Rory is accepted into the elite Chilton prep school. Bad news for Lorelai: she must make amends with her parents to borrow the money for Rory's tuition. The money is available--with strings attached.

Rory's first day at Chilton, where she has a confrontation with Paris. Emily tries to install an internet connection at Lorelai's house without asking first.

Rory goes golfing with her grandfather and surprisingly has a good time. At Lorelai's inn, a wedding is stressing everyone out.

Rory receives a bad grade as she still struggles to catch up at Chilton.

Lorelai is struck by two deaths; Lorelai decides to finally confront Max with her feelings for him, and he tackles his feelings as well.

It's Rory's birthday. She gets two parties. An elegant and horrible affair thrown by her grandmother and an informal fun party thrown by Lorelai.

Rory gets her first kiss from Dean. The whole town is buzzing about it, yet Rory has not told Lorelai.

It's snowing, and Lorelai is giddy. She runs into Max in Stars Hollow, and invites him back to her place. But they run into someone unexpected when they get there. Lane feels left-out of Rory's life.

Rory and Dean attend a formal dance at Chilton. A mishap leads to a fight between Emily and Lorelai.

Richard Gilmore is rushed to hospital after collapsing at the Christmas party. Luke goes with Lorelai to the hospital, where Emily and Rory already are.

As the relationship with Rory's teacher Max grows more serious, Lorelai panics and decides to end it, but her attempt to break up with him during Parent-Teacher night at Chilton causes even more trouble at school for Rory.

Two double dates. Rory and Dean set up Lane with Dean's friend and the four go out. Meanwhile Sookie and Jackson's first date includes Lorelai and Jackson's cousin, who's very very weird. Lorelai does not enjoy the evening.

Lorelai gives Rory, Paris, Madeline and Louise tickets to a Bangles concert, but the evening doesn't go quite as planned.

Rory and Dean fight, because Dean likes the idea of a 50s type house wife. Rory ends up pretending to be such that type of woman for an evening.

Christopher visits Stars Hollow to see Lorelai and Rory. They all come to dinner at Rory's grandparents' house.

It's Rory and Dean's 3-months anniversary, and he plans a special surprise, but it doesn't quite go as he planned. Luke's old girlfriend, Rachel, turns up.

Rebounding from a fight with Dean, Rory ends up kissing Tristin at a party, while Lorelai follows her own impulse to show up at Max's house for a night of passion.

Lorelai's paternal grandmother arrives from England and stresses Emily out in a big way.

Rory takes her grandmother around Stars Hollow for a day. She's horrified to see where Lorelai and Rory first lived.

Lorelai and Max start dating again. After a fight with Lorelai, Rory spends the night at her grandparents' house. Lorelai confronts Dean about the break-up.

Lorelai and Max's relationship gets more serious. Luke's girlfriend Rachel returns. Meanwhile, Rory tries to win Dean back.

Lorelai accepts Max's proposal. Rory takes Dean to dinner at her grandparents' house.

Lorelai hesitates to tell her parents about her engagement to Max, despite Rory's urging. Rory and Dean have a spat over Rory's plans for extracurricular activities.

During a prenuptial party thrown by Sookie, Lorelai has misgivings about her engagement.

Lorelai takes Rory on a road trip, where they stay at an unusual bed-and-breakfast and visit Rory's dream school.

Lorelai's well-intentioned advice falls on deaf ears when Luke reluctantly takes in his wild 17-year-old nephew Jess, while Rory finds herself attracted to the town's newest resident.

Rory makes her debut at a Debutante Ball at her grandmother's request. Lorelai asks Rory's dad Christopher to present his daughter to society.

Headmaster Charleston wants Lorelai and Rory to be more socially engaged at school.

Lorelai and Sookie have the first fight of their long friendship when, upon hearing that the Independence Inn may be sold, Lorelai panics and decides that their shared dream of opening an inn together is doomed to failure.

Dean gets jealous when Rory and Tristan are cast as Romeo and Juliet in a school play. Luke teases Lorelai for dating a younger man.

Lorelai invites the residents of Stars Hollow to an elaborate feast complete with Elizabethan costumes and horse-drawn sleigh rides.

Lorelai's concern over the fact that she can't afford to repair her home's extensive termite damage turns to anger when Rory tells Emily about their problem and Emily again offers Lorelai a loan.

Newly retired Richard is driving Emily crazy, so Lorelai is coerced into taking her father for a day in Stars Hollow, where he proceeds to drive both Lorelai and Rory batty while criticizing every aspect of their lives and refusing to let Rory accept the car that Dean has built for her.

During the annual Stars Hollow charity picnic basket auction, both Lorelai and Rory's baskets have more competition then they both anticipated. Jackson and Sookie sort out a dispute. Rory and Lorelai resolve their own disagreement.

Christopher and his girlfriend Sherry visit Stars Hollow. So Lorelai takes Christopher to Friday night dinner with her parents.

Rory panics when she suddenly realizes that she lost the bracelet Dean made for her. Luke snaps after living with Jess in the tiny apartment over the diner.

Lorelai and Emily spend a weekend at a health spa. Back at home, Rory looks forward to a rare evening alone, but Paris, Jess, and Dean all drop by.

Lorelai and Rory help out at the diner while Luke is left to plan his unpleasant uncle's funeral, which causes him to reflect on his own existence. Meanwhile, Emily lends a hand planning Sookies wedding and the skies the limit.

At Luke's request, Rory tutors Jess who is close to failing. Lorelai takes over the movie selection for the town square movie night.

Rory tutors Jess, who takes her on a date. Lorelai takes over the movie selection for the town square movie night.

Lorelai helps Richard open his new office. Rory tries to salvage Jess's reputation after the accident. Lane discovers her new love.

Lorelai tries to patch things up with Luke. Rory invites her grandparents to her mom's graduation.

It's Sookie's wedding day and Jackson is wearing a kilt. Jess and Rory happen to see each other before the wedding, which Rory and Lorelai are part of. Chris has to leave because his girlfriend calls with some news.

Rory returns from Washington, D.C. for the First Annual Stars Hollow End of Summer Madness Festival. She realizes her feelings for Jess might be a lot stronger than she thought. Lorelai is having strong feelings of her own.

Christopher has a heated discussion with Lorelai, but Emily intervenes. Francie initiates a power struggle on the student council. Meanwhile Rory and Jess have it out about their hurt feelings. Kirk asks someone out.

Lorelai and Rory have lunch with a Harvard alumnus. Taylor decides to open an old soda shop next to Luke's Diner. Lane seeks a new band member.

Lorelai and Luke agree to speak about their success at the local high school. Lane attempts to assert her independence.

Lorelai is cornered by a new local and talked in to watering his garden whilst he's away on a business trip. When Lorelai has to get to work, she asks Rory to take over, but when things go wrong she has to enlist Jess' help. Lorelai also asks Emily for help finding a guy she met at an auction house, but realizes he's not quite what she anticipated.

Rory is invited to Sherry's baby shower and Lorelai gets pulled in with her. Between Sherry's goodwill and the party poppers, Lorelai is at her breaking point and feels the need to let off some steam. Jess comes home with a car and the town gathers for a not so successful town demonstration...stop the noodle shoes?

It's time for the annual Stars Hollow Dance marathon again and Lorelai is determined to win. Dean sits in the bleachers to support Rory, but so does Jess whose intentions aren't quite so innocent.

Lorelai and Rory are still sore from the dance marathon. Richard invites Rory to a Yale reunion.

Rory and Lorelai work to accommodate four Thanksgiving dinners. Lorelai finds out Rory applied to more colleges then just Harvard. Lane has her first kiss. Human Kirk and cat Kirk have a little adjusting to do.

It's Richard's birthday. His mother arrives from England and announces her return to the States. Rory deals with Francie at school. Rory and Dean decide to be friends.

Emily is being sued by a maid for wrongful termination and asks Lorelai to attest to her character. Francie manages to come between Paris and Rory leaving Rory out in the cold and Sookie unwittingly sets up a date with an old friend.

Lorelai and Rory clean out the garage so Lane's band can use it for practice. Luke and lawyers don't mix except for maybe Taylor's new attorney. Paris tries to impeach Rory during the student council meeting, which gets them both sent to the headmasters office. Lane's prom plans backfire.

Sherry goes into labor and Rory agrees to be with her at the hospital. Lorelai remembers how she had Rory.

Lorelai heads off to New York with Alex, Sookie and Jackson. Meanwhile, Jess gets a black eye and doesn't want anybody to know just how it happened, which leads to trouble at Friday night dinner.

Jess said he would call Rory but he doesn't. Rory goes to a hockey game with Lane, where she sees Dean with his new girlfriend. Trix surprises Richard and Emily freaks out.

Rory and Paris finally hear from Harvard. Lorelai and Max meet again.

The Poe Society is in town, and the inn catches fire, forcing guests to move into Lorelai's house. Rory tries to decide between Harvard, Yale and Princeton.

Rory plans Lorelai's birthday party.

Lane's band lands a gig at a local party. Everyone in town is there and it leads to trouble.

Jess' father shows up in the diner, Dean gets engaged, and Fran dies, leaving the inn up for sale

Rory is stressed out over her final exams. Jess visits his dad in Venice, California.

Rory graduates from Chilton, and the girls look forward to traveling in Europe, Yale, and opening the new inn.

Lorelai and Rory return from their summer vacation. Luke's summer cruise with Nicole had unexpected results. Sookie is almost ready to have her baby.

Luke helps Rory move into her dorm, where she meets her new roommate. Luke has to deal with his relationship problem.

To earn some money before the baby arrives, Sookie asks Lorelai if they can cater a kids party but Sookie doesn't know what kids like. Emily sets Rory up the proper way and Richard contemplates a business partner.

Lorelai needs to get permits approved before they can move forward with the inn and learns that business also involves back room deals. Rory runs into Dean who invites her to his wedding.

Rory tries dating in college. Lorelai is still adjusting to an empty house.

Rory's roommates have her on edge so she tries to find the perfect place to study. Meanwhile Emily hires Sookie and Lorelai to cater Richard's office party only to find out Jason has other ideas.

Stars Hollow is asked to host a Festival of Living Art when a neighboring town backs out, inspiring the town regulars pitch in to pull it off in only a week. Lane finds the perfect guitarist to replace Dave, but Zach objects because of his age. Sookie and Jackson hire one of the best midwifes on the eastern seaboard. Luke and Nicole decide to hold off on their divorce.

After receiving advice from the Yale Daily News editor on what he is looking for, Rory's next article is a huge hit with everybody except the dancer she reviewed. Richard and Emily return from their Atlantic City business trip while Lane is told to send a special jug to Dave in California. Lorelai confronts Luke about his relationship with Nicole and Bruce confronts Lorelai and her anti midwife energy on retarding the baby's acquisition rate.

At lunch, Richard introduces Rory and Paris to his old friend. The Gilmores go in style to the Harvard-Yale game.

Luke hires Lane to help out at the diner. Rory isn't happy Paris is dating her new teacher. Lorelai and Jason decide to keep their relationship from her parents at least for now and Michel, out of jealousy babysits Davey.

Lane's band gets a gig at famous CBGB's in New York, but it doesn't come without a price. Luke and Lorelai make up to silence the newly restored bells but only after Lorelai realizes maybe Luke hasn't moved completely away and Rory confronts William about their relationship.

Lane fits right in at Yale, almost. Luke's sister Liz visits for her high school reunion and Jess returns to get his car. Meanwhile with Jaime in town, Rory makes Paris decide between her two guys. Lorelai finds money is tight. She and Jason agree to let her parents know they've been dating, but that's easier said than done.

It's firelight festival time again and with Taylor stuck out of town, Kirk tries to fill in. Luke meets his sister Liz's latest boyfriend, Lorelai meets Liz and realizes Luke really is always there for them and Jess, anxious to get out of town as soon as his car is repaired, stirs up trouble with family and friends.

Lane moves in with Lorelai for the time being and lets Mrs. Kim know who advises her to wear socks. Lorelai the first visits and learns that Lorelai's inn construction is costing more then anybody expected. Lorelai and Rory play phone tag as their frustrations mount. Lorelai's financial woes reach a boiling point and so does Rory's school pressures as each have a melt down with the strong married men in their lives.

Kirk tries dog sitting mean. Lorelai and Rory decide to spend some quality time together window shopping and run into Emily.

Lorelai the first passes on suddenly leaving Richard a mess and Emily handling all the arrangements till she discovers a letter Trix wrote Richard the day before he and Emily married. Lorelai finishes up the arrangements the best she can. Luke and Nicole quarrel in the town square and bar glass pinching cousin Marilyn reminisces about Lorelai the First's full life.

Rory and Paris travel to Florida for spring break. Lorelai struggles with her growing romance with Jason. Luke gets into trouble with the law.

Richard and Jason invite Jason's father for dinner only to discover he wants to ruin their competing company. Rory tells Lane what she thinks of Dean's selfish wife, not knowing Lindsay can hear her. And after months of deception, Richard and Emily learn Jason and Lorelai have been dating.

Luke and Nicole finalize their divorce. Lorelai, concerned about Jason, confronts her father on their business problems. Emily too questions Richard's decisions and gets the cold shoulder, which is the final straw for her. Jason then decides to counter sue Richard, leaving Lorelai with one clear choice.

Liz returns to Stars Hollow with news that she and TJ will marry next week in the towns square which has Luke asking Jess to attend. Lorelai and Sookie overhear Dean and Lindsay's problems and Luke works on his dating and communication skills with a self help tape that makes him realize that the one has been in front of him the whole time!

Lorelai helps Mrs. Kim and Lane resolve their dispute. Rory gets stranded on a bad date. Liz and T.J.'s have a Renaissance-theme wedding in the town square, attended by Luke and Lorelai.

Lorelai suspects that Luke's intentions towards her have become serious, but she doesn't have time to dwell on the situation as she prepares for the opening of the Dragonfly Inn by inviting friends and family to a test run.

Still at odds with her mother, Rory seeks out Lane's perspective and decides to talk to Dean. Lorelai and Luke clarify their new relationship while Emily announces she and Richard have separated.

With tensions still high with her daughter, Lorelai takes it out on the inn's employees till Sookie asks her to cool off. Realizing she was wrong, Rory writes Dean a letter, leading to unexpected trouble. Lane has feelings for Zack.

Luke and Lorelai date officially for the first time. Paris mourns her late boyfriend. Rory meets a new guy.

Jackson decides to run for town selectman; Lorelai and Sookie help him campaign. Rory and Dean struggle to work things out.

Jackson is overwhelmed by the demands of his new job. Lorelai and Rory attempt to bring Richard and Emily back together. With Dean back in the picture, Lorelai tries to make things right with dinner and a movie.

Rory struggles to find a story worth pursuing for the student newspaper. The Dragonfly Inn's accountant suggests dropping the lunch menu to avoid losing money, which upsets Sookie. Christopher needs help babysitting.

When Emily discovers that Lorelai is dating Luke, she insists he come to dinner. Not to be outdone, Richard invites Luke to a game of golf, and Luke finds himself overwhelmed by the strength of the elder Gilmores' personalities.

Luke tries to smooth things over with Liz and TJ when they stress out about buying a house in Stars Hollow. When Emily learns Rory and Dean are dating again, she calls a temporary truce with Richard to throw a party to introduce Rory to more suitable men. Dean realizes he isn't one of them, and Logan realizes he is.

Jackson has his hands full between Sookie's food cravings and his town selectman duties. Lorelai invites Christopher to lunch, but Rory tells him off and asks Lorelai what Luke thinks of her and Christopher having lunch. Emily decides she's still a viable commodity and asks Lorelai to help her start dating.

Rory is asked to host a Chilton student for a few days at Yale, but the student is more interested in her freedoms than the responsibilities that go with them. Lorelai learns about Luke's dark day, which happens to fall on the same day as Miss Patty's 40th anniversary party. Logan works his way into Rory's life, prompting her and Richard to pull a little prank of their own.

Rory continues to give her dad the cold shoulder until she learns his father has passed away. Lorelai spends time comforting Christopher but keeps it from Luke, and Richard and Emily find a lost dog.

Richard gets jealous and comes to a realization after finding out who Emily is dating. Rory offers to help Logan with an article, but she has ulterior motives. Tensions arise when Lane and Zack attend a Kim Family tradition. A "ghost" haunts the Dragon Fly. Emily has a time-sensitive warning for Christopher.

Emily and Richard renew their vows. Rory experimentally kisses Logan, triggering a turf battle between Luke and her father Chris, who insists that Lorelai's attachment to Luke is temporary, because Emily has convinced Chris that he and Lorelai are meant for each other.

After all the drama at the wedding, Lorelai is afraid she'll lose Luke, who needs time to process what's happened and finally decides her family and history may be too much for him. She takes to her bed to wallow where Rory tends to her needs while the town takes sides.

Lorelai is hurt again when she realizes Luke has moved his boat from her garage without even telling her. Luke helps the school kids build the sets for their Fiddler on the Roof play in hopes of working with Lorelai who he is realizing he misses. Rory tries to make up with Marty by hosting a movie night, but Logan interferes.

Luke, upset and missing Lorelai, begins to take it out on his customers. Lane realizes her mom is in her head, and with the grandparents back from their second honeymoon Rory makes it clear that Friday night dinners are just dinner and nothing more. Emily acts like she doesn't realize all the hurt she's caused Lorelai, but goes to see Luke to make things right.

Rory and Logan's casual dating situation gets more complicated when Rory spots Logan with another girl and her jealousy sets in. Rory decides to go to a party with a guy she barely knows, which makes Logan jealous. Luke and Lorelai resolve things, but Lorelai is still upset with her mom and refuses to go to Friday night dinners, which makes Emily wonder if Luke followed through on their previous discussion.

Luke volunteers to help convert old man Twickum's house into a museum just to see if he can buy it. Meanwhile with the help of some Founder's day punch, Lane, Paris and Rory commiserate about their love lives. Lorelai forgets to keep some news off the record when she is interviewed by a magazine about the success of the Dragonfly Inn.

After realizing that casual dating isn't for her, Rory tries to break things off with Logan, causing him to agree to see her exclusively. Logan's family isn't happy about the match despite Rory's breeding. Luke's patience is tried as he takes over as temporary chef at the Dragonfly while pregnant Sookie is ordered to bed rest, but Sookie has trouble giving up control of her kitchen. Meanwhile, Paris finds out where Doyle has been all weekend.

Taylor agrees the museum is a bust. Lorelai meets to discuss selling the Dragonfly while Rory starts her new internship with Logan's father. Friday night dinner with the grandparents goes great for Logan and Rory while Lorelai, after begging to attend, gets the cold shoulder.

The article about the Dragonfly comes out and Luke and Lorelai celebrate. Sookie goes into labor. Logan's dad Mitchum reviews Rory's work and Luke has competition from an unlikely source to buy the Twickham house.

Rescuing Rory after a night of reckless behavior with Logan, Lorelai is shocked to hear her daughter's plans for the future. Lorelai first turns to Richard and Emily for help, but soon realizes that Luke is the only person she can trust.

Luke answers Lorelai's question and as news of Luke's reply leaks to the denizens of Stars Hollow, the untraditional proposal stirs up more talk than the answer itself. Richard and his lawyer go to bat for Rory in court for her yacht incident, but the judge is tougher than expected.

Feeling a little lonely, Lorelai adopts a dog. Luke agrees to repair Lorelai's house, rather than buy the Twykham house. This soon turns into trouble as TJ does some unwanted construction on the house. Rory starts her community service assignment. Feeling neglected and unhappy with how things are going, Rory visits Luke at his diner. He lets it slip that he and Lorelai are engaged, leaving Rory feeling even more alone.

Sookie creates a S'mores wedding cake, so what more does Lorelai need to set a date? Logan comes home, Lane and the band come home and Paul Anka eats three pounds of chocolate while under Luke's care.

Church ladies. Lorelai and Rory don their proper summer dresses and show up at the baptismal font to godmothers to Sookie's children - a clever ploy on Sookie's part to get the Gilmore girls back together.

Rory's World War II-themed DAR bash is a piperoo (even when suddenly impoverished Paris joins the proletariat as a server). But the bash goes smash when Richard confronts Mitchum Huntzberger.

What's in a name? To boost tourism, Taylor suggests reviving Stars Hollow's original street names. Lorelai thinks that's a charming idea -until she learns what the new Dragonfly Inn address will be.

Since Rory was a tyke, the Gilmore girls have planned her 21st birthday: in Atlantic City, sipping martinis, playing 21. But with the estrangement, Emily plans the birthday party -and it's soooo not Atlantic City.

Who can finally get Rory thinking she made a BIG mistake dropping out of Yale? If you guess Jess, you're right. Her old flame returns with exciting news about his life... and some blunt advice about hers.

Like meat and potatoes, like salt and tomatoes, the Gilmore girls belong together. Rory comes home. And a supersmart middle schooler shows up at Luke's Diner with a startling idea for a science fair project.

Thanksgiving arrives and, after months of emotional turmoil, all is well on Planet Gilmore. Except for one teeny issue: Luke doesn't know how to tell Lorelai about his daughter. Lane's band plays a showcase.

The perfect dress: elegant blush-silk tulle, in Lorelai's size and on sale -ideal for a wedding. The perfect mess: Lane, short tempered, belligerent and miserable since she broke up with Zach and moved back home.

Getting an education: Taylor Doose learns the Winter Carnival can be successful without him. Paris learns the Yale Daily News staff loathes and fears her, and Lorelai learns Luke has a daughter.

Lorelai and Rory go to the Gilmore mansion for Friday night dinner, and there is a fight. Luke is still getting to know April.

Lorelai's parents insist that Luke come to Friday night dinner, and she says yes without asking him. Paris is ousted as the editor of the Yale Daily News, and staff elects Rory as the new editor. Needless to say, Paris is not pleased. In other events, Michel confides in Lorelai, and Rory gives her father a tour of Yale.

Rory and Logan ask Lorelai and Luke to celebrate Valentine's Day with them on a weekend at the Huntzberger's house on Martha's Vineyard, where Lorelai is annoyed by Luke's disdain for Logan. Meanwhile, Logan and his father have a confrontation.

Lorelai and Christopher attend a journalism panel at Yale where Rory dazzles the crowd. Afterwards, Lorelai offers to help Christopher out by babysitting his daughter and is horrified by the toddler's terrible behavior. The next day, Rory and Logan attend the wedding of Logan's sister, Honor. While helping the bridesmaids get ready, Rory is devastated to learn how Logan spent his time during their recent breakup. Finally, Lane is still heartbroken over Zach, until he turns up at the diner with a surprise.

Rory forgives Logan and visits Lorelai, who is feeling down. Zack finally asks Mrs. Kim for permission to marry Lane.

Although Rory and Logan are back together, Logan is miserable knowing that Rory hasn't really forgiven him, and he takes off with his friends for another stunt with the Life and Death Brigade. Rory accepts Jess's invitation to attend an open house at his new book store/art gallery/publishing house in Philadelphia. While there, she is surprised to run into Luke, who is accompanying his daughter April on an academic field trip. Back in Stars Hollow, Lorelai is horrified that Richard and Emily have been looking at real estate in her town.

Lane is getting married and the entire episode consists of a Korean Wedding and then the American Wedding.

Luke decides to give April a birthday party at the diner. Lorelai volunteers to help, and is hurt when Luke explains that he still thinks it's too soon for them to meet. However, Luke changes his mind when the party is a disaster, giving Lorelai a chance to bond with April. Meanwhile, Rory rushes to be with Logan at the hospital after he is seriously injured during a stunt with the Life and Death Brigade.

Rory recruits Paris and Doyle to help Logan recover after being released from the hospital. Emily suffers from temporary blindness after a botched eye surgery and asks Lorelai for help with some errands. Liz reveals her pregnancy to Luke.

The town troubadour departs Stars Hallow for his Neil Young gig (creating a stampede of would-be troubadours to town). Logan graduates and leaves for London. And the Lorelai-Luke love affair may be ciao, adiós, game over.

Picking up on the day after last season's finale, Lorelai wakes up in bed with Christopher. Confused and mortified, she makes a hasty exit, ignoring Christopher's pleas that she stay. Once at home, Lorelai tries to get rid of everything that reminds her of Luke and ends up practically emptying her house. Rory receives a toy rocket ship as a parting gift from Logan and is baffled as to its meaning. She decides she should join him in London for the summer, only to learn he has bought her a ticket for a visit at Christmas.

Rory is upset over Logan's absence and the fact that they had to cancel their long-planned trip to Asia. Wanting to cheer Rory up and take her mind off her own sad love life, Lorelai turns her house into an Asian-themed wonderland. Meanwhile, Lane returns from her disastrous honeymoon. While repairing the damage to the diner, Luke tells T.J. about his break-up with Lorelai. Finally, Rory is furious when she learns that Lorelai slept with Christopher.

When Richard and Emily have no real reaction to the news of her break up, Lorelai suddenly realizes that most of her emotional life has been based on doing and feeling the opposite of whatever her parents want. Later, when Michel forces Lorelai to attend Emily's cotillion dance, Lorelai discovers that some things her parents wanted for her weren't really that terrible. Meanwhile, Rory has a tough time making her long-distance relationship work.

Lorelai and Christopher have begun to date, and although Lorelai is finding it difficult to fully commit to the relationship, Christopher keeps coming up with romantic dates to win her over. Back at Yale, Rory meets some eccentric new girlfriends at an art exhibit, and Richard becomes a guest lecturer. April comes to stay with Luke for a few weeks while Ana is out of town. Finally, Emily gets arrested and Lorelai has to bail her out of jail.

Emily and Richard are delighted when Lorelai and Christopher attend Friday night dinner together as a couple. Christopher reveals that Sherry has written him a letter saying she regrets leaving their daughter, G.G., and asking him to send G.G. to visit her in Paris. Lorelai can't believe that Chris would consider this and they get into an argument over dinner. Logan returns to town on business to acquire an internet company and pays Rory a surprise visit. Rory is thrilled, but during a dinner with Logan's colleagues, she realizes that she has no connection to his new business world, and is especially threatened by one of his beautiful co-workers. Meanwhile, Stars Hollow is plagued by a terrible odor when a train with a full load of pickles derails, and Taylor refuses to pay for the cleanup.

Christopher talks Lorelai into visiting Rory at Yale during Parents' Weekend, and Lorelai is surprised to find that Richard and Emily are also there. Trying to prove how cool he is, Christopher invites all of Rory's co-workers on the Yale Daily News to an expensive lunch where they all drink too much, and the meal ends abruptly when Rory insists they leave to cover a breaking story. Meanwhile, Luke meets April's swimming coach, who convinces him to take her adult swimming class. When the coach flirts with him, Luke asks her out on a date.

Christopher and Lorelai take his daughter Gigi to visit her mother in Paris. Despite severe jet lag, they manage to have a wonderful, romantic time enjoying the city and each other. Rory comes to the end of her tenure as Editor-in-Chief of the Yale Daily News and suddenly finds herself unsure of her future. Her new friends Olivia and Lucy suggest a trip to Stars Hollow for a girls' night. When they return, Rory is surprised to find that Lucy's new boyfriend is her old friend Marty, who pretends not to know Rory. Christopher and Lorelai return home with a surprise for everyone.

Rory goes home to Stars Hollow to have dinner with her parents, where it is revealed that they eloped while in Paris. Rory pretends to be happy but later reveals her anger to Lorelai. Logan comes back to town for a launch party, which Rory attends and about which she later writes a judgmental article. Due to accusations by Logan, Rory plans to find a new apartment. Meanwhile, Luke turns to Lorelai in a time of medical emergency with April.

Here comes the birth of Liz's baby delivered by a midwife. Luke is informed of the news. A "knitathon festival" takes place in Stars Hollow.

Emily throws an extravagant party. Meanwhile, Luke talks to a lawyer about partial custody over April. Something big happens between Luke and Lorelai. "St. Nick might bring more than fruitcake this season."

Lorelai and Christopher put the holidays on hold until Rory returns from London; Luke asks Lorelai to write a recommendation letter for his custody battle.

Noticing Sookie's recent odd behavior, Lorelai forces Jackson to tell her the reason. Luke and Anna attend a hearing to decide their custody battle over April. With help from Paris, Rory finally makes amends with Lucy, who tells her that she and Marty have broken up. While attending Richard's economics class at Yale, Rory witnesses a frightening scene. Finally, Christopher finds the letter Lorelai wrote for Luke's character reference and confronts Lorelai about whether he was her second choice.

Lorelai and Rory receive unexpected comfort and some grief while at the hospital and at Richard's side: Christopher won't return Lorelai's calls, but Luke is there for her and the family; Emily is so distraught that she tries to distract herself by maintaining her rigorous social calendar, with Luke offering to help her out in keeping up her appearances; Rory is met by Logan, who flies to the hospital in a helicopter; and, when Christopher finally does arrive, he speaks the words of sympathy to Lorelai, but his emotions betray him: he's still mad at her from their fight and he can't respect her when she needs him the most. Suffice it to say, Emily is far from impressed upon witnessing Christopher treat Lorelai so poorly.

Rory quickly develops a crush on Richard's replacement TA and feels compelled to confess the attraction to Logan. But she feels really bad about it and he completely understands and the two of them reassure each other that in the end they are crazy about each other. Meanwhile, Lorelai distracts herself from thinking about Christopher by arranging a memorial service for Michel's dog. Christopher seeks her out, however, and the two are forced to face their problems. Christopher feels like he's been trying to get Lorelai to fall in love with him, and Lorelai realizes that she can't make the marriage work ...

Lorelai puts off telling her parents about her separation from Christopher by helping Emily to arrange Richard's recovery. Rory celebrates Logan's birthday, but bad news from Logan's business partner spoils their evening.

Rory goes to meet with an editor from the New York Times, just as she starts to put together Lane's baby shower. Lorelai takes over the production and has to arbitrate a disagreement between Lane and Mrs. Kim about how to raise the unborn child. Meanwhile, Luke decides to change his situation in life and buy a new boat; Logan comes home drunk and reveals to Rory his failed business venture, and then runs off to Las Vegas with his buddies.

Lorelai, Rory and Emily take a road trip to North Carolina to attend a wedding; Lane goes into labor.

Taylor organizes the Hay Bale Maze. Luke and Lorelai reconcile. Rory has a job interview.

Lorelai visits Luke's Diner for the first time in a while. Her car later breaks down. Rory receives an important letter.

Rory stresses out as graduation approaches. Lorelai takes the stage for a karaoke serenade.

Lorelai and Christopher are reunited at a party Emily and Richard throw in honor of Rory's graduation.

Rory gets a job as a journalist following a presidential campaign. The entire town puts on a farewell party for Rory.

Kirk tries dog sitting mean. Lorelai and Rory decide to spend some quality time together window shopping and run into Emily.

Lorelai's concern over the fact that she can't afford to repair her home's extensive termite damage turns to anger when Rory tells Emily about their problem and Emily again offers Lorelai a loan.

Jess said he would call Rory but he doesn't. Rory goes to a hockey game with Lane, where she sees Dean with his new girlfriend. Trix surprises Richard and Emily freaks out.

Rory recruits Paris and Doyle to help Logan recover after being released from the hospital. Emily suffers from temporary blindness after a botched eye surgery and asks Lorelai for help with some errands. Liz reveals her pregnancy to Luke.

Lorelai, Rory and Emily take a road trip to North Carolina to attend a wedding; Lane goes into labor.

Rory's World War II-themed DAR bash is a piperoo (even when suddenly impoverished Paris joins the proletariat as a server). But the bash goes smash when Richard confronts Mitchum Huntzberger.

Christopher has a heated discussion with Lorelai, but Emily intervenes. Francie initiates a power struggle on the student council. Meanwhile Rory and Jess have it out about their hurt feelings. Kirk asks someone out.

It's Rory's birthday. She gets two parties. An elegant and horrible affair thrown by her grandmother and an informal fun party thrown by Lorelai.

Lorelai accepts Max's proposal. Rory takes Dean to dinner at her grandparents' house.

Lorelai the first passes on suddenly leaving Richard a mess and Emily handling all the arrangements till she discovers a letter Trix wrote Richard the day before he and Emily married. Lorelai finishes up the arrangements the best she can. Luke and Nicole quarrel in the town square and bar glass pinching cousin Marilyn reminisces about Lorelai the First's full life.