A/N: Hello I know it has been a while. There has been a family illness and my degree hasn't been going that well. I do apologize and hope you lovely people will understand. QueenBee10 thanks. Svenjen she may not be his genetically but does it matter? SasukeFreak34 thank you. Krazy4spike there is a little bit of Tabitha but more Blair and Chuck. Thanks for your patience. HnM skinnys, good crying I hope. Sorry I know I am the worst updater ever. Letmein1812, I'm glad to see your review. There has been a lot of life, so they can't just fall back into old habits. I think they need to be friends before there would be a chance at anything else, if there is a chance. Tabitha is going to be their connection. I am so glad you liked it, and I hope you like this one. Andy I am sorry it breaks your heart, but I am glad you are reading it. Sandra, I know I am sorry. Life keeps getting in the way. I'll try and be better. Tiff thanks. Rajamoon thanks, me too. Mille I love your review. Thanks, hope you keep reading. Gracie thank you.

Please read and review and I hope to be back soon.

Chapter 9: Change isn't always good

The conversation from last night was still running through Blair's head. She actually thought about lying and telling Chuck that he was Tabitha's father but she couldn't do that to her child. She thought that one day Tabitha might find out and hate her for it. She knew that Chuck might demand a DNA test and if he got angry at her for lying, she would lose her home and it wasn't worth that. Chuck would take care of them both anyway, regardless of DNA. Blair turned on her computer and tried to think of something else but it wasn't working. She sighed as she clicked on her email. The door knocked and Chuck walked in holding Tabitha's hand, "good morning, don't get too settled here. We have to go out."

It took a few seconds for Blair to register what he was saying. It was clear that he was going to forget the conversation from last night. The one where he told her he wished they had a child together, the child that was holding his hand. Blair blinked a few times, "where are we going?"

"To look at a school. I set up an appointment with the headmaster. It is one of the best schools in New York and it is just around the corner from here."

"They have a swimming pool Mommy," Tabitha chimed in.

"Do they indeed?" Blair looked up at Chuck, "she doesn't a fancy school, just a school."

"It's The Upper East Side, there is no such thing as just a school." Chuck answered, "anyway with her brains I think she may need to go to Harvard by the time she is six."

Blair was still trying to register what Chuck was saying before Tabitha interrupted her thoughts, "I am going to be a lawyer Mommy."

"That's great Tabs, you'll be the best lawyer ever," Blair smiled at her child. She was about to ask her to go to the play room so she could have a conversation with Chuck, but Mila walked into the office instead. Tabitha let go of Chuck's hand and walked over to Blair. Blair lifted her up, "good morning Mila."

"Good morning Blair, Miss Tabitha, I just thought I'd pop in and say hi before I leave. I have to and see the space for my show so I will be there for a few hours. You are going to see the school this morning aren't you?"

"Apparently so, if you don't mind me stealing your boyfriend on your last day?"

Mila laughed, "no we are used to spending time apart by now. My blackberry is my best friend while I am travelling. Anyway I hope to see you again soon Blair."

Mila walked over and kissed Blair on the cheek, "and it was lovely to meet you Miss Tabitha."

"Bye Miss Mila."

Chuck kissed Mila on the lips three times, then once on her temple. He whispered something in her ear before she said her goodbyes and left. Blair felt a little uncomfortable when she saw how much Chuck did love Mila. She adjusted Tabitha onto her other hip. Chuck turned back to face Blair and Tabitha, "ok the school we are going to is to is called Fulton Academy, it is meant to be one of the best in the state."

"Chuck I won't be able to afford it, even if you pay for tuition, I can't let you pay for the extras."

"Why not? I said I would look after you both. Blair I have nothing else to spend my money on. Mila never needs any money and I have everything I need already so my only choice is to spend money on her or let it build up so that when I die, the government gets it."

Blair smiled, "so it's not about Tabitha, it's about the government. And here I thought it was about my daughter's future."

"Of course it is about me." Tabitha chimed in

"Of course Miss Tabitha, and I told your Mom I would look after you and I meant it. I like having somebody to spoil. "

Tabitha smiled brightly, "and I like being spoilt."

Chuck leaned down and whispered something in Tabitha's ear. She ran out of the room. Chuck took a deep breath. "And…" he trailed off.

"What?"

"This is going to sound really weird, kind of pathetic really."

Blair smiled, "queen of pathetic right here so just go on and tell me."

"First of all, you aren't pathetic, and secondly she may be my best friend which is what I am worried to tell you about, so I am taking care of my best friend, not your daughter."

Blair couldn't help but smile. Chuck was Tabitha's best friend too, it was so cute. Tabitha spoke about often and it was clear she really loved him. All three of them wished that they could have been a family, but they weren't.

Tabitha came running into the room with her backpack and interrupted Blair's train of thought, "all set Mr Chuck."

Chuck smiled at her, "ok just let me grab a few things then we shall be ready to go."

Blair felt a bit nervous walking out of the school without Tabitha, it took all she had not to go back into there and bring her home. She was only there until one and then Blair could bring her home again. If she liked it, she could start as soon as her tuition was paid, and knowing Chuck that would be the same day. Chuck watched as Blair bit her lip, he let her think for a few minutes before he interrupted her, "she is going to be fine. She can talk to anyone. I bet she will come home and want to go back tomorrow."

"I know but I am not used to being away from her, she is my best friend."

Chuck stroked Blair's arm, "and she still will be when she comes home from school. If she does hate it we will get her a tutor but she needs to try school first."

"You really have thought of everything haven't you?"

"I've tried."

Chuck opened the door of the limo for Blair, she climbed in and moved over. Chuck climbed in and shut the door after him. "Work can wait for half an hour, let's go get breakfast first."

The limo drove to a small diner and Chuck opened the door before helping Blair out of the car. They walked in and sat down at a table hidden in the back. They read the menu before both ordering some pancakes and some coffee. Blair kept staring at her phone.

"There will be no need for them to ring you, but if they do need to ring they have both our mobiles, and the hotel number. If there is any problem I can be at the school in less than twelve minutes."

Blair chewed on her lip for a few minutes before she worked up the confidence to say what had been on her mind the whole morning, "Chuck we can't pretend last night didn't happen. We need to talk about it."

"You aren't happy about the contracts, we can change them if you want too."

"Chuck I am talking about the other conversation"

The waitress came and set down the coffee in front of them. Chuck lifted his cup and took a small sip of it. "Blair I am not going to say I regret saying it because I don't, but I don't want it to affect our working or personal relationship. I don't want to lose either."

"Neither do I , but I want to make sure that you are not going ask me to leave at some point because there are feelings there."

"I can't ask you to leave, and more importantly I will always have some sort of feelings for you but they are not what they were in high school. We are two different people now."

Blair felt completely stupid right now. She wished a giant whole in the ground would open and swallow her up. She had made a complete idiot of herself in front of Chuck and she was sure there relationship would never be the same again. She realised he wanted a relationship with Tabitha based on love, not with her. She lifted her cup and took a gulp of it, burning her tongue and making her throat roar with pain.

"I was thinking about doing an event for our board of directors at Bass Industry. Can you pull together some venues and themes over the next week please?"

"Yes of course."

That was that, Blair thought. Chuck was her friend and her boss. He would never be anything else and she would have to get used to that, no matter how much it hurt. The pain in her was now suppressed by the pain in her chest. They had changed in the time they were apart and she could nothing about that.