Although conflicted by his feelings for Amy, Ephram finds himself serving as confidante and friend to Amy's boyfriend, Colin, who continues to feel like a fish-out-of-water as he attempts to reclaim his life before the accident. Meanwhile, Andy hopes to convince Ephram to resume the piano lessons he abandoned after his mother's death; Nina's absentee husband (guest star Dylan Walsh) comes home for a visit, which proves to be far from happily ever after; and in a bittersweet turn of events, Amy and Colin are nominated for Homecoming King and Queen.

The unannounced arrival of Jacob and Nonny Hoffman (Mark Rydell, Doris Belack) from New York is greeted with glee by Delia and Ephram. But Andy feels pressed to his limits as he tries to placate his overbearing guests, particularly his pushy father-in-law, who openly criticizes the physician's parenting skills. On top of that, Jacob obviously enjoys a special bond with Ephram that Andy can't duplicate. Meanwhile, Nonny makes her own impression in Everwood when she butts heads with Edna over Delia's affections. Lastly, Ephram sneaks out of the house to see Amy who is still emotionally recovering from the aftermath of Colin's (Mike Erwin) surgery.

Much to resident thespian Dr. Abbot's chagrin, Andy begrudgingly auditions and is offered the lead in Everwood's production of ""The King and I."" As Dr. Brown struggles with his lines, Ephram struggles with his emotions when his intense feelings for Amy are complicated by Colin's (Mike Erwin) desire to be his friend.

When Dr. Abbott's dementia-plagued, elderly godfather (guest star Luke Askew) confesses to a murder that took place 30 years ago and reveals that Abbott's father was his accomplice, Abbott and Dr. Brown join the investigation in an attempt to find out what really happened and clear the men's names. Meanwhile, Ephram can't seem to keep Amy (Emily VanCamp) far from his thoughts, causing major problems in his burgeoning relationship with Laynie (Nora Zehetner). Dr. Brown butts heads with Ephram's new piano teacher (guest star Ian Vogt) over what is best for Ephram.

Andy is concerned that Ephram needs more extracurricular activities to get into a top college, but Ephram is only focused on his Julliard audition, which has surprising results. Amy's lack of interest in college preparation alarms her mother more than her father. Bright's poor grades get him kicked off the football team, threatening the scholarship his father believes may be his only chance to get into a decent school. Meanwhile, Andy tries to help a cheerleader (guest-star Kristen Bell) with ruptured breast implants, who cares more about looking good than her own health.

Andy's neighbor and friend Nina (Stephanie Niznik) is ostracized by the townspeople when they discover she is a surrogate mother for a woman in her mid-50s. Andy's clumsy attempt to come to Nina's defense backfires, but she turns to him and Ephram for help when the baby makes an unexpectedly early arrival. Meanwhile, Ephram is dealt an emotional blow when Amy disinvites him to a party in order to gain the approval of her friends; and Delia attempts to befriend the school bully, Magilla (guest star Bret Loehr).

When traveling psychologist Dr. Gretchen Trott (guest star Jane Krakowski) comes back into town, Andy is forced to confront his potentially romantic feelings for her. In other romantic entanglements, Edna and Irv have difficulty adjusting to life after his heart attack scare; Harold and his wife Rose (guest star Merrilyn Gann) have it out after they attend couples therapy and she suggests that he's lost that lovin' feeling; and Ephram asks Laynie (guest star Nora Zehetner) out on their first date, in part to show Amy that he's moving on with his life.

A nervous Ephram feels the pressure of performing his first piano recital in Everwood; Dr. Brown and Dr. Abbott attempt to diagnose a man (guest star Dan Merket) with a mysterious sleeping disorder that leaves welts on his body; and Amy pretends to want to spend time with her grandmother, Edna, in order to secretly see Colin while she's grounded. Meanwhile, the town is buzzing with rumors of UFOs and aliens after locals observe something strange in the sky.

Horrified to discover that Ephram and Madison are involved, Dr. Brown stops short of firing her, but Madison decides to quit leaving the Browns to a very unhappy holiday, especially when Delia discovers another troubling relationship - between her father and Linda Abbott. Stressed by Thanksgiving with his cantankerous mother-in-law (guest star Betty White), Dr. Abbott reacts badly when Amy brings Tommy (Paul Wasilewski) to Thanksgiving dinner. Finally pushed to the breaking point, Amy runs away from home.

Ephram gets the wrong idea when Madison tells him her roommate is going to be out of town, but the misunderstanding leads to an intimate moment for the couple. In other matters of the heart, Amy decides she's ready to have sex with Tommy (guest star Paul Wasilewski), so she works up the courage to ask Dr. Brown to write her a prescription for birth control pills, and Andy makes the important decision to talk to Ephram and Delia about Linda spending the night at their house.

Ephram seeks guidance from his and piano mentor, Will Cleveland (guest-star James Earl Jones) when he's struggling to select the music program for his Julliard audition tape. Things don't go well for Ephram as he faces losing one of the most important relationships in his life after he accidentally hurts Will's feelings. Meanwhile, Bright takes a job working at the restaurant, "The Firehouse" where he meets waitress Serena. Things go bad though when they get caught by their boss in the most compromising position in the closet. Lastly, Andy and Amanda experience a miraculous breakthrough in their music therapy with Amanda's husband (guest-star Jason Beghe), but Andy quickly questions the results.

Dr. Brown and Dr. Abbott must put their striking differences aside to educate the town of Everwood after several of their teenaged patients are diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease. To make sensitive matters worse, Dr. Abbott has reason to suspect that his son, Bright, may have been intimate with one of the patients. Meanwhile, Ephram pushes his romantic feelings aside to comfort Amy who is distraught over not being able to go to the Fall Dance with her boyfriend who remains in a coma.

After a lost deer makes the Brown's backyard its new home, Andy insists on accompanying Ephram who decides to help the animal find its way home to the wilderness, where the journey includes a long hike through the mountains. Meanwhile, Ephram finally admits to Amy that he never asked his father to consider operating on her boyfriend, Colin, who is in a coma. Lastly, Delia questions the existence of God after a classmate tells hear that he doesn't believe in higher beings.

On a church ski trip chaperoned by perpetual party pooper Dr. Abbott, Amy and Colin share their first kiss since the surgery. Ephram finds himself intrigued by Colin's younger sister, Laynie (guest star Nora Zehetner), who has recently returned home from boarding school. Also, Bright attempts to get to the next base with his girlfriend (guest star Devon Reilly). Meanwhile, Andy hesitantly agrees to attend a singles mixer with the recently divorced Reverend Keyes (guest star Tim Dekay).

Resentful at being forced to accompany Andy and Irv to a remote lake cabin, Ephram takes a small boat out alone and his inexperience leads to a serious accident and a night of terror for Andy. Meanwhile, Colin and his parents must decide whether to allow Dr. Brown to perform a second dangerous surgery; and Nina confronts her husband Carl after she accidentally discovers he is having an affair.

Andy's well-intentioned plan to give Ephram more free time by hiring college student Madison Kellner (guest star Sarah Lancaster) as a caretaker for Delia ends up making things worse when Madison treats Ephram like a child, as well and embarrasses him in front of Amy. Meanwhile, Andy's concern for Colin's alcoholic father (guest star Michael Flynn) blinds him to Nina's struggles with her divorce proceedings. Dr. Abbot continues to clash with his sister, Dr. Linda Abbott, when she tries to take over his office and the difference in their personalities and medical philosophies becomes alarmingly clear.

When Phil the mechanic (guest star J.K. Simmons) correctly ""diagnoses"" meningitis rather than flu in Andy's young patient, the town begins to believe he is a seer. Ephram confronts Madison about his feelings for her. Amy agrees to see Linda Abbott for help, but out of desperation, steals her pad to forge a prescription for anti depressants, forcing Harold to heed Phil's warning about his daughter's condition. Meanwhile, Edna learns the disturbing truth about why her daughter does not want to pursue a relationship with Dr. Brown.

Andy and Ephram's fragile relationship is further strained when it appears that Andy is once again putting work before family. Meanwhile, as the town of Everwood celebrates its annual Fall Thaw Festival, Ephram's interest in Amy continues to blossom. Although Bright tells Ephram that Amy is using him just go get his father to get Colin out of coma. Delia gets into trouble at school for questioning her teacher's antiquated rules.

In hopes of raising his little sister Delia's spirits, Ephram does his best to recreate his mother's Thanksgiving traditions as the Brown family spends their first holiday without her. Meanwhile, in order to save a patient's life, Dr. Brown must find the man's missing brother, who is believed to live in the woods; and curmudgeonly Dr. Abbott attempts to befriend the entire town when he has a health scare and questions whether anyone would attend his funeral.

A heartbroken Ephram finds himself the odd man out as Amy prepares for Colin's homecoming. Meanwhile, Andy and Dr. Abbott join the town in a debate over the use of medicinal marijuana after a large quantity is discovered in a deceased woman's greenhouse; and Andy provides medical guidance to Nina after her son's teacher suggests she put him on Ritalin.

Although Amy and Bright are still living in denial regarding the state of Colin's (Mike Erwin) recovery, Ephram can't ignore the bad signs any longer after he witnesses Colin freaking out and vandalizing the gym teacher's office. Meanwhile, a New York Magazine reporter pays a visit to Dr. Brown in hopes of uncovering the truth behind why the famed surgeon is still living in Everwood. And Delia decides to secretly spend the night in the Museum of History while on a school field trip.

The entire Abbot's family is turned upside down by the return of Dr. Linda Abbott (Marcia Cross, ""Melrose Place""), who has been practicing Eastern-based medicine in exotic locations around the world. Edna, who is blinded with pride, doesn't see her daughter's loneliness, and loses sight of her own life with Irv. But Linda encounters the most resistance from her brother Harold when she announces her decision to join his practice. Meanwhile Andy learns that some 'tweens may be practicing unsafe sex, and is shocked at their parents reaction to the situation. Finally, Bright asks Ephram to keep an eye on Amy whose odd behavior has everyone worried.

Against Andy's better judgment, ex-sweethearts Ephram and Madison decide it would be in Delia's best interest if Madison resumed her job as Delia's babysitter. Meanwhile, Amy contemplates going off her anti-depressant medication after Linda suggests she might be ready and Bright anxiously awaits his college acceptance letters.

When Jake surreptitiously informs Andy that Ephram came to him for a STD test, Andy and Harold decide the best plan of action is to convince Ephram and Amy to hold off on sex. Of course, when Ephram realizes it's no coincidence that he and Amy both had a heart-to-heart with their fathers on the same day and informs her of his suspicions, Amy feels betrayed that Ephram didn't tell her about the test beforehand. In another part of town, Nina finally decides it's time to tell Andy how she feels about him and asks him out to dinner, and Bright invites a lovestruck Hannah to go with him to a movie, but the night takes a turn for the worst when Hannah misinterprets his interest.

Andy meets with Colin's parents to discuss a potential course of treatment for the comatose teen. Amy is heartbroken and Ephram is furious when Andy decides against performing a risky operation on Amy's comatose boyfriend. Meanwhile, Delia is forbidden from playing with her only friend, Magilla (guest star Bret Loehr), after his parents discover them playing dress up. Dr. Trott, a traveling psychologist (guest star Jane Krakowski) sets up shop and stirs up the emotions of several townspeople who seek her guidance, much to the chagrin of a distrustful Dr. Abbott.