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3rd POV
"You know…I am not an easy girl…" Anna said softly as she slipped her mini skirt back into place, smoothing the fabric over her thighs. Her movements were careful now, almost guarded. She glanced at Ted from beneath her lashes, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face, fearful that he might see her as easy, or worse, reduce her to something cheap.
Ted noticed it immediately.
He smiled gently and pulled her into his arms, holding her in a calm, protective embrace that left no room for doubt.
"I know," he murmured, pressing a slow kiss to her forehead. His voice was steady, sincere. "I don't see you like that. I never did."
Anna let out a quiet breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. The warmth of his breath brushed her ear as he lingered close, sending a faint tickle down her spine. She let out a soft chuckle when she felt him teasing her ear with his lips.
"Ted… I really need to go… mmm…" she whispered, her voice catching despite herself.
She didn't have much strength left to push him away. When she finally managed to step back, she looked up at him with a small, shy smile. Ted returned it with one that was reassuring, almost grounding.
He pulled something from his mouth. "…I'll take this as a souvenir," Ted said casually.
Anna's eyes widened when she realized what it was, her earring. Instinctively, she reached up to her ear, confirming it was gone.
"…Fine," she said after a beat, laughing softly as she shook her head.
After a few more playful seconds, Ted reached into his pocket and handed her his business card. "Give me a call," he said quietly, "if you need anything."
He kissed her cheek once more, softly and unhurried before stepping away. He gave her a subtle signal to wait, checking the situation outside first. When he saw that it was clear, he slipped out.
A few moments later, Anna followed.
A couple of flight attendants noticed them exiting the airplane bathroom separately, but chose to look the other way. Professional silence and unspoken understanding.
Ted returned to his seat, and seconds later, Anna did the same with both wearing faint smiles that refused to fade.
Laura, who had been watching Anna closely, let out a quiet sigh and leaned in. "…You should probably take off your earring," she whispered, her eyes flicking toward Anna's neck. The turtleneck made it hard to see clearly. "Did he give you a hickey?"
Anna blinked, suddenly remembering. She reached up and removed the remaining earring, her cheeks warming. "…No," she said shyly, offering Laura a small smile with half apologetic, half guilty. She was just so mesmerized by the sight of her earring in Ted's mouth that she forgot about her other earring from before.
A moment later, they both giggled.
Laura nudged her with her elbow, eyebrows wiggling. "…So?" she whispered. "Is he good?"
Anna leaned in closer, her voice barely audible.
"…I cummed three times…."
Laura gasped, eyes widening in disbelief.
"You're kidding me…."
"Tell you later," Anna laughed softly, already pulling out Ted's business card. "I need to save his number first."
Laura shook her head, exhaling slowly. She knew Anna wasn't that kind of girl, not someone who slept around carelessly. She felt the pull toward Ted herself, honestly. But something about the way he'd focused on Anna from the beginning made it clear. And because of that, she wasn't bitter. Just… observant.
"Alright," Laura said firmly after a pause. "Just slow down. I know things have been rough lately between you and your boyfriend, but this has to be the last time, okay? You need to break up first."
She looked Anna straight in the eyes. It would be a disaster if either of their boyfriends found out, especially since both men were linebackers on the same team.
"…Okay," Anna said quietly, nodding.
She hesitated, then added, "…I think he's different."
She turned slightly in her seat, glancing a few rows back.
Ted caught her gaze.
He smiled at her with no gestures, no signals, nothing reckless. Just a simple reassuring smile.
Anna smiled back, then giggled softly.
Laura could only shake her head. They shared secrets before and now. And secrets like these were the kind you protected.
The man seated beside Anna noticed the exchange, then looked away, adjusting himself in his seat. 'Not my business,' he thought.
A few minutes later, the seatbelt sign lit up again. The cabin hummed with quiet anticipation as the plane began its final descent into Philadelphia.
"Ted! Tell her that I'm your real best friend!" Barney blurted out, nudging Ted insistently and pointing his chin toward the old lady seated beside him.
Ted turned his head, looking from Barney to the old lady, then smiled politely.
"He is my best… and a friend," Ted said calmly.
"See?!....Wait, what?" Barney's victorious grin froze halfway before collapsing into outrage. "Ted! You didn't say best friend! You said best and a friend! That's not the same thing!"
The old lady chuckled warmly and patted Barney's arm as if calming an overexcited child.
"Don't worry, young man," she said kindly. "Your friend is a very good friend. Now please put your seatbelt on."
Barney let out a dramatic sigh and tried to stand up anyway.
"I can't believe you wouldn't say I'm your best friend, Ted. I don't even want to-."
"Sir."
A flight attendant appeared beside him with a calm voice but firm expression.
"Please remain seated and fasten your seatbelt."
"Oh...yeah, yeah, yeah. Sorry," Barney muttered, immediately dropping back into his seat and buckling up. He shot a glare at the old lady, who was still chuckling, clearly enjoying her victory.
"Told ya," she said smugly, leaning back in her seat.
Barney clenched his jaw, huffed, and turned his head away dramatically, choosing to ignore her entirely.
Ted smiled to himself and faced forward again, finally feeling a sense of relief. Still, his mind drifted. He had a sinking feeling about what would come next, especially after Barney had left his luggage back at the airport earlier. Ted didn't follow Barney's instructions when he told Ted to put his luggage in the baggage claim machine at the NYC airport, so he genuinely didn't know whether Airport Police would come looking for them… or not.
The landing itself was smooth with just a few light bumps as the wheels touched down. Not perfect, but safe. The plane slowed, rolling steadily until it finally came to a stop.
Ted pulled out his phone and called Marshall, who was probably still somewhere on the road to Philly.
"Marshall! We just landed," Ted said into the phone, then glanced sideways at the old lady again.
"…This is my best friend," he added, pointing dramatically at his phone.
The old lady laughed out loud. Barney groaned in pure disbelief, lips curling upward in offended disbelief.
"Oh...okay, that's actually great!" Ted continued into the phone, now looking at Barney. "Lily and Robin are heading to Philly too."
Barney's annoyance vanished instantly. He nodded enthusiastically and threw up a rock-and-roll hand gesture.
"Alright. See you in Philly," Ted said, ending the call.
"PHILLY!!!" Barney shouted suddenly. "THE WHOLE GANG IS GONNA ROCK 'N ROLL YOU!"
Several passengers turned to stare at him but he didn't care.
Ted just laughed, shaking his head. A few rows ahead, Anna was chuckling too, leaning toward Laura as they whispered to each other. Anna lifted her phone slightly, catching Ted's eye, clearly trying to show that she'd saved his number and wanted to give him hers.
Ted smiled back.
But before anything else could happen, "Passenger Mosby. Passenger Stinson."
Ted closed his eyes and sighed dramatically.
Three Airport Police officers with two men and one woman, stood beside their row, faces stern. One of the men, with a noticeable belly, placed a firm hand on Ted's shoulder.
"Please come with us, gentlemen."
Ted let out a slow sigh again as he was pulled up from his seat.
Every remaining passenger on the plane stared. Anna and Laura both covered their mouths in shock. Ted glanced back briefly, offering Anna a small, awkward smile as he was guided forward.
"Call me tomorrow," Ted said quickly. "I'll explain everything later!"
"O-okay!" Anna called back, watching as Ted and Barney were escorted off the plane.
Barney twisted his head toward Ted and Anna, completely confused.
"Ted! What's going on with you two?!" he shouted. "Ted! Not cool, Ted!"
The female security officer cut him off and pushed him forward.
{So yeah, kids… that was the first thing we did after landing in Philadelphia.
Getting escorted by Airport Police.} — Old Ted
While Ted and Barney were having trouble with Airport Police, Marshall was still enjoying this sudden, unplanned trip.
The car moved steadily along the highway, the road stretching endlessly ahead. Lily and Robin had both drifted off to sleep now, their heads tilted comfortably as the gentle hum of the engine filled the silence. Marshall kept his eyes on the road, hands relaxed on the steering wheel, feeling oddly content.
He was genuinely glad Ted and Barney hadn't canceled their trip to Philly. Knowing them, he could already imagine Barney dragging Ted to his little stunts, but to Marshall, that was part of the charm. A little adventure. A break from routine. A spontaneous road trip with his wife and friends.
Maybe this small getaway was exactly what they needed.
Of course, he had no idea what was happening to Ted and Barney at that very moment.
"Go, go, going to Philly…" Marshall hummed quietly to himself, barely above a whisper, careful not to wake Lily and Robin.
But Lily stirred anyway. She opened one eye and glanced at him. "Babe," she murmured sleepily, "...what's wrong? Are you tired?"
Marshall shook his head, smiling softly as he reached over and brushed his hand through her hair. "Nothing. I'm okay," he said gently. "Ted just called. He and Barney already landed in Philly."
"Oh," Lily said drowsily. "Okay…"
"Just go back to sleep," Marshall added, squeezing her hand lightly.
She nodded and closed her eyes again, settling back into her seat.
Marshall continued driving with steady, calm and unhurried despite the excitement he has right now.
But a few minutes later, his phone rang again.
He frowned slightly and answered.
"Hey, Ted. What's wrong?"
At first, his expression was relaxed. Then slowly it changed.
"Alright," Marshall said, voice sharpening as he listened. "Calm down. Both of you. Listen to me."
His sudden seriousness stirred both Lily and Robin awake.
"You're American citizens," Marshall continued firmly. "Don't let them pull any weird patriot-act voodoo on you."
Robin leaned forward slightly, fully awake now. Lily sat up, confusion written across her face.
"You both have the right to refuse to answer any questions without an attorney present," Marshall said, sounding every bit the future lawyer he was.
"So don't say anything until I get there, okay?" he finished. "Alright. Goodbye."
He lowered the phone and stared at it for a second.
Lily immediately turned toward him, worry flashing across her face. "Babe… what's going on?" she asked. "Is Ted in trouble?"
Robin's voice followed, sharp with concern.
"Is there something wrong with Ted?"
Marshall sighed but then he pouted, frowned slightly.
"…Man," he muttered, sinking back into his seat. "....They already got an adventure!"
Lily blinked. "…What?" she asked with a frown to her eyebrow.
Robin stared at him and didn't know what he was talking about either.
Marshall still frowned dramatically. "We're just still driving," he complained. "They land for five minutes and bam!....Airport Police escorts them like a criminal!"
Lily groaned, dropping her head back against the seat. "....Oh my God! It must be Barney!"
Robin crossed her arms, shaking her head. "....Yeah, Barney." She didn't really know Barney well enough, but after a few weeks of hanging out with them, she already put Barney in a Troublemaker and Whoreman box inside her head.
The car continued down the highway toward Philadelphia but knowing what they have to wait in Philly? Yeah, only Marshall is pouting and envious right now.