A/N: You guys, I'm so suprised how many reviews this story got. Thank you so much for it! I hope you like how it's going on too. Please review and let me know.

Beta'ed by Holly. Thanks a lot!


Once Chuck had been gone, Blair had opened the box and found the most stunning engagement ring she'd ever seen in it. It took her a whole week to wrap it in a package and send it back to him.

When the message arrived that Chuck had drunk his ass off the same evening, got robbed that in the neighborhood Victrola was and got shot because he was carrying that damn ring around and didn't want to give it to the dirt bags, Blair had a little breakdown. She'd been crying for two whole days and didn't want to eat or get up from the bed. First when Serena had threatened her by calling Eleanor and Harold and make them come to New York, something she'd really do, Blair got up from the bed, showered, and went to her classes.

After getting mugged, Lily had done everything in her power to bring him back to the States as soon as possible. The bullet went clean through his back, lung and chest. He needed only one surgery and was well enough to leave the hospital after three weeks.

In those three weeks, Blair came to visit him once. She brought him some flowers and a 'Get well soon!' card but their conversation was really forced and they didn't talk about anything really. Also when Eric stepped by twenty minutes later, Blair seemed to be relieved. She had a reason to leave and so she did.


Chuck sat in his office. Once he had recovered, he decided to take his place at Bass Industries. He did everything to bury himself in work. Work means concentration. And concentration means no thoughts drifting around – to her.

He hadn't seen Blair for four months when she suddenly showed up in his office.

"Blair, what a surprise." Chuck said as he watched her walk in. He quirked an eyebrow and waited for whatever would come now.

"Hi." Blair said smiling.

"What brings you here?" he asked curiously.

"Actually, I want you to have dinner with me tonight." Blair offered with light excited. Chuck knew immediately that something was up with her.

"Dinner." he stated in disbelief.

"Dinner!" Blair nodded.

"Okay. 8 o'clock at the Palace?" Chuck decided to play along with her. It couldn't hurt much more than it had before.

"You moved back to the Palace?" Blair wondered.

"Yes, it's easier for me to get to the office when I live on the Upper East Side. Didn't Nate tell you?" Chuck asked.

Both of them knew it was a lie. If Chuck Bass really wanted to live in the Empire and work on the Upper East Side, everyone knew that he'd just take his chopper to work every day. Chuck did also know that Blair and Nate weren't speaking at the moment. Just like him and Serena.

Blair had told Serena about the Empire and Jack one night when they got drunk in Paris and Nate was furious with both of them for hanging out with Dan while Chuck was in the hospital.

"Okay. See you at 8 then." Blair nodded and left.


Chuck stood in front of the Palace and smoked a cigarette when the limo pulled up. Blair got out and spotted him. She shook her head as if angry and made a quick walk over to him.

"Chuck, why are you smoking? You just had your lung injured. You know this isn't good for you." she lectured him.

"It's not like I plan to live long." Chuck shrugged as he let the cigarette fall down on the concrete and grinded it.

Blair was quiet for a long moment. "You shouldn't be joking about something like that." she growled.

"I wasn't joking." Chuck told her completely honesty. "Let's go inside." Chuck offered his arm and Blair's dainty hand was wrapped around the inside of his elbow gently.

On their way inside, a familiar face passed them without any hinted that they knew each other.

"Looks like Whoregina lost her bitchy touch." Chuck smirked.

"Well, being a new mom seems to eat that up. How is Humphrey taking it?" Blair asked.

"I wouldn't know. I've more important things to do than caring about Dan Humphrey's problems anyway. I was in for the shock of my life when I visited Lily last week and the Humphrey girl was there, without make-up… Lily seems to love her grandson though. But shouldn't you know that better than me? I thought you were such good friends with Humphrey." Chuck said. He knew not to mention Jenny's name in front of Blair anymore. The girl had caused enough trouble in the past and both of them seemed to want to forget about all of it.

"It's not true what Nate told you. Serena and I weren't going out and having fun with Humphrey while you were in the hospital. Georgina left him alone with the baby most of the time, so I took Humphrey and the baby to the one person I know that can handle babies - Dorota. And of course Serena wanted to go with us. You know how she gets when she sees tiny human beings." Blair explained.

"How is Dorota by the way. Does she like Queens?"

"She does. But how do you know that she's living in Queens now?" Blair frowned as Chuck pulled her chair out for her. Chuck went on the opposite side of the table and smirked.

"Of course, you sold it to Cyrus." Blair continued. Chuck nodded.

"How is her baby?"

"She's so gorgeous Chuck. I bought her a headband the other day and…"

"Of course you did."

"Well, yes but what I wanted to say…." Blair told him about her experiences with little Anastasia while Chuck ordered for them.

"…and so we agreed that I come to babysit her once a month." Blair ended her monologue and smiled proudly.

Chuck smirked and nodded. "So, not that I want to complain but what's the real reason behind this dinner. I know that there has to be something, Blair. I mean you didn't call or texted me for four months and now we're here as if nothing happened."

Blair bit her bottom lip and her eyes fell from his. She took hold of his hand that lay on the table and stared at it.

"Nate told me about the ring. The engagement ring you got shot for. "

"So you're here because?"

"Because I feel like I owe this to you."

Chuck hissed angrily and rose from his place. Blair looked up at him confused.

"There's no reason you have to feel guilty about and I don't want to waste your time when you really don't want to be here."

"I want to be here. Otherwise I just wouldn't be!" Blair snapped back.

Chuck shook his head, turned around and went to the waiter. Blair followed him, not wanting to let this fight end right here.

"Put everything on my charge. And send some scotch up. Two bottles will do." Chuck demanded. Blair was behind him.

"Don't send alcohol up to his suite! He's just recovering from a dangerous surgery and can't drink it." Blair hissed at the waiter. The poor guy started to look from his angry boss to the furious woman standing only two feets away.

"You do as I told you. I employ you after all." Chuck snapped at the waiter.

"Chuck wait." Blair pleaded.

"What for? Your pity? Or to play along so that you can feel better? No thanks. I told you there's nothing for you to worry about. You're free to go." Chuck started to walk away from her.

"It's not how it is." Blair called after him as she followed him.

"It's exactly how it is." Chuck hissed over his shoulder towards her.

He reached the elevator and wanted to push the button but Blair caught his hand. He didn't pull his hand away but bit his bottom lip.

"Come on, Chuck. Be fair. Let's just talk, okay?" Blair offered.

"But not in the hallway. Let's go upstairs and order room service. I'm starving and not in the mood to get stared at any longer." Chuck returned.

"Of course." Blair nodded.