Despite a promising title, the next episode of How I Met Your Mother may not be featuring Marshall finally delivering the last anticipated slap to Barney's face after all.

Barney Cries After Receiving a 'High-Five' to his 'Stupid Face'?

Slapsgiving 3: Slappointment in Slapmarra has long been believed to be the episode where Marshall deliveres the last of five slaps to Barney's face. Now a cryptic tweet from show co-creator Craig Thomas teases that that may not be the case after all.

"Some folks are assuming Monday is the 'final slap'-just want to say: Not necessarily. #2left #HIMYM," he tweeted Saturday, Jan. 11.

The slaps originate from the episode 9 of the show's second season, Slap Bet. After the gang tried to figure out why Robin didn't want to go to malls, Marshall and Barney bet one another a slap to the face that Robin had either secretly married in Canada, or was previously involved in porn.

By the time the episode concluded it was revealed that Robin had been a teenage pop star by the name of Robin Sparkles, who had a minor hit called Let's Go to the Mall. As a result of losing the bet, Barney granted Marshall the right to slap him five times over the course of his lifetime without warning or reason.

Throughout the show's run four slaps have been delivered: in the second season's Slap Bet and Stuff, season 3's Slapsgiving and season 5's Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the Slap.

Whether or not the final slap does occur in Slapsgiving 3, the show is set to take a more serious turn in later episodes. Robin and Barney will get married, Lily and Marshall discuss their opposing plans for the future and Ted finally meets his future wife.

Another Milestone Moment for Ted and The Mother in 'HIMYM' Season 9, Episode 15 'Unpause?'

How I Met Your Mother returns with its mid-season premiere Monday, Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. on CBS.

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How I Met Your Mother, CBS, Television