Lillian van der Woodsen

Lillian "Lily" van der Woodsen, (née Rhodes, subsequently Bass) is a fictional character from the book series Gossip Girl and the series' television adaptation of the same name. In addition, the television series proposed spin-off, Valley Girls, will center on her life as a teenager in the San Fernando Valley. The character is portrayed by Kelly Rutherford in Gossip Girl and as a teen by Brittany Snow in Valley Girls.

Book series background
Not much is said of Lily van der Woodsen in the book series. She is known to be married and the mother of Serena van der Woodsen and Eric van der Woodsen, as well as a socialite who serves as the chair of a number of New York City charities.

Gossip Girl TV series background
Though much is still unknown about Lily's past, it is known that she originated from a wealthy family in California. Her father, Rick Rhodes, was a music executive, and her mother, CeCe. Lily's older sister, Carol, moved out of home and into the Valley when Lily was 16. A year later, after a disagreement with her parents, Lily decided to run away and join her sister. Although she originally behaved as a proper member of upper class society, the influence of Los Angeles turned Lily into a wild child.

At some point, Lily met Rufus Humphrey, whom she began dating. The two traveled across the country on his tour with his band, Lincoln Hawke. Lily was a photographer for the band, who captured the band's iconic image. At the age of 19, Lily became pregnant during their travels. Rather than telling Rufus, she returned home, where her mother sent her to an institution in France in order to give birth to the child. She gave the child up for adoption, and never spoke of the child to anyone again. Lily was only 19 when this took place.

It is presumed that Gossip Girl's spinoff, Valley Girls, will fill in many of the mysteries of Lily's life before the original series.

Overview
When Gossip Girl begins, Lily is a multiple divorcé whose son, Eric, is in an institution after attempting to commit suicide and her daughter, Serena, is away at boarding school. Serena's return is unexpected, and though Lily admits that she is happy that Serena has returned, the two have a number of disagreements because of it. Lily is seeing Bart Bass but spends a great deal of time with her ex-lover, Rufus Humphrey. Bart proposes to Lily and she plans to say no and run off with Rufus. However, Serena discovers this and begs her mom not to go because she doesn't want things to be weird between her and Dan. Lily accepts Bart's proposal and she stays away from Rufus. On the eve of her wedding she ends up at Rufus' concert. They end up sleeping together for the first time in 20-something years. The next day Rufus tries to convince Lily not to marry Bart but she marries him anyway in the season finale.

When season 2 begins, Lily is away on her honeymoon. After about 4 episodes she returns and tries to be friends with Rufus. He however doesn't want to be friends and has a new girlfriend. Bart has a P.I found out everything about Lily, Eric, and Serena. This upsets Lily who leaves with her kids on Thanksgiving and ends up at Rufus' loft. It is revealed that when Lily was 19 she was in a sanatorium. When the Snowflake Ball comes around Lily decides to leave Bart but before she gets the chance, Bart dies. Cece, Lily's mother, who broke up Rufus and Lily so long ago, comes for the funeral. The truth is revealed that Lily went to a sanatorium in France to give birth to her and Rufus' son, whom she gave up for adoption. Cece reveals this secret to Rufus knowing that he and Lily don't stand a chance without him knowing this and she want Lily to be happy and the only way that's possible is with Rufus. Rufus and Lily plan to go away together now that Bart is out of the picture and Serena has blessed their union but when he finds out about their child he no longer wants to be with her. They go in search of their child and while on the trip Lily tells Rufus that she loves him and they sleep together. They meet with their child's adopted father, who lies about the child being dead because they "lost one son and can't lose another." While they were gone it was revealed to their children that they shared a sibling. When they got home they were a couple. Jack Bass tried to rape Lily in a bathroom at the opera but Chuck saved her. Lily adopted Chuck and he moved back in. In the season 2 finale, Lily and Rufus became engaged and their son, Scott, came to New York looking for them.

TV series Flings and Romantic Relationships

 * Owen Campos
 * First Relationship:
 * Start Up: Before "Valley Girls" (2.24)
 * Broke Up: Before "Pilot" (1.01)
 * Reason: Unknown
 * Keith van der Woodsen
 * First Relationship:
 * Start Up: Before "Pilot" (1.01)
 * Broke Up: Before "Pilot" (1.01)
 * Reason: Unknown
 * Klaus
 * First Relationship:
 * Start Up: Before "Pilot" (1.01)
 * Broke Up: Before "Pilot" (1.01)
 * Reason: Unknown
 * Paolo
 * First Relationship:
 * Start Up: Before "Pilot" (1.01)
 * Broke Up: Before "Pilot" (1.01)
 * Reason: Unknown
 * Samir
 * First Relationship:
 * Start Up: Before "Pilot" (1.01)
 * Broke Up: Before "Pilot" (1.01)
 * Reason: Unknown
 * Rufus Humphrey
 * First Relationship:
 * Start Up: Before "Pilot" (1.01)
 * Broke Up: Before "Pilot" (1.01)
 * Reason: Lily's mother made her choose between Rufus and her inheritance.
 * Second Relationship:
 * Start Up: "School Lies" (1.12)
 * Broke Up: "School Lies" (1.12)
 * Reason: Serena asked Lily not to go away with Rufus.
 * Third Relationship:
 * Start Up: "Women on the Verge" (1.17)
 * Broke Up: "Much 'I Do' About Nothing" (1.18)
 * Reason: Lily married Bart Bass.
 * Fourth Relationship:
 * Start Up: "Oh Brother, Where Bart Thou" (2.13)
 * Broke Up: "Oh Brother, Where Bart Thou" (2.13)
 * Reason: CeCe informed Rufus Lily had secretly given their lovechild up for adoption.
 * Fifth Relationship:
 * Start Up: "Gone With the Will" (2.15)
 * Broke Up: "The Wrath of Con" (2.23)
 * Reason: Lily set up a plan to give Rufus money behind his back that he didn't want and Rufus found out.
 * Sixth Relationship:
 * Start Up: "The Goodbye Gossip Girl" (2.25)


 * Bart Bass
 * First Relationship:
 * Start Up: Assumed Before "Pilot" (1.01)
 * Broke Up: "It's a Wonderful Lie" (2.12)
 * Reason: Lily was tired of Bart's lies and planned to leave him but Bart died before she was able to do so.

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