A/N: I know I have been away for ever. I had some family stuff to take care of and that lead to some serious writers block. The first part may seem a bit random but it is really important in discovering where Blair left, and why it took so long for her to return. Krazy4Spike Mila being away might have the opposite effect for one of them. HnM thank you, I want you to find it hard to hate her. Ziah maybe some people do. Thanks. I am really hoping you still think Chuck and Tabitha are cute. Ronan, he really isn't her father but I get you why you think that, he acts like it. Kskss thanks. Sandra, Mila is Chuck girlfriend. Anonymous, sorry you don't like the name, I do though. Svenjen, thank you, I promise they will end up together but not right away. Letmein I love your reviews. I am glad you pick up on so much stuff. Thank you, CBBW, thanks. BassandWaldorf, Casablanca is my favourite move of all time. Thanks

Chapter 7: Blackberry's and black memories

Blair was sitting in her office, researching ideas for the hotel. She was still replaying yesterday's lunch in her head. She was looking for a reason to dislike Mila but she couldn't find one. Tabitha loved her and that annoyed her to no end. The kid loved everyone, but couldn't she pick a better time to be a good mannered child. Chuck adored Tabitha, and Blair was grateful for that but she really wasn't grateful for his girlfriend. She felt guilty for feeling like this because Mila was extremely nice, and Blair was struggling to find fault in her except for the fact that Chuck loved her. Blair realised she needed a break from work. She lifted her phone and diary, got up and made her way over to the hotel bar. She ordered a coffee and sat down on a plush arm chair. The receptionist came over and handed Blair some mail and a grey box with a serial number on it.

"Mr Bass ordered this for you. It's a Blackberry to keep up with your work emails."

"Thanks." Blair said opening the box before and picking up the phone. She pressed a couple of buttons and then frowned, "what's your name? Sorry I am just really bad with names.

"I'm Sarah, things seemed a bit complicated when we met."

Blair smiled politely, "yes just a bit. It's nice to meet you Sarah."

"It's nice to meet you too Miss Waldorf."

Blair furrowed her eyebrows, "please just call me Blair. All this Miss Waldorf stuff makes me feel like an old spinster. So who do I have to ring on this?"

"I programmed the numbers and emails of the staff who work for you, and also the contacts you need."

"Wow you are amazing. Do you work for me, because if so, I think you need a raise?"

Sarah laughed, "unfortunately not, although I do wish you were my boss."

"Could you do me a favour please?"

"Of course."

Blair took a deep breath and fiddled with her phone, "could you please Google Eleanor Waldorf, and bring me the latest news results?"

"Of course, anything else?"

"Yes, can you also find out what the latest toy is and where to get it? I would like to treat Tabitha."

Sarah smiled, "I will have all that information sent up to your room by tomorrow afternoon."

"Thank you so much Sarah."

She nodded, "my number and email is in there, if there is anything else you need just let me know."

Blair thanked her once more and shut the door behind her. She knew she was going to regret asking Sarah to research her mother but she had to know. She had to know if things had changed. If she was still married, how her business was, and how she was. She had to know if she was stable before she took Tabitha to meet her.

xXx

Blair was in her suite sitting on the floor with some papers. Tabitha had fallen asleep on the sofa about half an hour ago. Blair both loved and hated this time of the night. She loved having time to read a book, or to paint her nails but a small part of her wished Tabitha was awake to amuse her. She really needed to concentrate on her work, but she found herself wanting to have a reason not to. Her mother was running through her mind. Blair got up and walked over to the kitchen, she lifted out a glass and opened the bottle of wine. She poured herself a glass and took a sip. A knock at the door made her jump slightly. She set her glass down and went to open it. There was a handsome man loosening his tie stood in front of her.

"Hello, Miss Waldorf. I'm Josh. I work in PR, I thought I should come and introduce myself. I am here to assist you with anything you need."

"Please call me Blair. Would you like to come in?"

Josh nodded, he stepped inside. He looked at Tabitha lying on the sofa, "she looks like you."

"Thanks, " Blair smiled "come into the kitchen. She is dead to the world right now. Do you want a drink or something?"

"Just a water would be good thanks."

Blair brought him a bottle of water from the fridge and sat down at the table, "so how long have you worked here?"

"About three years. I came here from a hotel in Paris. Have you ever been?"

Blair nodded, "yes I lived there for a few months. It's my favourite place in the world."

"Mine too. I love the French language, there is something so sexy about it. Even the most unsexy words sound incredible in French. "

Blair lifted her glass and took a sip of it. She felt something she hadn't felt in a long while. She felt attracted to someone. It was different than what she felt for Chuck. There was a different type of excitement. She realised for the first time in ages she had butterflies in her stomach for a good reason. She set her glass down and played with the stem of it, "so what kind of things will you need me to do?"

Josh looked at her for a minute, "what do you mean?"

"You said we would be working together. I am new to all this so I am a little confused about it."

Josh started to pick the label off his bottle, "well you will be my boss so I guess the question is what do you need me to do? I guess I am kind of like your assistant."

"Oh", Blair exclaimed feeling a bit embarrassed. She had no idea what she needed him to do. Maybe she needed him to tell her what to do. She bit her lip as she thought for a minute. She wondered if he meant now or in general. She hoped it was now. She looked down at the papers for a minute, "well I could use a hand getting caught up round here. I have no idea who does what."

"Ok I can do that. Anything else?"

"Well my office really needs organised, which may take me the rest of my life."

Josh laughed, "again not a problem."

Blair sighed, "wow I think I may like you a lot."

"Thanks, I think." Josh laughed, "so have you had a lot of experience working in hotels?"

"No, this is my first. I went to high school with Chuck, and I think he has fallen for my daughter so that is probably what got me the job." Blair said looking over to Tabitha lying sleeping, "She loves him, and she doesn't like a lot of people."

"I can't imagine Mr Bass with children."

"You know, neither could I, until he met her. She changes people; she makes everyone and everything fun. He loves her too."

There was a knock on the door. Blair unfolded her legs and got up from the table. She smoothed out her dress as she made her way over to the door. She opened the door and saw Chuck and Mila standing in front of her, "Hey, come on in."

Chuck buttoned his jacket as he made his way into the suite. Mila followed, Blair had to stop and admire her dress sense. She was wearing the prettiest pink silk top with a plain black skirt. Chuck stopped in the kitchen, "sorry to drop in like this but I brought you some contracts to sign."

"It's fine," Blair answered closing the door behind him

Chuck entered the living room and was taken aback to see Josh there. Josh stood up and addressed him, Blair was a little surprised to see how formal Josh became around Chuck. Although she knew he was her boss, he was her friend first, and he and Tabitha got on like best friends, "good evening Joshua."

"Good evening Mr Bass, Miss Clark. I was just introducing myself to Miss Waldorf, offering my help to her." Josh said, Blair thought he was a bit nervous around Chuck which seemed strange to her. Josh turned back to Blair, "here is my card, ring me if you need anything."

Blair smiled "Thanks Josh. My office about ten in the morning?"

Josh nodded, "Of course, can I bring you some breakfast?"

"Erm…coffee and fresh fruit would be great. And the morning papers if you wouldn't mind?"

"Not a problem. See you tomorrow."

Josh left the suite closing the door behind him. Chuck walked over and lifted a blanket from the back of the sofa and laid it over Tabitha. He stroked her hair gently, while Mila and Blair sat facing each other at the table., "you think I could get him to bring me breakfast. Men fawning all over you Blair, how do you do it?", she laughed.

"I honestly think it is Tabitha. She has magical powers. Can I offer you a drink?"

"No it's late, we won't keep you very long. Chuck…"

Chuck walked over, unbuttoned his jacket and sat down at the table setting an envelope in front of him, "so how is Josh. He is like your assistant so you are his boss. I hired him but you get to fire him."

"I don't want to fire him. So far he is amazing. If he can walk the walk like he can talk the talk I may just love him. He is going to help me organise the mess that is my office so for that alone I love him."

Chuck smiled a little but Blair got the feeling it wasn't a happy smile, "how is Miss Tabitha?"

"She is tired. I am going to put her into her bed in a minute. She looks so tiny in that big bed. You know a simple room would have done us, we could have shared a bed."

"Trust me, take the advance of a big empty bed while you can," Mila smiled.

Chuck opened the envelope and brought out some papers, "more things to sign, I am sorry. Just some contracts. Mila why don't you go on to bed. I need to explain these to Blair. I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Ok, goodnight Blair. We should grab a coffee before I leave on Thursday."

"That sounds lovely."

Once Mila had left, Chuck lifted a pen out and handed it to Blair, "Ok so this authorises a bank account for Tabitha that I will pay a small amount into every month which will pay for college for her."

Blair set the pen down, "no".

"Don't be stubborn, just sign it. I'll forge your signature if I have too.""

Blair sighed, "I don't want hands out. I will save part of my wages every month for her. You already put a roof over our heads which is more than I deserve."

"The money isn't for you, it's for her." Chuck reached over and took Blair's hand, the electricity in the room was undeniable, "Blair she gave me my life back, showed me there is more than work. Please let me give her this."

"Fine but one day I will pay you back. For everything Chuck," Blair answered signing the document.

"You already have." He lifted the document and placed another one in front of her, "this one now."

"What does it say? I am too tired to read it."

Chuck smiled, "it basically says I can never fire you, and should the company ever change hands you must be kept on."

"You have lost the plot. Are you smoking weed again? You never want to fire me. Why are you doing this? Giving me everything, her I understand sort of, but me? Chuck this is crazy."

"Just sign it."

"No tell me why you are doing this?"

"Because…." Chuck paused and took a deep breath, "I want you to be safe. Blair you came to me with nothing and I hated to see you like that. You had a rough time of it, and didn't have the opportunity to be great. So I am giving you greatness."

Blair dipped her head and signed the sheet, "Chuck Bass, you still amaze me after all this time."

Chuck placed the third one in front of her, "please sign this first. I promise you will like this one."

"Why?"

"Just sign it."

Blair sighed and reluctantly signed it, "ok what now? Have you adopted me?"

Chuck lifted all the documents away from Blair, "No but Tabitha now owns fifteen per cent of everything I have."

"That was a joke right? She doesn't really."

Chuck smiled, "no she does. Obviously it is in trust until she is twenty one. She is taken care of for the rest of her life, you don't need to worry about her."

"Why on earth would you give my child fifteen per cent of everything you have? Chuck I didn't lie, she really isn't yours."

"I know she isn't, but …"

"But what. What on earth would possess you to give a child you have known for five minutes everything you have?"

"Because I know how you suffered because of what I did. We haven't talked about why you left yet."