Gossip Girl: O Brother, Where Bart Thou? (Episode 131)

As last week's preview hinted, this week is the funeral of the one and only Bart Bass(hole). He died at the end of last week's episode in a tragic car accident.

We begin with Serena and Eric sitting down for breakfast with their grandmother, CeCe, and Lily joins the breakfast later. Lily is obviously and understandably a bit upset and it doesn't help that CeCe doesn't hardly seem phased by Bart's death. Lily leaves to go to the park. It turns out she's meeting Rufus there. She reveals to him that Bart left her a voicemail before he was killed but she hasn't had the courage to listen to it yet. Rufus offers to be there with her when she listens, but she says she'll wait to do it by herself. He tells her that he'll be waiting for her, as he always has been. Meanwhile, Blair is breakfasting with Cyrus and Eleanor. Blair wants to comfort Chuck but can't get ahold of him. Dan stops by to see Serena, who is getting ready for the funeral. She's wearing an classy black dress. Just after Dan gets there to see how she's doing, Aaron stops by as well. This is a bit of an awkward moment but fortunately only does last a moment.

Chuck goes to a bar and meets with Bart's private investigator about the potential bombshells he may hold. Chuck says he wants the secrets and he's about to become very rich. Translation: Chuck will be a billionaire and money will be no object in order to get the goods on Lily. The P.I. says he thinks Lily will be coming into some money as well and she'll be even more motivated than Chuck. Chuck leaves to go to his father's funeral.

Lily is still at the park, Rufus is gone now. Shefinally listens to Bart's last voicemail to her and in it he is mad that she was flirting with Rufus at the Ball and he says he knows why she was in the hospital in France years and years ago... and with that Lily's jaw just about hits the ground.

Dan and Aaron are at Bart's wake and Serena texts them saying she'll be there soon. Dan is the first to get the text and relays the message to Aaron, who then gets the message himself. Dan makes it clear that he was the first to get it. The Van Der Woodsen fam arrive moments later, by limousine, and Dan and Aaron, and Jenny, are there to greet them. Jenny hugs Eric, while Dan and Aaron exchange glares over who gets to console Serena. Aaron grabs her first and sort of leans into her, but then Serena goes to Dan and they really embrace each other. Dan then leaves to go pay his respects to Lily, Serena says she'll really appreciate that. Looks like Dan scores some more points. Take that artsy Aaron!

Before Lily heads into the church CeCe tells her that she followed her to the park today and saw that she met with Rufus, but they can talk about that later. Dan comes over and he and CeCe hug. Lily is still standing there a bit dumbfounded. Dan and Lily then hug and Lily tells him he is a true gentleman.

Onto Chuck who is being helped to the wake by Nate and Blair. Clearly he had a bit too much to drink with the P.I. earlier. Blair doesn't think anyone should see him like this, but they continue on anyway. Chuck spots Dan there and runs up to him so he can yell at him. He asks Dan what the hell he is doing at his dad's funeral and tells him to leave, he says it's his dad's fault that his dad is dead. CeCe jumps in and tells Dan it would be best if he left, Serena then jumps in to defend Dan and yells at Chuck telling him that Dan has been helping. Then artsy Aaron jumps in and says Dan should leave and Serena doesn't say anything so Dan decides to leave. Chuck continues on his way into the church and Lily is there and tries to hug him but Chuck pushes her away and calls her a whore. She tells him he needs to be with his family, he turns to her and tells her that he doesn't have a family.

Dan goes home and tells Rufus what Chuck said, Rufus claims not to know what Chuck means. Rufus then changes the subject to Serena and asks how things are between he and Serena. Dan says that it's very much over and they leave it there.

Blair and Nate continue trying to help Chuck get through the day. They move onto a gathering at the Van Der Bass home. Chuck is still in full depression, his head and back slumped. He almost reminds me of Heath Ledger playing The Joker, though Ed Westwick isn't nearly as good. Chuck heads to his room as soon as they get there. So, we move onto Blair who is also there with Cyrus and Eleanor. Cyrus is talking about how great the speech was at the wake and he suddenly thinks he and Eleanor should get married right away. At first both Blair and Eleanor think it's a horrible idea but then Eleanor warms to the idea and before you know it they've settled on getting married at their house tomorrow night. Jenny overhears and volunteers to make Eleanor's outfit, which makes Blair oh so happy.

Serena and Aaron are also upstairs in her room and he surprises her with an offer to go to Buenos Aires for Christmas. She says she can't because of the condition her family is in at the moment. He suspects that she really just doesn't want to leave because of Dan, but she says they are just friends nothing more. He asks her to just think about it, she says she will.

CeCe confronts Lily and asks her what Chuck may know. Lily says she doesn't know nor does she care to go head-to-head right now with Chuck. Lily walks away and just then CeCe gets a very important call and she goes to meet with the mystery caller.

Eric, who is noticeably playing a larger role this episode, gets a surprise when his ex-boyfriend, Jonathan, shows up.

Lily goes upstairs to talk to Chuck who is rummaging through Bart's paperwork looking for Lily's file. She tells him that it's not there. He says that she disgusts him, she disrespected her marriage and betrayed his father with Rufus Humphrey. Lily says he might still be alive if Chuck had just stayed out of things, but no just like Bart he always had to know everything and get in everyone else's business. Lily goes to say it's no one's fault, but then Chuck says his blood is on Lily's hands. This infuriates her and she slaps him, though she immediately says she's sorry. Chuck says as soon as the will is sorted out she won't see him again. Chuck then walks downstairs and Blair and Nate ask where he's going and Chuck says he doesn't want to be there, Eric says Chuck needs to be there, he needs him, he already lost his step-father. Chuck asks when Eric is going to get it, they are not related and then he leaves. Blair goes after him and tells Chuck that she will stand by him through anything, they are Chuck and Blair - Blair and Chuck. He asks why she would do that, she says because she loves him. He says, "that's too bad," and leaves.

CeCe goes to Lily again later and tells her that she just met with Bart's P.I. and that he plans to sell Lily's secret to the highest bidder. Lily asks CeCe to take care of it, CeCe says she will.

Serena and Dan meet up for a walk and Serena springs the news on Dan about Aaron's Buenoes Aires offer. She's looking for his opinion on the whole thing. He tells her that he can't tell her what to do and says she already knows the answer.

Blair congratulates Cyrus on his upcoming marriage to her mom. And, then Blair opens up emotionally to Cyrus. She tells him that she told Chuck that she loved him, and she thought that by saying it everything would change, but instead everything is still the same, he's still a jerk. Cyrus hugs her and tells her that Chuck just needs time.

CeCe and Lily talk, again. CeCe says she talked to the P.I. and it "went very well." CeCe then asks what Lily's going to do about Rufus. Lily admits that she loves Rufus. Serena just so happens to come home at this point and overhears Lily say she loves Rufus. Lily reminds Serena that she once begged her not to be Rufus, so she didn't. Serena says that she guesses after all she's been through, if she loves Rufus then she should be with him. Serena says she'd going to try to make it work with Aaron and tells Lily of the trip to Buenos Aires, which Lily says she can go on.

Dan goes home and tells Jenny about his convo with Serena. She tells him that he should've talked Serena out of Buenos Aires, then Serena would leave Aaron and be with Dan. Dan finally comes to his senses and realizes Jenny's right. Jenny says that Serena will be at Cyrus and Eleanor's wedding so he should come along since Jenny has to take Eleanor her outfit, Dan agrees. After they leave Rufus gets a call from Lily and she asks him if he wants to go away for Christmas. Dan and Jenny are going to their mom's for Christmas, so Rufus tells Lily yes.

Chuck meets with Bart's P.I. again and despite CeCe, sort of, telling Lily that she took care of the P.I., it appears that she didn't. Chuck gives the P.I. a large amount of money and the P.I. gives him a paper.

Serena arrives to the Cyrus and Eleanor wedding and tells Aaron that she will go with him to Buenos Aires. Just minutes later Dan and Jenny arrive. Jenny rushes upstairs to give the outfit to Eleanor, meanwhile Dan talks to Serena - after Aaron goes to check on his dad - and Dan asks Serena not to go to Buenos Aires with Aaron. She says it's too late she already told Aaron she would go. She then explains to him that their parents - Lily and Rufus - are in love and that it's their time. She says who knows if they would work any better this time and besides that she's dating someone else now. She says they can talk again after the holidays.

Chuck goes to Lily with the paper that holds her secret. Lily is confuesd of why her mom would do this. She begs Chuck not to turn his family away, Bart never understood family but she hopes Chuck will.

Eleanor and Cyrus get married at their small, intimate wedding. It's such a touching moment that it even makes Blair shed a tear or two.

After Lily's talk with Chuck about family it appears maybe he changed his mind because he burns the paper holding Lily's secret. Will we ever find out what her dirty little secret is?

After the wedding Derota tells Blair that Chuck is upstairs. She finds Chuck sitting on her bed crying, yes... CRYING! She hugs him and he puts his head on her shoulder. They lay together, but then Chuck leaves without waking Blair and she finds a note that says "I'm sorry for everything. You deserve much better. Don't come looking for me."

CeCe goes to Rufus, who is packing for his trip with Lily, and she tells Rufus about Lily's secret that she's been holding from Rufus. And, she says as long as Lily holds this secret the two of them will never work. CeCe leaves and Dan gets home a little while later. He finds Rufus sitting in the dark with a few suitcases nearby. Dan confronts him with what Serena said about he and Lily being in love. Rufus says Serena doesn't know what she's talking about and then leaves.

Serena and Aaron head off to the airport for the beginning of their trip to South America. Serena gets a call from Dan who wants to tell her that Rufus and Lily may not be in love hoping this will change her mind, but Serena ignores the call. Aaron says he may just be falling in love with her.

Rufus goes to the train station where he finds Lily standing by herself waiting for him. He then drops the secret bombshell asking her, "just tell me one thing... is it a boy or a girl?" What?! Lily stands there shaking her head.

The next new episode will air Monday, January 5th. Until then, what do you guys think will happen between Blair and Chuck? And, do you think Serena will really enjoy her time with Aaron in Buenos Aires or will she realize she's meant to be with Dan?