Marshall: So what happened with Karen?
Lily: No, I'll finish it for you. Ted left without saying anything and Karen got exactly what she wanted.
Ted: Nuh-uh. Not this time.
[flashback to Ted getting dressed in Karen's bedroom:]
Ted: You have a boyfriend?
Karen: We've been drifting apart for a long time. I've been meaning to break up with him.
Ted: God, Karen, you are unbelievable. You don't have the guts to break up with someone like a decent human being, so instead you pull this crap.
Karen: Okay, you're right. I'm great with books. I'm great with art. I'm great with identifying French wines from within a mile of where the grapes are grown. But... I'm really bad when it comes to looking someone in the eye and telling them the truth about how I feel.
Ted: Well, we're both bad at that. But... I think we both need to change. So, why don't I go first? Karen, you're a really hurtful and reckless person, and I never want to see you or speak to you again. Au revoir.
Karen: Ted, wait. Actually, "au revoir" means "until we see each other again". So, I'm assuming that you mean we will in fact see each other again?
Ted: [sniffs] Sorry, bro.

Lily: You know, maybe it was good you called Karen.
Ted: It definitely was. And not just for me, but for her, too. Later that night, she sat down with Jerry, and she had the break-up talk she always avoided with me.
Future Ted: [v.o.] So you see, kids, sometimes when you have to have a tough conversation, the best thing to do...
Lily: Wait... a second. Wait a second. You said you were never gonna talk to Karen again, right?
Ted: Yeah.
Lily: Then how do you know she took your advice?
Ted: Hm? Oh, right. Well, about that... After she broke up with that dude, she called me, we went out, we hooked up, and we've been dating ever since. We're really seeing eye to eye this time. I don't know, it just feels different somehow. Here she comes now. Be cool!