation, couldn't resist chiming in. "You brought him to a gun range?"

Robin shrugged playfully. "Yeah, and he liked it. It's not like he's going to do anything, he's Marshall."

Ted launched into a list of reasons why guns are bad, but EJ quickly intervened to calm him down. He reached out and took Robin's hand.

Robin looked at him in surprise as he gently lifted her up. "If we leave now, he won't even notice we're gone."

Barney and Ben, noticing the exchange, gestured eagerly to Robin and EJ, silently pleading to be included in their escape. EJ smirked and nodded before leading Robin away.

———

The Apartment

Marshall sat with Ted, looking more composed than he had in weeks. "Yeah, sure. Absolutely. Dude, I'm doing much better. In fact, take my car."

Ted, relieved, accepted Marshall's offer cautiously. "Really? Hey, thanks. And hey, if you need anything, day or night, just call me. You know what? Please don't call me. What? What's wrong?"

Marshall hesitated, then held up a credit card bill. "It's Lily's credit card bill. She must have forgotten to switch her address."

Ted tried to dissuade Marshall from looking at it. "No, no. No good can come from looking at this. You've made too much progress already."

The Bar

Marshall sat at the bar, holding Lily's credit card bill which he had painstakingly stuck back together. "August 5, one charge - tickets. To what? George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars. August 10, one charge, Tennis Emporium. August 18, two charges. Mario's Bistro and - get this - Pet Palace. You guys see what it means, right?"

EJ slammed his head on the table repeatedly in frustration. All the progress they had made seemed to crumble at Marshall's renewed suspicions.

Ted interjected, trying to reason with Marshall. "That's the craziest thing I've ever heard."

EJ cut in, his voice firm. "Dude, stop it. Lily wouldn't do that."

Robin added, trying to lighten the mood, "Yeah. Why are you afraid of ferrets? They're adorable."

Marshall sighed, defeated. "Because, Robin, they're like fuzzy tube-shaped rats."

Barney, always quick with a quip, attempted to diffuse the tension. "Those charges are from a month ago."

Ted jumped in with relief. "Exactly!"

Barney, his tone more serious, added, "For new charges, you'd have to check her online account. You can see credit card activity from like two hours ago. But... you know... don't..." Marshall abruptly left the bar, running out in distress.

EJ, frustrated but still trying to keep the peace, turned to Barney. "Why do you talk? Why do you talk?"

———

EJ, Robin, Ted, and Barney followed Marshall back to the apartment frantically.

"He's gonna need her password," Barney commented. "It's not like he has her password. Ooh, he has her password. This is... He has her password."

Marshall was already deep into Lily's account. "There's a charge from earlier today. The Kellet Hotel, on Fifth. I don't believe this. Lily is back in New York. I can't believe this. Lily's in New York? I guess I'd been thinking when she got back she'd call me. That's the only reason I've been able to hold it together so far this summer."

Robin turned to EJ. "This has been holding it together?"

EJ shrugged. "More or less."

Marshall stood up, determination in his eyes. "OK, you know what? I'm calling her."

Ted intervened quickly. "No! You're not calling her. This changes nothing."

EJ grabbed Ted, Barney, and Robin, pulling them into the kitchen. "Listen, I haven't had any alone time with Robin since we started dating. Marshall is like our 27-year-old child, and it's suffocating. So, here's the plan: Barney, Ted, and Ben will take turns watching over him."

Barney looked skeptical. "You want me to babysit him? 20 bucks an hour. And money for pizza."

EJ raised an eyebrow. "How about you do it for free, or every time we hang out, you have to watch this." He turned to Robin. "Come here, baby."

Robin smirked and started kissing EJ. He held her and gently lifted her off the ground as they continued making out.

Barney threw his hands up in defeat. "OK, I'll do it! Just stop being a couple!"

Ted nodded in agreement. "Fine. But seriously, we need to get Marshall under control."

"Marshall!" Robin called out, heading back into the living room.

"Marshall!" Ted echoed.

Marshall was already dialing. "I know I shouldn't do this, but I have to!"

Ted tried to intervene. "Everything we've worked so hard for!"

EJ stepped in, sternly. "I swear to God, Marshall, I will chuck this phone out the window too."

Marshall continued undeterred. "Hello, Lily Aldrin's room, please. Thank you."

Ted was desperate. "Hang up now!"

Marshall's eyes widened. "Guys, I can't hang up now."

"Hang up now! Hang up now! Hang up now! Hang up!" they all chanted.

"Hello?!" Marshall's face fell as he hung up. "A guy answered. There is... There is a guy in her room. I'm going down there."

Barney tried to block his path. "No!"

Ted held him back. "Dude, you can't."

EJ added, "That's the worst thing you could do."

Marshall was resolute. "I have to go down there and tell her I love her. I have to beg her to take me back, even if I have to get on my knees."

Robin shook her head. "Marshall, you can't do that!"

Marshall was defiant. "Really? Why not?"

Ted's voice was firm. "Because you're pathetic! I'm sorry. But right now, you are not Marshall. You are the miserable, whining, shampoo-sniffing ghost of Marshall and frankly, a guy like you doesn't have a shot in hell with a girl like Lily. You know who might have a shot somewhere down the line? Marshall. The real Marshall."

EJ added, "Ted's right, man. This is ridiculous! If you go down there now like this, all the progress you've made this summer will just go to shit. I just started dating Robin, and I haven't had any time with her this summer, so stop it and grow the hell up. Of course, whatever I say, you'll just do the opposite, so have a great weekend and good luck screwing up your life. Come on, Robin."

EJ stormed out with Robin but immediately felt a pang of guilt.

———

In a Taxi

Robin sat silently, arms crossed. EJ couldn't stand the tension.

EJ sighed. "What?"

Robin didn't respond, looking out the window instead.

EJ groaned. "You're mad at me."

Robin remained silent.

EJ threw his hands up in frustration. "You think I was too hard on him."

Robin glanced at him but still said nothing.

EJ shook his head. "I can't believe you're accusing me of being too hard on him. You're the one who said tough love."

Robin finally turned to face him. "Yeah, tough love, not hand the guy a noose."

EJ sat back, clearly frustrated. The taxi ride continued in silence until EJ finally cracked.

"Alright, alright. I was too hard on him."

Robin raised an eyebrow. "A little."

EJ sighed again. "You have this weird ability to make me feel bad with just one look. It's like you have superpowers or something."

Robin smirked, her mood lightening. "Well, it's a good thing you're on my side then."

EJ smiled, wrapping his arm around her. "Yeah, it is."

———

EJ decided to go and see Marshall after getting a call from Ted that Marshall had gone to the hotel. He felt bad about what he said but still believed Marshall needed to grow up.

EJ approached the front desk. "Hi. Uh, could you tell me what room Lily Aldrin's in?"

He then saw Marshall and Ted sitting at the hotel bar and changed his mind. "You know what, never mind. Marshall!"

Marshall looked up. "Hey."

EJ sat down beside him. "What happened?"

Marshall sighed. "Well, I went up to Lily's floor..."

Flashback

Marshall narrated, "...and I had this little speech in my head. Everything I've been wanting to say to her all summer about love, loyalty, respect. I knocked on the door."

A man opened the door, and Marshall instinctively punched him in the face.

End of Flashback

Ted looked shocked. "You knocked out Lily's new boyfriend?"

Marshall shook his head. "Yeah. It wasn't Lily's boyfriend."

Ted's confusion deepened. "What? Who was he?"

Ted from 2030 narrated, "His name was Joey Adalian. He went by a number of aliases as an identity thief. Apparently, earlier in the summer..."

Marshall continued, explaining how some guy had stolen Lily's identity.

Ted's eyes widened. "So Lily is not back in town and she doesn't have a boyfriend. That's good news, right?"

Marshall shrugged, looking defeated. "Yeah. I don't know. Those credit card charges were the only remaining connection I had to her. I don't know where she is or what she's doing. She was my whole life, man, and now she's... She's gone."

EJ leaned in, trying to console him. "Remember when you showed up to college and you were meeting people? You saw this kid with his headphones in, lying on the bed without a care in the world. That's who you were. You were happy and didn't give a crap."

Ted nodded in agreement. "Yeah, man. You were so laid back."

Marshall chuckled slightly. "I was high and thought you guys were RAs."

EJ smiled. "I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I was too hard on you."

Marshall sighed. "Yeah, you were. But you were right. I need to grow up and stop feeling sorry for myself."

Ted added, "What we're saying is, there's a version of you without Lily and... It's not this. You can't let Lily steal your identity the way that guy stole hers."

Marshall took a deep breath, a look of determination crossing his face. "OK. OK! Resolved. Starting tomorrow, I'm going to start being OK. Cheers."

———

EJ and Robin were back at his place, lounging comfortably on the couch, watching a movie together. The dim light from the TV cast a warm glow over the room, creating a cozy atmosphere.

EJ glanced at Robin, a smile playing on his lips. "So yeah, I think Marshall will be fine."

Robin, who had been snuggled against him, looked up, her eyes reflecting her happiness. "That's great news."

EJ took a deep breath and decided it was the perfect time to bring up an idea that had been on his mind. "You know, now that this whole thing with Marshall is hopefully done, I think we could use some time alone."

Robin tilted her head, curiosity piqued. "What do you have in mind?"

EJ smiled. "Remember I mentioned my family's cabin by the water in the Hamptons? How about we head out there this weekend?"

Robin's face lit up. "This is so great. We finally get some time alone."

EJ nodded. "Yeah, just you and me. We can relax, enjoy the scenery, and not worry about anything else for a while."

Robin leaned in closer, resting her head on his shoulder. "It sounds perfect. I can't wait."

The two of them started making plans, discussing what they would need to pack, the route they would take, and how they would spend their days.

EJ would have to see his parents and let them know he'd be there for a weekend, but that wouldn't be so bad.