Challenge Accepted(A Barney Stinson/HIMYM Fan-fiction) BOOK ONE

Chapter Six: More To Him

"Hello?"

He answered. He actually answered.

"Is anyone there?"

"Dad?" I asked. He sighed. "Dad, please just talk to me."

"We have nothing to talk about, Lauren."

"Then just listen."

"Lauren, I'm not-"

"Dad just listen to me! You never listen! Just please hear me out!"

"Don't call me again."

"Dad please-"

"And don't call me Dad. I am not your father, as you aren't my daughter. Goodbye Lauren. Don't call again."

"Wait-" The dial tone cut me off. I threw the phone, standing up and rubbing my face. It rang again and I grabbed it from the floor. "Hello?"

"Hey babe. So I have bet stuff tonight so I'm gonna have to cancel." I hesitated.

"Yeah ok."

"Lauren are...are you crying?"

"No, no, of course not-"

"Yes you are. What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Ted. I just woke up. Go win the bet. Have fun."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Bye." I hung up, wiping my eyes. My phone beeped and I looked at it.

Barney

I'm bored. Laser Tag?

What about the bet?

Barney

I already slept with her a year ago. She hates me.

Ok. Yeah sure. Why not? Come meet me at the apartment?

Barney

Yeah. Ok. Suit up!

No. Not today.

Barney

Everything ok?

Fine.

~~~

I actually had a lot of fun with Barney.  We played a few games. He won some, I won some, until eventually we gave up. I wanted ice cream , so we went to a cart and just walked around New York.

"You're not ok." He said.

"Drop it, Barney."

"Tell me what's wrong, and I will." I sat down on a bench, sighing.

"You can't tell Ted."

"Why not?" He asked.

"I don't want to worry him." He rolled his eyes, but sat down beside me anyways. "So you know the deal with my father right? Well...I called him again earlier and...he answered."

"That's it? He answered?" I shook my head. "That's not that big of a deal, Lauren, I hate to break it to ya."

"He told me that I wasn't his daughter...and not to call him again." He fell silent, which rarely happened with Barney, I'd come to learn. "It doesn't matter. I shouldn't have told you about it."

"It does matter." He said. I shook my head, struggling not to cry in front of him. But eventually, I couldn't help it. I broke down, silently sobbing, my hands hiding my face from his view. And then his arm wrapped around me, and my head pressed against his shoulder and I continued to cry.