OMG guys it's been over a year since I last published a chapter... I'm so sorry for letting you down. But I promised I'd finish this story and I swear, I will! Even if it takes me a decade ^^ I miss the show so much, as you all do, I guess. Well, a short chapter but I'll try to write more soon. I still hate Dan - even if he makes S happy and all. Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy this chapter and do not forget to review (even if it's to yell at me for not writing sooner! ahah).

Upper East Side

The funeral was something really simple, friends and family only. Serena was, as usual, stunning, in her black Valentino dress. She was clinging onto Blair's arm. They both looked so small and vulnerable, all dressed up in black, wearing big black sunglasses to hide the black circles around their eyes.

Blake and Emily were following close behind their mother, walking between the Archibald kids. Blake was squeezing his sister's hand, he was more Chuck than Dan and so, you couldn't guess any emotion on his face. His red eyes were the only proof of his deep sadness. Emily's despair was obvious. She couldn't focus her stare on anything; she looked around like a trapped beast. She was so frightened, so lost without her father.

Who killed her father? Why? He had never hurt anyone – but someone decided he did not deserve to live anymore. Emily Humphrey had had everything for her. She was her mother's portrait – too pretty to be ignored, to tall not to be noticed. But she looked so weak today.

Emily glanced at the person behind her. Taylor Archibald gave her a little smile. She blushed and turned around. She shouldn't look at him that way. She was six and he was seven. She knew he saw her as a little girl, but she had a little voice in her telling her when they grow up, things would be different. But now wasn't the time to think about this kind of stuff. Her father was dead. He was shot.

"Daniel Humphrey was a husband, a father, a son, a brother and a dear friend. He was one of the best writers of his time but life was taken away from him. Life as we all knew it will never be again." The priest started. Blake gritted his teeth hearing that man he had never seen or known talking about his father. He did not know him. How could he talk about him? None of them was a believer. Blair had once been, his father had told him, but that time was over. They were all born with a silver spoon in their mouth but that doesn't mean God had blessed them. No, God let them fall as soon as they were born. They had everything, but life had not been that easy to them – just take a look at Blair.

Emily was sitting on Chuck's lap, her tiny body curled up against his. She was hiding her face in his neck, hiding her tears. Uncle Chuck, as she called him, had been always been by her side. He was holding her tight, trying to be tough for the little girl. She would need his help, as Serena would need Blair's.

"Uncle Chuck, why did they send Daddy to heaven?" Emily kept asking that question, to anyone who would listen to her. Serena usually started crying. Blair looked away to hide the wetness in her eyes. Nate took her in his arms. Blake did the same and told her to stay strong. Taylor took her to play with her dolls. Rufus avoided the little's gaze and just softly stroked her hair. Lily told her bad people always tried to hurt them and then left, not knowing what to say. Maybe Chuck would know, Emily thought. Chuck always knew everything.

"I don't know, my little Lily. I wish I had all the answers to your question, I wish I could bring your Daddy back but I can't. Even I can't do that. But I swear we will catch the villains and put them behind strong iron bars so as to make sure they do not send anyone else to heaven." Emily stared at him. It wasn't the answer she was expecting, nor the one who would make her happy. But it did make her better.

Blair glanced at Chuck. He had changed but she had the weird feeling he remained the same. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it. She never imagined Chuck playing the role of a father. He was the reckless alcoholic boy who stole her heart and kept the nightmares away – but now he had become the man who would keep her heart and body safe, who would take care of her and her children. She trusted with not only her life but also her children's.

"Did they find who did this?" Cornelia whispered to Damon. They were sitting a few seats behind her parents. She did not cry, nor did Damon. They did not know Dan well enough to cry for him but Cornelia put herself in the kids' shoes and felt more than sorry. If someone had taken her recently found father or mother, she would hunt them down and kill them – very slowly.

"I don't think so. Last time I checked, the police was following the trail of a strange lonely man. I'll call them later, we all want the truth." He said. She nodded and he kissed her collarbone. She would have shivered if they were not at a funeral, and if Blake Humphrey was not climbing the stairs to make his speech.

"To all you hypocrites. The front row knows my father even though my mother is quite more used to front rows than my father was. You don't know him, your cries are vain just as mine are useless to bring him back. I heard you talking, saying he did not deserve this. Well, you're right about that. My father never deserved to die that way. He was supposed to grow old with my mother, to know his grandchildren and to teach me how to write a proper essay. He did not. He will never. But I will not complain. I will know by heart every brothel of New York or I will become a charming prince thanks to my uncles. You are not allowed to cry if you did not know him, hear me? My name is Blake Humphrey and I will miss you, Daddy, more than anything." He ran a hand through his hair and messed it up. New York was warned, no one should mess with the Serena's son. He touched the wooden coffin where his father's body laid. He paused, staring at the golden inscription. "Daniel Humphrey". A small tear started to fall down his cheek. He had not allowed himself to cry, until now.

"Ahem, well, thank you Blake." The priest said. He gave a sorry look to Serena who wasn't sorry at all. She was proud of her son. She saw Dan in him, his verve, but she could still see herself. He had her lion heart. She couldn't help the tears – she hadn't slept in days. The pills wouldn't work, she spent hours in her room, lights off, trying to get up and be strong for her kids. She just could not. Nate was always by her side. Raina had left earlier in the day, nobody knew why. Nobody cared to ask Nate, as he was shadowing the new and poor widow.

Upper East Side, two days later.

"Nate, tell me, what happened between Raina and you?" Chuck asked, as they were finally alone at his place.

"We had a fight, another one, about Serena. She hates her guts. I told her I needed to be here for her, for she is my best friend, just like you and Blair. She needed me, you know I would not leave her like that. Raina did not understand, she told to send Blair in my stead, but Serena wanted me by her side." Nate poured himself another glass of scotch. Chuck was drinking water – his liver issues forbade him any kind of alcohol. Nate was staying with the kids and Blair at Serena's, but he was enjoying the calm of Chuck's penthouse – as he always did.

"I never liked her, I told you so." Chuck said, pointing his finger at Nate and raising an eyebrow. Then he took a sip of water and put the glass down, staring right into his friend's eyes. "She's the mother of your children. If you truly love her – not the right love, ok? Don't go all Blair with me, we both know these kinds of things do not end well -, get the fuck out of here and try to make her understand. She's your wife, you two have been together for more than fifteen years. You have two kids; you can't bail on that just like that!"

Nate smiled at his friend. "Well, well, guess who's becoming responsible? One grown-up daughter appears and you suddenly realize life isn't always about partying. Moreover, you may get to raise Blair's son too. Welcome home, Daddy Chuck!" Chuck rolled his eyes and took another sip of his glass. He frowned and looked at it – oh right, it was not scotch. "Anyway, you're right. But I'm not sure about anything now – except that I want to stay here. I want to come back living here."

"Welcome back, then!" Chuck said, opening wide his arms. "Do you want me to call my lawyer – or should I say future son-in-law? – to prepare your divorce papers? Because Raina won't move from Chicago, and you know it."

"I know." Nate agreed, after a long pause. "But I need to talk to her first. I still love her, Chuck. Don't give me that look! I know what I feel, I'm just not sure it's worth it anymore."

"Worth what?" Chuck asked. He was trying to make his friends say what was driving him crazy. He knew Nate from kindergarten and he knew when something was bothering him.

"Living away from New York, from my family, from my friends. The kids love it here, more than Chicago, I'm sure. They love Blake and Emily and they miss my parents when we're there. My mother could take care of them after school instead of leaving them with nurses, as we do in Chicago. I mean – Life would be easier here."

"Talk to her first, ok? But I can't wait to tell the girls the NJBC will be reunited." Chuck said, grinning. Life was eventually smiling at him.