A.J. Tesler

While calling Lorelai from Rome, Rory admits that she complicated her relationship with Dean (recurring guest star JARED PADALECKI). Lorelai gives Dean a letter from Rory, but Dean's wife, Lindsay (recurring guest star ARIELLE KEBBEL), finds the letter and makes Dean move out of the house. Rory returns from Europe, and a terrible argument ensues when she and Lorelai encounter Lindsay and her mother. Meanwhile, Luke returns to Stars Hollow after spending several weeks helping his injured sister, Liz (recurring guest star KATHLEEN WILHOITE), on the Renaissance Fair circuit. Luke and Lorelai try to find a private spot to say hello but are interrupted by a town parade.

Rory decides that she and Lorelai should split up at the next Friday night dinner and confront Richard and Emily separately about ending their separation. However, Emily dashes their hopes of a reconciliation by announcing that she is ready to begin dating. Meanwhile, Lorelai invites Christopher (recurring guest star DAVID SUTCLIFFE) for lunch at the inn, unaware that Rory had warned Christopher to stay away from her mother. Feeling guilty that she hadn't told Luke about seeing Christopher, Lorelai confesses that they had lunch, and Luke tries to convince himself that he isn't jealous.

Exasperated by the freezing Connecticut weather, Rory and Paris travel to Florida for their first spring break. Amidst sun, sand and too much partying, they meet Madeline (recurring guest star SHELLY COLE) and Louise (recurring guest star TEAL REDMANN), their pals from Chilton. Rory is shocked when Paris makes an unexpected bid for attention at a nightclub where musical group THE SHINS (themselves) are performing. Meanwhile, Lorelai's relationship with Jason takes another step forward when he gives her a key to his home. And Luke needs Lorelai to bail him out of jail after he reacts badly to the news that his estranged wife is dating another man.

As Rory's 21st birthday approaches, both Lorelai and Rory are saddened that their estrangement will keep them from spending the day the way they had always planned. Richard tries to convince Lorelai to help him concoct a plan to get Rory to return to Yale, but Lorelai insists that Rory has to make the decision herself. Meanwhile, Emily plans an elaborate birthday party. Later, Emily and Richard are shocked when they realize that Rory and Logan have been having sex. Former Secretary of State MADELEINE ALBRIGHT appears in a cameo role as herself.

As Valentine's Day approaches, Rory and Logan invite Lorelai and Luke to spend a weekend with them at Logan's family house on Martha's Vineyard. Rory and Logan have a wonderful time, but Lorelai is upset by Luke's unfriendly attitude towards Logan. Luke's attitude changes when he realizes he forgot to buy Lorelai a Valentine gift, and Logan saves the day by letting Luke give Lorelai one of the gifts he had bought for Rory. When Lorelai finally confesses to Luke that she is worried the wedding will never take place, he reassures her that they will get married soon. The weekend ends in an ugly scene when Logan's father, Mitchum Huntzberger (recurring guest star GREGG HENRY), arrives and berates Logan for ignoring his responsibilities in the family business.