When a snowstorm hits the city before Lily returns from a teacher's conference in Seattle, Marshall and Lily agree to forego they're longstanding airport reunion ritual. But when they each start to worry that letting another ritual retire means that their relationship is losing its magic, Marshall enlists Robin's help to get to the airport in time while Lily tries to pick-up a Seattle souvenir for Marshall, all in the middle of a blizzard. Meanwhile, Ted and Barney are meeting two women at MacLaren's, so when Carl threatens to close up because of the storm, they offer to watch over the bar until the women show up. After having fun tending the bar, things get out of control when the girls arrive with their thirsty band-mates.