Lorelai and Chris begin to date. Christopher forgives Sherry after she sends him a letter apologizing. Rory returns to Yale for the fall semester of her senior year. April is staying with Luke temporarily while her mom, Anna, is out of town. Richard starts at Yale as a guest lecturer. Rory covers an art exhibition for the Yale newspaper and meets her new friends, Lucy and Olivia.

Lorelai and Rory throw Lane's baby shower, but Lorelai has to settle a fight between Lane and her mother first. Rory has an interview with the New York Times. Luke sells his father's boat to Kirk and buys a new and bigger one. Logan finally tells Rory about his business situation, and she tries to help out even though there's nothing she can do. She offers to come home from Lane's baby shower early to be with him, but Logan decides to go to Las Vegas with Colin and Finn to blow off some steam.