As the series progresses, Ted meets Victoria at a wedding and they begin dating. Seeing him with another woman, Robin realizes she does have feelings for Ted. Things are going great between Ted and Victoria, but when she gets her dream job, the couple has to make some difficult choices. Meanwhile, Lily decides to pursue an art fellowship in San Francisco and breaks up with Marshall. In the first part of the second season, Robin and Ted are finally a couple and a heartbroken Marshall tries to cope without the love of his life. After a while, Lily returns to New York, reunites with Marshall and the season culminates in their marriage.

Over the course of the third season, dynamics and friendships within the group change. Ted and Robin adjust to life as friends after their breakup while Marshall discovers something about Lily which threatens both their happiness and their financial security. Decided to remove an embarrassing tattoo, Ted sees Stella, a charming dermatologist. He pays his addresses to her. By the end of the season Ted proposes to Stella. Is she the mother? Perhaps. Meanwhile, Barney and Robin come to a one night stand.

In season four, Stella and Ted’s plans go all to pieces when their exes are both invited at the wedding. She leaves him at the altar and gets back together with the father of her daughter, Tony. Barney believes he’s in love with Robin and helps her search for a new job. Lily and Marshall argue whether or not they’re ready to have children. Eventually, Ted finds out that Lily sabotaged all of his relationships with anyone she didn’t approve of. In the season finale, he decides to teach architecture classes.