Emily and Richard meet while at college – Emily at Smith College, Richard a Yalie. Richard is already engaged to Pennilyn Lott, but calls off the engagement to marry Emily. They have a daughter, Lorelai, in 1968, who is their only child. The two are synced like clockwork most of the time, and when not, are formidable opponents, whose actions have monumental consequences. They are a team, but struggle with their handling of Lorelai leaving them, which at one point leads to their separation. They do get back together and survive both Richard's hospitalisation and the seed of mistrust planted by Richard's yearly lunches with his ex-fiancée.