A/N: This is about Blair going back home after five years with a surprise for everyone. You all know it will Blair/Chuck. Read and review please

Chapter 1: Look after you

Blair Waldorf stood with her four old daughter, looking up at the tall hotel building she once called her home. She knew if she walked in there and explained who she was and asked to see Chuck there would be a room for her and Tabitha but there would also be a lot of explaining to do and she was not sure if she was ready to explain everything. She wasn't sure if anyone would understand. She disappeared five years ago. Chuck hired many investigators but as soon as anyone got close to finding her she moved to a different country. Now she had nowhere else to go, she was out of money and desperate. She looked down at Tabitha and smiled "what do you think of it?"

Tabitha looked at Blair then back to the hotel "it's pretty, but really big. I'm not sure if I like heights."

"You like heights. Remember the plane goes high up in the air. Plus I am not asking you to climb to the top."

"Good because I am not."

Blair laughed "come on, let's go and see if we can find a big bed to jump on."

Blair gently tugged Tabitha as they crossed the road. She reached round and pulled her hair free from its band and fixed it around both her shoulders. She took a deep breath, as they reached the door the door man smiled at them and opened it "good afternoon ladies."

"Mom he called me a lady!" Tabitha whispered to Blair

Blair smiled and nodded as she entered the lobby. She looked at Tabitha and whispered back "That's because you are a lady."

It was exactly the same as she remembered it; the only difference was all the staff seemed to be new. It suddenly hit her that she was only assuming that Chuck still owned the hotel. She walked over to one of the plush sofas and told Tabitha to stay there. She turned away from her daughter and took a second to compose herself. She straightened out her dress and fixed her hair. She walked slowly up to the desk and the receptionist smiled at her "Hello, can I help you?"

"Yes I was hoping to see Mr Bass if he is available." Blair smiled trying to ignore the waves of nausea that were flooding over her. She clenched her hands in a fist trying to stop her fingers were shaking. Her heart started to race as the receptionist answered her.

"Yes he is upstairs in his suite; would you like me to call him down?"

"Yes please"

The receptionist lifted the phone and started to dial "and whom may I say you are?"

Blair thought about this for a moment. She wasn't sure if Chuck would come if he knew it was here. She had to ask him to come down, she needed his help. She had to face her past for her daughter's sake. She glanced back at Tabitha for a second to make sure she was still there and then looked back at the receptionist "just tell him it's an old friend please."

The receptionist nodded and put the phone to her ear. After what felt like an eternity she began to speaking to Chuck. She told him that an old friend was here to see him, and then listened to his reply before putting the phone down. Blair felt physically sick as the receptionist smiled back up at her "Mr Bass is on his way down, he asked for you to go on through to the seating area through those doors."

Blair smiled and thanked the receptionist. She called her daughter over and led her through the double doors that she had been instructed to go through. This part of the hotel had definitely changed since she was last here. This area used to be a club, and it now appeared to be an upmarket bar. Tabitha let go of Blair's hand and ran over to inspect the giant glass sculpture that was in the middle of the bar "be careful

Blair stood for a few minutes taking in what once used the place which she spent every Saturday night. Blair shook her head trying to let go of that Blair. She took a seat and watched as Tabitha ran behind the sculpture to inspect it closer. Tabitha giggled as she found a place to stick her fingers through. Blair smiled watching her daughter. Her face fell as the door opened. Chuck walked in and looked at Tabitha. She looked back at him before running back to Blair. This brought Chuck's gaze to the women he had been trying to find for five years, three months and sixteen days . Blair lifted Tabitha up onto her hip and met Chuck's gaze. She saw Chuck look at Tabitha's face. It was clear he was doing the maths in his head.

"She's not" Blair said quietly "she turned four three weeks ago."

Chuck reluctantly peeled his eyes away for the child to meet Blair's eyes. He expected to be mad, but he suddenly felt sad. He saw that the spark that used to be in her eyes was no longer there, he saw that her face was pale and gaunt. He then proceeded to take in the rest of her appearance. She had lost weight and was verging on being too skinny. Her clothes were simple, not what he was used to. She was wearing a plain red dress with a black cardigan over it and a pair of black pumps. He looked back to the little girl in her arms. The child was wearing a pretty white dress with a white knitted cardigan over it. She looked exactly like a mini version of the Blair he used to know. Her dark ringlets were pinned back perfectly, and she was wearing a jewelled hair band like the ones Blair used to wear.

Chucked crossed the room slowly. He sat down on one of the chairs and motioned for Blair sit on the sofa. She placed Tabitha on her knee. Chuck still couldn't her eyes off the small child. His mouth was completely dry and his heart was racing "Hello, my name is Chuck, what's yours?"

"I'm Tabitha."

"Well Miss Tabitha, when I was a little boy I always found hotels extremely boring so when I bought this one, I built a really big play room with all the toys I could think of in it. Would you like me to get someone to take you to play in it?"

"Can I go Mom?" Tabitha said turning round to face Blair, her eyes were wide with excitement. Blair's eyes filled with tears thinking how long it had been since her child had had a new toy to play with "Please Mom?"

Blair looked up at Chuck "Would they stay with her? I don't want her to be alone."

Chuck nodded. He got up and opened the door to the door and motioned for somebody to come in. A girl who looked like she was in her early twenties entered. She addressed Chuck as "Mr Bass" and asked what she could do for him.

"This very pretty young lady here is called Miss Tabitha, she is very important guest here and your job for the rest of the day in to make sure she has fun. Give her anything she wants and make sure she gets plenty to eat and drink. Put the bill on my expense account."

"Yes Mr Bass" the young girl nodded smiling at Tabitha

"Miss Tabitha, this is Sarah and she will take you to the play room. If you need anything you ask her, and if you want to come back to your Mom just tell Sarah and she will have reception page me ok?"

"Ok, thank you Mr Chuck." Tabitha nodded

Chuck laughed and winked "It is my pleasure."

"Come on Miss Tabitha, I happen to know that there are some really cool toys in the play room." Sarah smiled and took Tabitha by the hand.

Tabitha waved at Blair as she left the room. Blair knew she should thank Chuck but she knew if she opened her mouth she would start crying and she couldn't be weak. Chuck walked behind the bar and lifted two glasses and a bottle of whiskey. He walked back to the sofa and sat down on it. He set the two glasses on the glass table in between his sofa and Blair's chair, opening the bottle he poured some whiskey into two glasses and handed one to Blair.

"Thank you" Blair whispered as she poured the whiskey down her throat. She set the glass back down on the table and Chuck filled it again. She poured the liquid down her throat once more. She held the glass in between her hands.

Chuck lifted his glass and took a sip. He knew he needed to say something but he wasn't sure what to say. He looked over at her "Do you need somewhere to stay?"

Blair stared at the ground "I can find somewhere else."

"No you can stay here, I'll have a two bedroom suite prepared for the both of you." Chuck stood up to leave before turning back round to face Blair "Where have you been staying recently?"

Blair felt a tear slip down her face. She was trying very hard to regain her composure "the past three weeks we have been in a hostel, before that it was bed and breakfasts all over the country. Chuck I really appreciate the offer but I can't afford the prices here."

"Blair, do you honestly think I care about the money? I care that you and your daughter are safe and taken care of, and I will make sure that you both are."

"Why?" Blair asked wiping a tear from her face "I was awful to you, I ran off and left you."

"I wasn't exactly Romeo." Chuck smiled weakly "Plus Miss Tabitha is too cute for hostels"

"She likes you. You treat her like an adult and she'll love that."

"I like her too." Chuck smiled "You look like you need food and sleep. Come on and we will get you signed in at the desk."

"Why aren't you screaming at me? Why aren't you telling me to get out and never come back?"

"Because I finally know you aren't dead." Chuck whispered quietly "I don't care that you left, I just care that you are alive. I spent five years wondering where you were, if you were dead, or if someone was hurting you so right now I am not mad. I am just finally relived you are ok."

Blair didn't know what to say. She simply nodded her head. Chuck stood up and took off his jacket. He put out his hand to help Blair up. He placed his jacket around her shoulders and wrapped his arm around her waist and led out of the bar "I can explain everything."

"You can do that later. Right now let's just get you settled. It will be ok now, I promise you. I'll look after you."