Chapter 3 - Of course I'm angry

"I'm going to drop you at the hotel, there's something I need to do." Chuck informed Eva as he drove.

"Why can't I come with you?" Eva turned to look at him.

"There's someone I need to see on my own." Chuck didn't take his eyes off of the road.

"That woman that was just screaming at you?" Eva didn't want to mention it, she could feel the tension between him and the brunette at the graveyard. It was obvious it was more than just a random girl, he obviously knew her and the way he was still acting was proof that they had some sort of history.

"No, there's been a misunderstanding about me leaving. I need to rectify a mistake. We might need to stay in New York longer than we planned."

"Chuck, we have work." They were only supposed to be in New York for forty-eight hours. It seemed like a long way to come for such a short period of time when he mentioned the idea of coming here but she could tell it was important to him so agreed. She wasn't even sure how he funded the trip but he had taken care of everything and she had never been to New York before so even forty-eight hours in the city was a chance to see it to her.

"It's important Eva."

"So can't I meet who you are going to see?"

"Not yet, they're going to be surprised enough to see me. I'll make sure I'm back to take you for dinner. There's some places I would like to show you."

"Ok, when will you know when we are heading home? I need to keep my uncle updated."

"After I see Lily."

"You're going to see her but I didn't think you wanted her to know you are in New York?"

"That was before."

"Before the girl." She didn't want to keep pressing but he had changed since seeing her. He didn't seem at peace with being in New York anymore, he seemed agitated and she wanted to know why he reacted to the way he did seeing her.

"No, before I knew Lily thought I was dead."

"Mr Chuck" Vanya greeted Chuck as he opened the door for him. "We all thought, well, it's good to see you."

"Thank you Vanya. How's Dorota and baby Anastasia?"

"She not so much a baby anymore. She grow so quick. Keep our hands full."

"I'm glad to hear, it was good to see you Vanya."

"You too Mr Chuck. You stay in New York?"

"I'm not sure." It was the first time Chuck was honest about his arrangement of staying in New York. Chuck shook Vanya's hand and headed towards the elevator. It had been a while since he had been in this building and he was hoping Lily was on her own. Seeing her was going to be complicated and it was only going to get more complicated adding Rufus into the scenario. He knew Rufus would still be angry with how stupid he had been with Jenny and he didn't blame him. He owed everyone an apology but sometimes an apology wasn't enough. That moment had been nothing more than two hurt people projecting onto the only other broken people in the room. It should have never gone any further. He should have never sought comfort after what he thought was Blair's rejection. He should have trusted Blair and given her time to explain but in his fear of losing her he had made another mistake and hurt her again. He couldn't continue to hurt her he really did just want to see her happy even if it wasn't with him. He stepped into the foyer of the Van der Woodsen apartment and was greeted by Lily.

"Charles, my God, is it really you? But we thought, they told us, it can't be you." She rushed over to embrace him.

"Lily, I'm so sorry. I never meant for this to happen. I wanted to leave and I knew things would be better if I did but I didn't know this would happen."

"Didn't mean for what to happen?"

"For you to think I was, how do I put this politely? Dead."

"How did you not know, it was all over the news and Gossip Girl?" Lily had been tried her best to keep it out of the media especially with all the horrific things they had found to write about him. The speculation behind his death was only made worse by the pictures displayed on Gossip Girl.

"I've been staying off of both. Initially, I had nothing when I woke up so I was unaware of what was reported on me."

"But Charles, how did no one else tell you?" Lily was confused, everyone knew who Charles Bass was it's what happens when you grew up in line to take over a billion dollar company.

"I've been using a different name. The person that found me didn't know who Chuck Bass is or was."

"Charles I'm glad you're ok. It's a shock but you need to talk to Blair. She, well, she needs to know." Lily stroked his arm in a way to comfort him. She knew it would be difficult for both of them but Blair needed to know. It was clear that she had forgotten all her hurt and anger towards Charles as soon as she found out and was left in grief. The Blair Waldorf he left behind wasn't the same person he would see now.

"I've already seen her. I ran into her, that's how I found out about the misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding? It was a little more than that. Charles we thought you had died. Blair stepped in, she has been running the Empire and helping me at times with Bass Industries. Is she not with you?" Lily looked behind him expecting to see Blair in tow she couldn't imagine she would let him out of her sight after everything that had happened.

"No, I never meant for this to happen. I'm not sure how I can make this right." It always came back to Blair, her seeing Eva complicated things but he liked who he had become while he had been with Eva. He just didn't know how to be Chuck Bass with her. Blair was the only person that saw the darkest parts of his soul and he didn't know how she was still able to talk to him.

"You have nothing to make right with me. You may make mistakes, you may not be my biological son but you'll always be my son Charles."

"Thanks Lily. I should probably try and find Blair."

"And Serena and Nate. They will want to see you too."

"Of course. Any idea where they might be?"

"Try the Empire."

"I will, if security let me in." He gave her a final hug and left to head towards the Empire.

Spotted: returning to his Empire, Chuck Bass. Is he rising from the grave or was it a case of mistaken identity? We hear he likes the name Henry now. Wonder if Queen B is aware she's been replaced by a blonde now and we're not talking about Serena? While you were keeping his legacy alive he was doing well to forget all about you B. You know you love me XOXO

Blair placed her phone back in her bag. Trust Gossip Girl to be unable to find Chuck Bass when she needed her to but now when she was hoping to give him time to tell people himself there was his face in Manhattan. Speak of the devil and he shall appear, Blair rolled her eyes at the sight of him, "urgh! How did you find me?"

"It was a trying day. There's only one place you'd come and it would be to feed the ducks."

"Surprised you remember."

"Where's Dorota?"

"I sent her to run errands. I wanted to feed them on my own. She had too much to say once she learnt Mr Chuck was back in New York."

"I saw Lily."

"Is she ok? Did you get to her before the Gossip Girl blast?"

"Yeah, she seemed to be. What Gossip Girl blast?"

Blair grabbed her phone and handed it to Chuck. He took the phone and sat down beside her on the bench.

"You've obviously been off her radar for too long, she couldn't miss the opportunity to be the first to tell people you were back."

"She's more ruthless then, well, I was or..."

"Me. Things change Chuck."

"Surprised you didn't send the tip in yourself."

"Why would I? I wanted the people that care about you to find out for themselves not from someone with a vendetta. How was Lily?"

"She was worried about you?"

"Worried about me? Why? I'm fine. It takes more than Chuck Bass to destroy Blair Waldorf."

"Blair, it's not what she was worried about."

"Then what?"

"She said you have been doing everything you can for the Empire and Bass Industries."

"So?"

"Why?"

"Why? What?"

"Why didn't you just sell the Empire after what I did?"

"You mean sell the hotel like you tried to sell me?"

Chuck winced at her wording. "Yes."

"Because I'm not you Chuck, I don't seek out to hurt people. Yes, you tried to sell me to Jack and yes, you slept with she who shall not be named but I loved you. You asked me to run the Empire and I wasn't going to deny you that with you gone. I was so angry at you, I got rid of that anger when we thought you were gone but seeing you." She hesitated, what was the best way to explain how she was feeling and did she even want him to know?

"You're angry again."

"Of course I'm angry."

"And confused."

"What is there to be confused about? You're back, you can have the Empire back, I was just keeping your seat warm."

"I'm not back."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm glad I managed to clear up the confusion but I'm not staying in New York."

"You can't be serious." Blair stood up, now she really was angry, how could he just leave after everything? He really was a coward if he wasn't staying in New York to face what he had done.

"This place is toxic and I'm toxic when I'm here. I meant what I said it would be easier if I stayed away and you were more than deserving to do what you wanted with the Empire."

"You can't give it all up Chuck."

"Why not?" He looked up at her, his eyes burning into hers told her everything she needed to know. He was hurt that they hadn't come looking.

"We've lived in a world where we thought you were dead, my world may seem like it is easier but it wouldn't be my world without you in it." She needed to give him some reassurance.

"I really am sorry."

"I know. Come on, I'm guessing Nate and Serena are going to be confused and hurt by the Gossip Girl blast. We should get to the Empire, no doubt they're together in your old suite."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. You have no idea what their reactions are going to be like." He got up from the bench to follow her. She was right, he wasn't sure how Serena or Nate would react but they didn't exactly reach out when he had left New York, he knew they both would be disgusted with what he had done.