A/N: I am sooo sorry this has taken me so long to update---I've had so much going on! Here's the next chapter, enjoy! By the way, I am also working on a new fic that should be up soon! :)

Chapter 10: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

The next night I found myself waiting alone at the bar at the Palace Hotel. I had called Chuck earlier and asked him to meet me at 8 for a drink. It was 8:30. I was just about to give up and leave when I saw someone sit next to me.

"Sorry I'm late. Work was crazy," Chuck said a little out of breath.

"Oh, it's no problem. I was a little late myself," I lied. I was a little embarrassed to have actually waited half an hour for him to show up.

"Okay good," he said as he waved the bartender over. "So what did you want to talk about? You said it was important," he said as the waiter already delivered him his signature scotch. He owned the hotel so it wasn't surprising that the bartender knew exactly what to get him.

"Why haven't you told anyone else that you're back in New York?" I asked getting straight to the point.

"What do you mean?" he asked curiously.

"Nate…your best friend? Serena and Eric…your family? Lily…Dan… none of them know you're back," I said keeping the fact that Serena knew because I had told her.

Chuck didn't say anything. He just took a sip of his scotch.

"What, is it a secret that you're back or something?" I asked before he could answer.

"No, it's not a secret," he said glumly.

I hesitated. He definitely seemed upset by something, but I still kept pressing. "Then why?"

He took another sip of his scotch and turned his full body towards me. "Look, Blair…it hasn't been easy coming back. It's been six years since I've seen any of them. It was hard enough seeing you after the way things ended. You aren't the only one I walked out on all those years ago. And with the way things ended with us…I didn't really keep contact with any of them. They're probably all angry with me. They wouldn't care that I'm back."

His answer surprised me. Who knew Chuck Bass was so insecure? I immediately felt bad for jumping to conclusions in my head about him keeping some big dark secret.

"I told Serena you were back," I blurted not knowing else what to say.

Chuck laughed. "I'm not surprised. I was actually a little shocked that you hadn't told the rest of them by now. It has been over a week since we ran into each other at the zoo."

"Yeah well, it was kind of a shock for me. I only told Serena because she's my best friend and I tell her everything. She's the one I go to for advice, so I called her."

"Advice? What did you need advice on regarding me?" he asked smugly.

"Don't flatter yourself, Bass. I simply asked her if it was a good idea for you and me to be spending time together, that's all." I lied again.

Chuck smiled and didn't press it any further, thank god.

"Look, all of us get together pretty often for big group dinners. I was thinking of hosting it this weekend. You should come. Everyone will be really happy to see you," I suggested.

"I don't know Blair. Nate and I were best friends so long ago, and I didn't keep in contact when I left and I should have. Bart and Lily got divorced, so Serena and Eric aren't really my siblings anymore. I don't belong there," he said.

Again with the insecurity, I thought.

"Chuck, Lily adopted you, so even though she isn't married to Bart anymore, she's still kind of your stepmom and Serena and Eric are still your siblings. And as for Nate, you guys went through a lot back in high school and still managed to stay friends, so there's no reason for that to change. Come on Chuck, you know you want to see them again. As much as seventeen-year-old Chuck would have hated to admit it, they are your friends."

Chuck looked at me for a long time before speaking. "I guess you're right. It's time I see all of them."

***

The rest of the week went by uneventfully. Saturday was the night I was hosting dinner for everyone. I hadn't told anybody except Serena that Chuck was coming to this dinner. He was also bringing Lucas. Amelia was always included in our get-togethers, so if Chuck was coming back, we had to include his son.

I decided to keep it a bit of a surprise for everyone. I told Nate & Jenny and Dan & Serena to come at 7:00 for dinner. I told Chuck 7:30.

By six-thirty, I was up in Amelia's room helping her get ready. She decided on wearing one of her new dresses that we had gotten together on one of our shopping sprees. Amelia was quickly becoming my new best shopping partner. She was five years old but she already had excellent taste in clothing.

When we heard the elevator ding, Amelia and I went downstairs to greet our guests. Nate and Jenny were the first to arrive.

"Uncle Nate! Aunt Jenny!" Amelia said excitedly as she ran towards the elevator. Nate immediately bent down to pick Amelia up into his arms to give her a hug.

"Hey Amelia," Nate said as she wrapped her hands around his neck. "Don't you look pretty tonight."

"Thanks Uncle Nate," Amelia smiled. She looked over at Jenny who was also smiling at her.

"Aunt Jenny, you look so pretty," Amelia said. As I looked at Jenny, Amelia was right. Jenny was absolutely glowing, no doubt from her pregnancy. Her belly was a bit more obvious now, but the dress she wore was absolutely gorgeous. It was a deep plum color with a swoop-neckline.

"Thank you, Amelia. You know I made this dress myself," she said.

"Really?" Amelia's eyes opened in shock.

"Yeah, she did. And if I'm not careful J Humphrey Designs is going to run Waldorf Designs out of business," I teased.

We all talked in the foyer for a few more minutes when the elevator opened again with Dan and Serena inside.

"Sorry we're late," Dan said as he leaned in to kiss my cheek, "Serena over here just could not pick out an outfit."

I laughed. It was true, Serena was known to make last minute decisions while getting ready which caused her to be late a lot.

We all walked into the living room and everyone took seats on the various couches and armchairs. Amelia sat on the shag carpet on the floor playing with one of her toys.

"Actually, S, its okay that you guys are late. We're still waiting on another guest," I said. I figured now would be as good a time as any to tell them that Chuck would be joining us for dinner very shortly.

"Oh yeah, who?" Dan asked nonchalantly, taking a sip of his drink that Dorota had just served.

I hesitated for a second. Everyone's eyes were on me, waiting for my answer. Why was I so nervous?

"Blair…are you okay?" Nate asked. "Who's coming to dinner?"

I took a deep breath. "Chuck Bass," I stated with as firm a voice as I could muster.

There was silence for a second. Nate broke it by laughing.

"That's a good one Blair, Chuck Bass back in New York…right," he said still laughing.

Dan joined him in laughter and I shot a look to Serena, the only person that knew the truth.

"Nate, she's telling the truth," Serena said. "He's been back for over a week now."

Nate's laughter subsided and his face turned serious. He almost looked mad. "You've got to be kidding me." He stood up and walked towards the windows, running his hands through his hair.

"Nate, what's wrong? Chuck was your best friend," I said wondering why he was having this kind of reaction to the news.

"Exactly what you just said Blair, he was my best friend. Past tense. He didn't just leave you seven years ago, he left all of us."

"Look, I know it's hard to deal with, believe me, I had the same reaction when I first saw him. But Nate, he is back now, for good. And we all were friends once, it'd be unfair to treat him like he wasn't," I pleaded. Nate didn't say anything. I gave Serena a pleading look hoping she would back me up.

"Blair's right, Nate. I mean he is my brother, and while I haven't talked to him in seven years, he's still family. We have to give him a chance," she said.

"And Nate, I've seen him a couple of times, and he's really…changed. He's really grown up," I added.

Nate laughed again. "Chuck Bass has 'grown up'?" he said skeptically. "I'll believe that when I see it."

I smiled, thankful that the initial anger seemed to have subsided. Dan and Jenny didn't really say much, while they did become closer to Chuck during the first year he and I were together, they were never as close as he was to Nate, Serena and I.

"Well, he should be here any minute, so you'll get to see it yourself," I said and as soon as I had finished talking the sound of the elevator ding made everyone in the room immediately tense up in anticipation.

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