"So let me get this straight. First you want nothing to do with Chuck and now you're worried about him?" Serena asked, bewildered
"I'm just concerned." She glanced at the gossip girl site with that devious look in her eye
"Blair, you promised you would resist your inner urges and not snoop!" Serena snapped, walking through the connected bathroom to Blair's room
"Serena! Come on, smell the coffee! This is so unlike Chuck, letting some random woman in so easily? She's taking advantage."
"Blair, I highly doubt anyone can take advantage of Chuck." Serena rolled her eyes "Besides, he has just had a near death experience! That makes people change. In his case, the change does seem for the better."
"But it's too out of character... I need to get to the bottom of this."
"Blair!" Serena scorned "Look... I know this can't be easy for you, but you can't control this one. It's just not up to you anymore."
"But..." Blair whined
"I'm sorry, Blair, but whether you like it or not, you don't have a say, let it go."
"Oh...' Blair folded her arms, "Are you taking that little piece of advice? You're still checking gossip girl."
"You're right. I too have been holding onto pain I shouldn't. So like I said, I'm going to wish Nate and Dan all the best, because I believe there is something better for me around the corner. Something that gives me what I get from both of them."
"First of all, I'm not holding onto anything." Blair insisted, "I told Chuck I had no feelings for him anymore in Paris. So I have absolutely no problem moving on."
"Great, then we can move on together." Serena smiled
"Fine by me." Blair said firmly
"Chuck!" Blair called out, as she caught him eyeing peonies from the outside of a flower shop, "Really?" She mocked, "I didn't think Eva had that kind of taste."
"Oh." Chuck quickly looked up, "I'm actually getting Lily something, and no I'm not buying peonies... What do you want, Blair?"
"Just thought I'd say hi, see how you're doing..."
"I thought you wanted nothing to do with me."
"Look we can tiptoe around each other or we can just face the inevitable. We are bound to be running into each other, we should at least be civil."
"Why the change of heart?" He glanced at her, suspiciously
"Do I need a motive?" Blair asked
"I know you, Blair."
"Well, at least the old Chuck Bass is in there somewhere." She sighed
"Who would want that?" He sneered, "Blair, I have to go." He turned on his heel, barely looking her in the eye.
Chuck walked into The Empire suite. Nate was sat on the couch, reading a newspaper.
"Hey, Chuck... There's a real nice article in here about your donations." Nate giggled
"They're not praising me."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing. Forget it. How are things with Juliet?"
"Well, a lot better actually. Sure she still has her doses of Serena insecurity, but she's really opened up to me. It's taken some time but I think she realises there's nothing to worry about, I mean, I don't even talk to Serena anymore. Vanessa has more to worry about with Dan, right?" Nate chuckled
"So Serena is affecting both yours and brooklynite's relationship. Our girls sure had us wrapped around there fingers."
"I assume you don't mean Juliet and Eva..." Nate presumed, "Chuck is everything alright?"
"Fine."
"Shouldn't you and Eva be celebrating or something? You should be ecstatic with all the reports."
"If a few good deeds redeemed a life time of destruction, I'd have something to celebrate now, wouldn't I?"
"Weren't you supposed to give those documents to Lily?" Eva asked, as she and Chuck sat down to eat
"Lily wasn't home. I'll pass by after dinner and get Serena to give them to her."
"Don't forget to invite Serena to your Charity Ball pre-party tomorrow."
"I will."
"I've noticed you've added Blair to the guest list. I thought you didn't want her there?" Eva asked
"We've decided to be civil. Is that an issue?"
"No, not at all. I just hope Blair isn't playing games with you... I wouldn't want anything to interrupt your progress."
"If you don't think she should come..-"
"-No, Chuck. It's really your decision. I just want you to feel comfortable... Blair or no Blair. I know this will be a success. The whole town believes in you."
-Flashback -The Lost Boy
"They think I've lost my mind." Chuck chuckled
"Have you?" Blair asked, in astonishment
"No."
"Then... how can you be sure?" She asked
"Because... you believe in me." Chuck kissed her.
-End of Flashback
"I'll tell her about it. Blair can make up her own mind up about being there."
"Alright." Eva smiled, "I'm sure she would want to support you, no matter what."
"Mr Chuck." Dorota called as he entered the Waldorf Penthouse "What are you doing here?"
"I need Serena to give these files to Lily, is she here?"
"You can check her room."
"Thank you." Chuck replied as he ascended the stairs.
"Serena?" He called out as he entered the room but she wasn't there. He glanced through the open bathroom door and saw into Blair's room, where she stood, in her negligee, pulling up her signature stockings. He couldn't help but stare.
"Chuck!" Blair yelled, quickly pulling a robe around her, "What do you want?"
"I was looking for Serena..." He said, walking through the bathroom and into the room
"Well she's not here."
"Could you ask her to give this to Lily for me?" He handed her the file.
"Sure."
He glanced at her intently.
"Anything else?" Blair asked, impatiently
"Oh. Yeah, tell her the pre-party is tomorrow night, her name's on the guest list... I don't suppose you want to join?"
"Where you and your little French maid is being honoured? I'll pass." Blair scoffed
"I thought you were going to be civil?" Chuck smirked
"Believe me. This is civil." She quickly pulled her hair off the nape of her neck and twirled it into a bun
"Blair..." He whispered, walking towards her, making her tremble a little. "Do you ever wonder... what would have happened if... things were different"
He was too close to her at this point. She let out a sigh.
"I think you should go now." Blair insisted
"Yes, you're right."
"Eva's waiting for you."
"Yes, of course." Chuck nodded and left the room
"Oh, Hi Chuck, Bye Chuck." Serena said walking in
"I've left a file for Lily."
"Okay." Serena smiled as he left. "So?" Serena began once Chuck was out of earshot
"So, we need to pick outfits for the party, unless you don't want to run into Nate or Dan." Blair smirked
"We? Didn't I overhear you tell Chuck you weren't going?"
"Well, eavesdropper. I've changed my mind."
"In the past 15 seconds?" Serena mocked
"Just because I can't agree with his current choices doesn't mean I don't want to support him."
"Blair." Serena encouraged, "That's sweet."
"Whatever." Blair pretended to be fluffing about with clothes.
"I know it hurts B. But we have to be strong."
"You're alright with seeing both your lovers happy with new partners?"
"As painful as it may be, I want them to be happy. Don't you want Chuck to be happy?"
"I do. I guess... I just... didn't expect him to be happy so soon." Blair bit her lip
"I know, B. Me neither..." Serena ran to hug her best friend.
"Eva?" Chuck called out as he entered The Empire suite
"In here." She called out. Chuck made his way to the bedroom
"What are you watching?"
"Breakfast at Tiffany's. A classic." Eva giggled
"Please, turn that off."
"What?"
"Turn it off, Eva."
"Oh... Kay."
"I just wanna spend some time with you that's all." He assured, crawling into bed with her
"How did it go with Serena?" She asked
"Fine. She's coming."
"Great." Eva replied, "And... Blair?"
"No." Chuck sighed
"Well, that's okay. Maybe she needs more time. I'm sure she'll come around eventually, and you'll be friends again."
"I don't think I'm anything to Blair anymore."
"Come here." Eva hugged and kissed him
"Ugh" He groaned, "Let's go back to Paris."
They both fell asleep in each other's arms
Chuck looked up and found Blair sitting on top of him. "Oh isn't this torture." Blair sighed, "Convincing yourself that you're not Chuck Bass. When she's with you," Blair pointed at Eva, who was fast asleep, "You are Henry. The man that does great things, the man that does right by those he loves But when you're alone, you're Chuck Bass.. And you can't admit that to yourself can you? Chuck Bass lost Blair. Say it! You can't say it. You can't admit your past. You failed Chuck. You lost. How long can you live a lie for? How long will Eva stick around once she realises that Chuck Bass still has so many demons." Blair stroked his jaw. Chuck felt an unusual feeling so he pulled her hand off of him, and noticed she was wearing the engagement ring. "Perhaps... if you had been more like Henry back then, this would be on my finger. But it's not." Blair took off the ring and placed it on his bedside table. "Chuck destroyed any chance of that."
Chuck woke up abruptly. Looking over to his bedside table, nothing was there except his phone. He checked the time. Almost 9am.
He got up and went to the living room, pouring himself a drink.
He heard the elevator doors open
"Lily?" He looked startled
"Hello, Charles. How are you?"
"Fine. What can I do for you?"
"I came to give you this." She handed him a file. "Everything has been signed, best to keep it somewhere safe." She smiled
"Certainly... Can I get you a drink?"
"Sure, why not?" Lily smiled
Chuck handed her a drink
"Lily..."
"yes, Charles?"
"I really need someone to talk to, and I don't feel comfortable with anyone but you."
"Well, of course, I'm always here. You know that."
"I still get these nightmares."
"Charles, I'm sure it's only natural, you've been through an ordeal."
"Do you believe in starting over? Because I think my past won't allow me to do that."
"I think you already have started over. You have made us all so proud."
"You know that feeling when you're on vacation and you return home and you're just not ready to face reality yet."
"You want to be on vacation a little longer." Lily added
"Ever since I got back from Paris, that's how I feel. I want to be back in Paris. I want to be Henry, a man that everyone admires, a man that doesn't cause so much pain. Now I'm back in New York, I'm constantly trying to avoid the pain Chuck has caused."
"You know, Charles... You can admire Henry, and if you want to be more like him, even if he is a figment of your imagination, you can be him. But you can't become something better by denying your past. You need to acknowledge your past to grow from it."
"What if I can't accept my past."
"It'll get easier with time." Lily assured
"If I admit who I was. I could lose Eva, and if she leaves, what if Henry goes with her, then I'm just..."
"Just what?"
"Just Chuck Bass. The man who did despicable things, the man who... lost Blair." He whispered
"You can't change the past, Chuck. But Eva is strong girl. I don't think she'd give up on you easily."
"Even if she finds out about this?" He reached in the safe, and pulled out the Harry Winston box. Lily opened it and found the ring.
"Oh, Charles." Lily said, apologetically. "Don't torture yourself. I know that facing reality will be painful. But there is always a next chapter, and it could be really great. It may not be what you had hoped. But it's not as scary as you think. Refusing the face reality is only going to cause you more pain."
"I know, I just... want this vacation to last a little longer."
"Listen to me, Charles. You can sit here, avoid your past and pretend like everything is fine. Or you can own up to it and make a vow to do and be better. Learn from your past. You have a second chance with Eva."
"You're right. Thank you, Lily."
"Do you want me to return this to the store?" Lily held up the ring
"I can do it." He smiled at her. Once Lily had entered the elevator, Chuck put the ring back in the safe and locked it tight.