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. Kirk and Taylor cause a bizarre accident that damages Luke's diner. Finally, Luke shows up at Lorelai's door and asks her to elope

 

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. Lane returns from her disastrous honeymoon. While repairing the damage to the diner, Luke tells T.J. about his break-up with Lorelai, prompting T.J. and Liz to insist that Luke come over for dinner and sympathy. When Luke and Lorelai run into each other in town, Luke can't hide his anger over their breakup. 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 with Luke, 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 beautiful cotillion dance, Lorelai discovers that some things her parents wanted for her weren’t really that terrible. Rory has a tough time making her long-distance relationship with Logan work. After taking Rory out for a father/daughter dinner, Christopher makes a startling confession to Lorelai.

 

 

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 Anna 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, GiGi, and asking him to send GiGi 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. Back in Connecticut, 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 while Lorelai is out of town. 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.

 

Lorelai invites Rory over to dinner to tell her that she and Christopher got married in Paris. Rory pretends to be thrilled while Christopher is in the room, but later tells Lorelai how hurt and angry she really is. Logan surprises Rory with a visit and an announcement that he is relocating to New York to start his new internet company. Meanwhile, when April faces a medical emergency, a frantic Luke turns to Lorelai for help.

 

When Christopher questions Lorelai about why she has avoided involving him in the daily life of Stars Hollow, she admits her concern that her old friends may not accept him. Christopher makes an effort to bond with the townspeople, and Lorelai brings him to the town knit-a-thon, where his well-intentioned gesture brings the event to an early end. When Olivia throws a 2002-themed birthday party for Lucy, Rory gets her chance to confront Marty about his coldness toward her. Finally, Luke is touched by the birth of Liz and T.J.’s baby, and when he learns that Anna is planning to move to New Mexico with April, he demands equal rights as a parent.

 

Luke and Lorelai share a sweet moment when Luke introduces her to Liz's new baby. Christopher witnesses the scene and it adds to his concern that Lorelai isn't fully committed to their marriage. The next day, Lorelai and Christopher get into a fight over whether they should exchange vows at the elaborate wedding party Emily is throwing for them. Luke contacts a lawyer over his custody troubles with Anna, then runs into Christopher and the two have an ugly confrontation in the streets of Stars Hollow. Meanwhile, when Logan discovers that Rory and Marty have been pretending that they just met, rather than admitting their previous friendship to Lucy, he reveals the truth to Lucy. Finally, Emily gives Lorelai a warning about her marriage.

 

Rory returns from London after the holidays. Lorelai is disappointed that Rory celebrated Christmas in London with Logan, but decides to have a "Christmas after Christmas" celebration as a new family complete with trees, decorations and shopping. Luke asks Lorelai to write a character recommendation letter for his custody battle with Anna over April.

 

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.

 

In the hospital waiting room, Lorelai, Rory and Emily anxiously await word on Richard’s condition. When Logan hears what is happening, he borrows a helicopter to be by Rory’s side, but Lorelai is unable to reach Christopher, who is still angry over their fight the night before. Upset by Emily’s attempt to remain calm by dealing with her social calendar, Lorelai is relieved when Luke shows up unannounced and volunteers to run errands for Emily. Christopher finally arrives to be with Lorelai, but the scene at the hospital is more than he can take.

 

Two days after his by-pass surgery, Richard is on the road to recovery, and Rory returns to Yale, where she finds that Richard's economics class is now being taught by an attractive young TA, Tucker Culbertson, who flusters Rory with his charm.

While Lorelai tries to distract herself from the issues in her marriage, she and Sookie focus on planning a funeral for one of Michel's beloved dogs. Finally, Christopher returns ready to talk, and he and Lorelai discuss the main problem that has haunted their marriage – Lorelai's feelings for Luke.

 

At Friday night dinner, Lorelai works up the courage to tell her parents about the break-up of her marriage, but is derailed by their argument over the healthy meals and no-alcohol policy Emily has instituted to help Richard recover from his heart attack. Lorelai enlists Sookie to bring Richard healthy but delicious meals, then helps Emily organize Richard's business affairs. Over a shared bottle of scotch, Lorelai finally tells her mother about the breakup of her marriage. Rory attends an awkward birthday dinner for Logan with Mitchum Huntzberger, who asks her to help him steer Logan in the right direction. Later, Logan receives disturbing news about the online company he purchased. Also, Luke shares his home with Liz , T.J. and their baby daughter while their house is being fumigated.

 

While she is in the midst of planning Lane's baby shower, Rory gets a long-awaited call from The New York Times offering her an informational interview. Lorelai takes over the shower-planning duties, and finds herself brokering peace between Lane and Mrs. Kim over how Lane plans to raise her twins. Logan finally admits his business disaster to Rory, who offers him her full support, but when Logan announces that he is flying to Las Vegas to blow off steam with his old college pals Colin and Finn, Rory is disappointed and worried. When Luke discovers that Liz and T.J. are trying to sell his boat, he decides to make some changes in his life and take April on a long boat trip over the summer. Finally, Lane is put on bed-rest and must be wheeled through Stars Hollow in her bed to attend the shower at Miss Patty's.

 

Lorelai plans a road trip to North Carolina to attend the wedding of Mia, the woman who took in Lorelai and Rory and served as a surrogate mother/grandmother for many years. Rory has a fight with Logan over his immature reaction to his business disaster, and agrees to go on the trip with Lorelai. Emily invites herself along in an effort to get away from Richard, who is driving her crazy while he recuperates at home. At the wedding, Emily is upset by the close relationship Mia shares with Lorelai and Rory. Lorelai learns that Emily came to see Mia five years earlier to ask for pictures of Lorelai and Rory during the years they were estranged. Logan makes a surprise appearance and asks Rory to forgive him. Meanwhile, Lane and Zach ask Luke to be the godfather to their twins. Finally, Lane goes into labor and Luke helps get everyone to the hospital.

 

It's the annual Stars Hollow Spring Fling. Lorelai and Michel are busy welcoming new guests at the inn. Michel is irritated by the cheerfulness of the visitors. Rory is on a train back from Providence. April gives Luke a bracelet. Later, Lorelai, Logan, Rory and Michel, along with some tourists, go to Spring Fling in a bus rented by the Inn. At the event, some Inn guests are skeptical about a maze made out of hay. One kid is especially not that excited because no one will chase him or shoot him with water guns as he goes through the maze. Logan goes through the maze with the kid.

Lorelai stops into Luke's diner for breakfast for the first time since their break-up, but finds they are awkward and uncomfortable together. Later, Lorelai's Jeep breaks down and she asks Luke to help her shop for a new car. While they look at cars, Lorelai and Luke's irritation with one another finally explodes into a fight, which Lorelai secretly takes as a good sign. Meanwhile, Paris gets accepted to numerous law schools and medical schools, and decides she must break up with Doyle so their relationship won't influence her choice of a graduate school. Finally, Rory gets a surprising letter that will have an impact on her future plans.

With graduation looming, Rory is anxiety-ridden over her future, so Lorelai tries to cheer her up with a day of eating and shopping. Lorelai notices happily that Luke is once again wearing the baseball cap she gave him, and invites him to join her and Rory for karaoke night at a local bar. After a few drinks, Lorelai takes the stage to sing a heartfelt number which is obviously directed at Luke. Logan returns from a business trip to California and comes to see Lorelai to discuss his future with Rory.

On the eve of Rory's graduation, Emily and Richard throw her a party and perform a song in her honor. At the party, Lorelai and Christopher are reunited for the first time since their separation, and both are relieved to find they can still be friends. Logan surprises everyone at the party by proposing to Rory, but she is too shocked to give him an answer and begs Lorelai to help her decide what to do.

On graduation day, Rory and Paris receive their diplomas, and Rory finally gives Logan her answer. Meanwhile, Lorelai is embarrassed about her karaoke serenade to Luke the night before, and Luke is hurt when he overhears her saying it didn't mean anything.

Rory, in her pajamas, meets CNN journalist and her idol Christiane Amanpour. Although Lorelai and Rory have planned a crazy roller coaster tour for the summer, Rory must postpone their trip when she gets a surprise job offer to cover Barack Obama’s presidential campaign for an online magazine in Eldridge, Iowa. She must leave in three days for possibly two years, breaking the hearts of all the townspeople looking forward to her graduation re-enactment in a week. Luke enlists the help of everyone in Stars Hollow to throw Rory a surprise bon voyage party. Also, Lorelai is staying maniacally busy to keep from showing how saddened she is, but finally admits she is worried that if she stops to think about Rory leaving then she might fall apart. Also, Lane consoles Rory when she has a panic attack about leaving everyone and everything she loves behind. When Babette has a premonition (via her ankles) of a huge rainstorm, Luke stays up all night sewing a tent to keep Rory’s outdoor party covered from the downpour. His thoughtfulness brings an unexpected reaction from Lorelai, allowing the two to star a passionate kiss. Meanwhile, Emily is pleased when Lorelai decides to continue the Friday night dinners without Rory. Finally, on the morning that Rory leaves Stars Hollow to start her career, Luke opens the diner before dawn to share a special breakfast with the Gilmore girls.