Ted apologizes about Paris and all the ruined photo-ops, but says that when you're single, you have to hope that each new girl is the one. "I've got to stay hopeful. I mean, what's the alternative?" Lily tells him: "How about no more random skanks at my birthday?" Of course Amanda picks that moment to exit the kitchen to ask where she can find a cooling rack, but she seems not to have heard her hostess with the leastess, who manages to fake up enough grace to call Amanda sweetie, answer her question, and say, "You're just the best."

Robin, who seems to have learned her lesson after bringing Old Man Bob to Slapsgiving, sides with Lily and explains she didn't bring Don tonight because events such as these are hard for a new person. Robin tells the gang that when she was living in Japan, a guy brought her to his brother's wedding -- on their third date. We cut the picture of a seemingly gigantic Robin slouching awkwardly as she poses with the more petite Japanese bridal party. "I, a total stranger, am in that Japanese couple's wedding picture for all eternity." Hee. Until we were engaged, every time I was included in a family group shot at one of my now-husband's relative's weddings, I felt so out of place. We cut to Japan, where the Japanese bride and groom are looking at their wedding album with the groom's brother. The bride taps on a photo with force as she addresses her brother-in-law. The subtitles read: Name that bitch! Robin's ex: "Uh...."

DOWISETREPLA: Lily says she thinks Ted should listen to Robin. Ted says, "Right, 'cause Robin's your best friend." Lily agrees. Ted: "Your best friend in the whole world." Marshall whispers: "Careful Lily, it's a trap," but she doesn't listen and it's totally a trap. Ted: "And before she was your best friend, what was she? Oh, that's right -- one of my random skanks." Robin objects, but Lily talks over her. "Yes Ted, this skank happened to work out..." Robin: "Hey!" Lily: "But she's the skanky exception, not the skanky rule." Robin: "Hey, I'm crying a little bit."

Guitar in hand, Marshall tries to end the argument by encouraging the gang to sing the "Happy Happy Lily Day" song he wrote for Lily's birthday, but it's a no go. Ted tells Lily that he brings girls to their get-together because his friends are important to him. "You're like my family." Lily agrees that they're a family, which is one of the reasons she'd like some of their parties to be just them. She reminds him of their dinner at a Japanese Steakhouse, in celebration of Marshall passing the bar exam. We flash back to...