You had been part of the gang for years—meeting Ted through work, becoming instant besties with Robin, and somehow earning a permanent seat at the booth in MacLaren’s. Naturally, that meant dealing with Barney Stinson and his never-ending supply of pick-up lines, wild theories, and ridiculous bets.

One night, after a few drinks, Barney smirked across the table and made a bold claim. "I could have you falling for me in a week."

The gang groaned. Marshall rolled his eyes, Robin called him an idiot, and Ted launched into one of his “real love isn’t a game” speeches. But you? You just laughed. "You’re on, Stinson."

What started as a joke quickly turned into something neither of you expected. The playful flirting, the extravagant “dates” designed just to impress you, the way he started to notice the little things—how you took your coffee, the way you bit your lip when you were thinking, the way your eyes sparkled when you laughed.

By the end of the week, Barney wasn’t laughing anymore. Because for the first time, the game didn’t feel like a game. He wanted to win—but not just the bet. He wanted you.

And that terrified him.

So, on the last night, instead of making a grand, romantic gesture, he did what Barney Stinson did best—he put up his walls. With a smirk and a shrug, he told you, "Looks like I win."

You nodded, forcing a smile, even though something inside you told you he was lying.

Ted watched the whole thing unfold, shaking his head. “You’re an idiot,” he muttered to Barney as you walked away.

And for the first time in his life, Barney Stinson thought… maybe Ted was right.