- As Ted begins his new career as a professor and is about to meet his future wife, Lily forces Barney and Robin to have "the talk" and define their new relationship.
- Lily is sadder to learn that Barney and Robin aren't a couple more so than Barney or Robin. But after that, Lily catches Barney and Robin making out, the two who confess that they have been in a sexual relationship over the course of the summer, a fact they were hiding since they didn't want to make a big deal out of their undefined relationship. Lily thinks that Barney and Robin need to have "the talk" to define what they really mean to each other. They refuse since they are quite happy having sex and that's it. When Robin is forced to go on a date with Brad, Barney and Robin almost get to the point of feeling the need to have the talk. When they still can't go through with it, Lily, ultimately with some help from Marshall, comes up with a plan to force them to have the talk. Even if they do have the talk, will they come to any conclusions? Meanwhile Ted is preparing for his first day as a college professor teaching Architecture 101. He is trying to decide what kind of professor he wants to be: the stern authoritarian or the students' best friend. In the end, other aspects of the class may determine what kind of professor he is, at least to that class. As Ted relates this story to his children, he mentions that their mother was in that class.—Huggo
- Future Ted (Bob Saget) explains how nervous he was his first day of teaching, when he was trying to figure out what kind of teacher he would be: formal disciplinarian or laid-back peer. Before the first class, Marshall (Jason Segel) gives Ted (Josh Radnor) the gift of a worn leather fedora and whip, just like fictional college teacher Indiana Jones. They go whipping, but Ted ends up cutting Marshall on the cheeks. That night, Ted has a dream about his first day. However, the dream quickly becomes a nightmare (he shows up to class without his pants on and his students consider him a failed architect), causing Ted to wake in a panic and find Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) rifling through his nightstand for condoms. Barney advises Ted not to take questions on his first day in class.
At the actual first day of class, Ted quickly becomes anxious and alternates between being a stern authority figure and laid-back buddy. Recalling his dream and deciding to take Barney's advice to not take any questions during the first class, Ted fails to learn from his students that he is actually in the wrong classroom. When the real professor arrives and announces that the class is actually for Economics, a humiliated Ted races across campus to his actual classroom. Exhausted and embarrassed, Ted doesn't have the energy to think about what kind of teacher he'll be, and simply starts teaching, which turns out well. Future Ted adds that the mother had actually been in the Economics class, though he does not reveal where she had been sitting.
Meanwhile, Barney and Robin (Cobie Smulders) have spent the summer sleeping together, but without any discussion about their relationship ("the Talk"). After the events of "The Leap", Lily (Alyson Hannigan) is ecstatic to have another couple to double date with, but the two quickly tell her they are not dating. She is heartbroken as she saw her & Marshall plus Robin & Barney as couple dates. They lie to the gang all summer while hooking up secretly. When confronted about their relationship, they admit they hate talking about feelings and defining relationships, and only end up having sex with each other. Later that night, Marshall's law school buddy Brad (Joe Manganiello) ("World's Greatest Couple") asks Robin out on a date to a hockey game. Barney understands that he needs to define his relationship with Robin.
At the arena, Robin is enthusiastic about the game, but admits that she feels weird going out with Brad, because she has feelings for Barney. Brad tells Robin she needs to have "the Talk" with Barney, and suddenly, they are put on the JumboTron for a public kiss. Back at the apartment, Ted tells Barney that Robin is already his girlfriend according to his "Gremlins" rule. During a tuxedo-themed night at the bar, Barney explains you cannot get a woman wet (let her shower in your house), expose her to sunlight (date her before sunset), or feed her after midnight (breakfast together), or she will turn into your girlfriend. Marshall laments being left out of the occasion. Barney rushes to the arena and interrupts the New York Rangers "Kiss Cam" by ineffectually punching Brad in the face. After apologizing, he and Robin are still unable to admit that they are dating.
Back at the apartment, after another night of sex, Robin tries to leave the room, but the doorknob detaches. Lily reveals that she sabotaged the door to force them to define their relationship. After several notes that fail to satisfy Lily (we are just hanging out, we are seeing where things go, we are Barnman and Robin, ), they decide to lie and tell Lily that they are boyfriend and girlfriend, though the lie clearly has elements of sincerity. Lily lets them out, and Barney and Robin go out to brunch. When Ted points out to Lily that Robin and Barney are lying to her, she responds that they don't realize they aren't lying to each other.
Later that night, after being left out of Tuxedo Night, Marshall shows up dressed to the nines at MacLaren's.
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