7th Heaven

Eric tries to stop 16-year-old Matt from smoking; Eric and Annie field Simon's nonstop requests for a pet dog; Mary asks Matt for advice about kissing boys.

When Eric and Annie discover that Matt has a secret girlfriend named Renee, they are shocked to see that she's pregnant; with Matt insisting he's not the father. Both Matt and Renee are surprised at Eric's willingness to help her out once she delivers. Mary discovers Lucy has a crush on a classmate and makes fun of her for it. Eric starts losing his shoes and turns to Ruthie for help in finding them. Annie confides in Matt that her mother is sick with leukemia.

Matt, Mary and Lucy learn the art of dating; Annie's parents move into the Camden home.

Following her mother's funeral, Annie's sunny demeanor turns to sadness, particularly after her father abruptly leaves to go back home to Arizona. Eric tries to counsel a young couple whose marital problems escalate during the post-funeral reception at the Camden home. Matt helps with the delivery of Renee's baby and after Mary breaks up with Jeff, she discovers she was better off with him. Lastly, Simon tries to find the exact location of heaven.

When the Camden family learns that their friend's church was burned down by a racist group, they invite the Hamiltons to stay at their home. Meanwhile, Simon has his own problems when defending his friend Nigel after a racist comment is made to him on the playground. Matt, Mary, and Lucy have a hard time while trying to develop a good relationship with the older Hamilton children, Keesha and John. Eric and Annie do their best to help Morgan and his wife, Patricia, get through their marital problems while Ruthie and Lynn are having fun as five-year-olds.

Despite warnings from her family, Lucy tries to learn the truth about Mike "The Mutant" Mitchell, a mysterious recluse accused of murder.

Mary does not want the family to come to her big basketball game; the Camdens are in a frenzy when Ruthie and Simon are lost.

The family suspects the worst upon seeing Eric and Abby Morris at a motel; Simon has a crush on a classmate.

Simon rightly fears he'll catch roommate Ruthie's chicken-pox, but his enterprising hygienic measures fail to prevent contagion from her or happy's flees. When a robber carjacks them both, Annie seems calm and hands their valuables, so Matt feels 'unmanly' and guilty. However when it comes to an identification line-up, Annie breaks down, only sneakily. Jimmy Moon stands against Lucy in the school elections, then turns to her parents for help. The organist has bizarre periods of excellence and disharmony.

The Camden family's traditional Thanksgiving is jeopardized when the children want to spend the holiday away from home and Eric's sister reveals a tragic secret.

The Camdens become suspicious when Matt's new girlfriend, Tia, wants to spend more time with the family rather than being alone with Matt. Lucy enlists the help of Matt to overcome her clumsiness in order to try out for the cheerleading squad. Annie yearns for more romance in her marriage with Eric as she has become bored with the every-day routines. Simon tries to make himself invisible and tries to convince the whole family that he can be invisible.

Eric tries to help a homeless family; Matt helps old Mrs. Bink around the house; Lucy is depressed about her birthday; Happy has puppies.

Matt takes the blame for something Mary did, complicating the rift between Matt and Eric; Lucy takes credit for a paper Mary wrote.

All three Camden generations dread the annual visit of Eric's parents, "The Colonel" and Grandma Ruth Camden. The tension between father and son is heightened when both Eric and "The Colonel" want to adopt a homeless and orphaned nine-year-old boy, George. Annie discovers the fate of her lost wedding rings when seeing them on a woman at the store.

While both couples, Annie and Eric, Patricia and Morgan Hamilton, spend a romantic Valentine's Day camping, Matt is left in charge of the rest of the family and allows chaos to rein in the Camden household. His preoccupation with his date and Mary's party allows the dog, Happy. to slip out of the house in search of her puppies. When a car hits Happy, the family holds a vigil, aided by a caring veterinarian. Simon blames Matt for the accident. Lucy is enjoying her first Valentine's Day with her boyfriend Jimmy Moon.

Lucy asks Eric to investigate her new best friend's white lies as to where she and her family really live and their financial situation. Matt intervenes when a bully harasses Mary at school. Simon is jealous of Ruthie's new friend from her pre-k class as she's more fascinated with him now than Simon. Lastly, Ruthie's first day at school brings melancholy feelings for Annie.

Mary pays a rare visit to detention and meets Camille—a wild, free-spirited girl who loves to break all the rules. Against Mary's better judgment, the girls become friends, and Camille talks her into making a foolish decision. Back at home, Eric and Annie counsel a man who used to work with Eric and is harboring a painful secret. Lucy confuses her father with a desire to research other religions, while Simon and Ruthie run into trouble at the pet store.

Eric wants to hire an ex-convict to be the new organist, but the church vestry think that the money in the budget would be better used to put up a security system. Acting church treasurer, Annie must determine whether there is enough money in the church's budget to hire a new organist. Meanwhile, Lucy's imagination runs wild after she makes Mary tutor her boyfriend, Jimmy Moon. Simon tries to get Matt to let him out of getting a tetanus shot that he needs for his upcoming little league season. Lastly, Ruthie feels empowered by her new class phone list and decides to test the emergency phone numbers.

Eric's difficult-to-please parents arrive with their newly adopted young son in tow. Everyone is pleased to discover that the Colonel and Ruth seem positively different since taking in a new child, but things get messy when George's biological father shows up with a desire to be part of the boy's life. Meanwhile, Julie is out of rehab and terrified to reconnect with her family, and with a little help from Matt and Mary, Lucy prepares her boyfriend to meet their formidable grandparents.

Matt is uneasy when his mother's oldest friend—a boy crazy divorcee named Rachel, makes a pass at him. Mary goes with Matt and Rachel to a coffeehouse, and makes her public singing debut when she learns the band's singer didn't show up. When Mary gets a phone call asking her to fill in again, Eric and Annie are shocked by the news, but they agree with one specific condition: they are going with her. Back at home, Ruthie has a going-away party for her longtime imaginary friend, Hooey, and Lucy tries to cope with the fact that her best friend, Suzanne, is moving away.

Annie is thrilled that her father is coming to visit for the first time since her mother's death, but she is furious when he shows up with a new girlfriend. Elsewhere, Simon convinces Lucy that she would look good with a blonde rinse, but is prepared to run for his life when it does not come out as good as Lucy thought it would. Mary meets a handsome young man who is harboring a few secrets, and Matt becomes attracted to a girl who is deaf. Lastly, a potential tragedy in the family puts everyone's trivial problems into perspective.

As Mary faces surgery and a long recovery, she and her family must face the reality that her basketball career might be over. Meanwhile, Annie has only one option left if she wants to maintain her relationship with her father. Matt drives Heather even further away when he gets into an ugly confrontation with a classmate. Lucy gradually recognizes the truth about Jimmy's feelings for her. Wilson is eager to start dating Mary, but there are a few important details he must share with her father first.

Annie and Eric decide to renew their wedding vows on their upcoming nineteenth anniversary, but the kids don't share their enthusiasm. Lucy broods over the fact that Jimmy Moon is now dating her rival Ashleigh, while Mary is sour about knee rehab and is becoming distant with her boyfriend. Simon expresses a desire to move out of the room he shared with Ruthie. Eric does his best to offer closure to the widow of a murder victim.

Eric and Annie look forward to a quiet, more tranquil, household now that all five of the kids are starting a new school year but the first day of classes brings a traumatic experience for each of the Camden offspring: Matt is caught wearing his father's pager; Mary gives Lucy an aspirin; Simon is suspended for cutting his chicken with a butter knife; and Ruthie is nagged by her teacher about wearing a hat.

Simon can't resists reading Matt's letters and thus discovers big brother is secretly married to Heather. Eric can't resist spying on both, and thus falls into a trap. Wilson won't say 'I love you' back to Mary, who refuses to understand he'll only say that again when even more serious then with Billie's late ma. Lucy's friend, new girl at school Laurie, is extremely timid due to her verbally brutal ma, but the scolding root sits deeper.

Eric is absolutely positive he knows which of his kids owns a marijuana joint that is dragged into the house by Happy, but Annie warns him not to jump to conclusions. Desperate to keep all of them in one place while he searches, Eric forbids Mary and Lucy from having guests after supper, but changes his mind in order to question Lucy's new boyfriend, Rod, about drugs. Lucy finds a joint in Annie's dresser drawer, and she and Mary suspect their parents are "stoners." Ruthie's attempt at doing her own laundry gives her a whole new wardrobe. Annie reveals a secret about her past to Matt. Eric eventually confronts Matt about the joint he found and while Matt admits he brought it back, he swears he had no intention of smoking it. Eric isn't convinced and drives Matt out of the house, only to see him at the church confessing, making Eric realize he was wrong about everything and promises from now on he will listen to whole story before making a final conclusion.

Simon is surprisingly successful with pa's suggestion to show how mind-games can convince people of crazy ideas by pretending he's shrinking. When he's overheard, Matt turns the tables, only to be beaten in the end. Lucy invited to dinner classmate Shelby, curious about the rumors she suffers from bulimia. Eric lets Mrs. Bing drag him into meddling in a family affair on behalf of her friend Hinkle.

Mary is headed for heartbreak when she splits up with long-time boyfriend Wilson. After receiving a "Dear John" letter from his girlfriend Heather, Matt begs his siblings for money, planning an impromptu flight to Philly in order to see her in person.

Simon's gentle schoolmate Stan sleeps over but has a horrid nightmare. Simon promises to keep his friend's secret but big brother Matt, who already suspected the boy's weird sister Karen 'Babydoll', spills the beans to dad, who informs the incredulous parents she's in a street gang. The girls fuzz about mall shopping, and Lucy's secretive romantic reason.

Pointed remarks from Lucy and Mary about self-fulfillment prompt Annie to accept the local baker's offer to buy her homemade muffin recipe. Matt's history of failed job attempts makes Eric reluctant to recommend his son as a much-needed hospital companion for the terminally ill son of two church members.

Simon discovers friendly, generous old neighbor Charlotte Kerjesz has concentration camp tattoo. Eric forbids Simon to ask her to help for a history assignment but realizes his son is right after hearing classmate Larry's father spreads holocaust denial. The Camdens are excited to meet Joanne, Matt's first girl since Heather dumped him. Considering her 'too perfect', jealous Lucy and Mary decoded flippantly to hate and ignore her. Joanne overhears them and dumps Matt over his lousy siblings, which stands even after apologies.

Because Mary is desperate for a first date since Wilson with his classmate Brian Heaz, who isn't interested in her, Matt pays him $20 to take her out for pizzas. It actually clicks, but after finding out about the plan the ingrate turns on both good boys. Simon uses his own coaching method to teach Ruthie swimming in the bat tub, to save her embarrassing baby class-lessons, but their parents don't trust it. Eric finds he can't fit his jeans anymore, but jogging only makes him hungry, so he pays Matt to sneak in junk-food.

Glen Oak Community Church has the opportunity to have a Sunday service televised and the pressure of having to write a five-star sermon is taking its toll on Eric, who holes himself up in his study. Annie realizes she cannot handle so many problems on her own, which include Simon's new career goal and Lucy failing a class. Hearing of the chaos Eric's father—"The Colonel" — arrives from New York and uses old-style military teamwork to restore order in the household. Eric's sermon is interrupted when a mint gets stuck up Ruthie's nose, and she is taken to the hospital.

Annie and Eric want to find out what the story is when $2,500 suddenly disappear from the church treasury, and correctly suspect Lou Dalton, but people's opinions of the grouchy church deacon soften when they learn his wife urged him to steal the money to care for their mentally disabled son. Coach Koper flirts with his student, Mary.

Lucy faces a tough decision when she finds that her ex-boyfriend, Jimmy Moon, and new boyfriend, Rod, are vying for her affection. Meanwhile Annie and Eric set a bad example for the participants of a marriage-counseling group at the church.

Matt is as surprised about the sudden stream of calls from girls as his sisters about the cause, a dating ad in the school paper he knew nothing about, yet the editor refuses to retract it. Simon and Ruthie try out a pet products credit-card sent on dog Happy's name. Eric abuses a health crisis of tax official Smith, who is near retirement, to make him rectify an erroneous tax debt transfer.

Even bright teacher's pet Simon is terrified by new bully science teacher Hunter to the point of faking illness to avoid a private meeting with her about his solar system model, which actually is part of a superb presentation. Softie Matt already turned down dates to the party after Mary's return to the basketball team, yet she bitches at everyone, even hunky jock ex Richard, who ends up making her day.

Simon and his buddy, Nigel, are thrilled—but a little apprehensive—when a popular classmate invites them to one of her famous "make-out" parties. On the same night, Lucy goes to the movies as a decoy, so a grounded Keesha Hamilton can sneak around with her boyfriend, which turns into a blind date when Keesha asks him to bring a friend for Lucy. However, thing turn ugly when Annie and Patricia decide to take Ruthie and Lynne to the same movie theater, and catch the teenagers making out.

Lucy blackmails Matt into taking her to a restaurant to meet some friends, but, on the way there her friend gets in a car accident. Mary comes to the aid of her ex, Wilson, who is desperate to find a babysitter for his son in order to attend his senior prom. Sixth-grader, Simon, will do anything to get away from Ruthie, even if it means moving into the attic.

French exchange student Guillaume 'Guy' need a host family stat, so Eric volunteers his, without consulting anyone. Only the teenage daughters approve, given the French's lover reputation. That's also why Matt worries and volunteers as chaperone, only to find his date Michelle prefers Paris memories to 'plain' Matt's company. It's worst for Simon, who has to move back with Ruthie so long and gets tempted by her, yet blamed alone, to smoking the cigarettes they 'find' in Guy's luggage. Yet Guy is the first to lose his patience with all those 'stupid Americans'.

Little Sarah James is found wandering on the streets. Warmly welcoming Simon wins her confidence while Eric and a cop friend search and find her pa, Joe, an unrepentant lush and decide a more stable educator is required. Matt meanwhile tiptoes, realizing ma makes a last ditch stand to talk him out of 'moving out' to a Tennessee college, and rudely intruding pest Ruthie first diverts, then scares off his older date Mollie.

Matt is set up on a blind date for the prom, and finds out she is considered the school tramp. Mary and Lucy have dates for the prom but it turns out disastrous.

Matt is edgy, telling only his sibling he found an out of state summer job so he'll leave home in days, not months. Matt finds a brilliant trick to train happy for a TV pet food commercial, but there's a stage-fright complication. Mary rudely scolds Matt, unlike Wilson who leaves diplomatically, for getting physical at home, but her doctor notifies she's pregnant. Lucy cruelly keeps suitors Jimmy and Rod, who both chose Eric as career day model, dangling, but Wilson, who appreciates her help with Billie, arranges a date with Kenny, whom she may really want.

It is high school graduation day for valedictorian Matt, who plans to leave home two months earlier than expected and take an internship inWashington D.C. with first lady Hillary Clinton, and is having trouble getting along with his siblings in his final days. Amid the sobering news of their son's early departure, Annie and Eric struggle to come to terms with news from the family doctor that Mary is pregnant. Also, the Camden kids concoct a plan with the Colonel and Grandma Ruth - who are in town for Matt's graduation - to get Happy back from her former owners. Plus, Annie's father shares some news about he and Ginger.

In the third season-opener, Annie is feeling a little depressed since she's 3 months pregnant. Ruthie is pretending to feel a little pregnant herself. Lucy is following the dating advices from 'The Rules' book she has. Matt moves in an apartment with three attractive girls. Eric is looking for the perfect 20th anniversary plan for Annie. Mary gets a lot of attention from guys, which makes Lucy jealous. Although, one of Mary's 'guy' friends asks Lucy out. Matt finally comes back home because of girl problems he was having with his new roommates. Simon's girlfriend is acting a little weird. Eric and Annie tell the kids they're having TWINS!

Annie and the girls are fixing up an old car for Matt as his college present for him as he moves into a fraternity house. Simon is having a hard time living around the girls when fixing up the old car and needs to be around some male energy, especially after hearing from his mom that two more girls MAYBE on the way when she predicts the twins' sex. Meanwhile, a new woman at the church flirts with Eric. Lastly, Matt's friend almost dies after drinking too much for an initiation at a fraternity party and Matt quickly takes him to the hospital.

Matt enters an atypical confidence crisis when a girl campus refuses flat-out to date him or even accept his tutoring, so he acts for 'constructive criticism' at home. Simon feels needlessly guilty when Ruthie reacts to his warning the twin babies will make parental attention scarce by deliberately failing a test to make Annie coach her, so he bribes Ruthie, who even scams him for double. Lucy's biology grades are disastrous, according to Mary due to new 'best friend' Nicole Jacob, whom she catches cutting herself.

Simon sees his teacher push a man who was screaming at his son. He then feels guilty when he learns his teacher got fired. Annie takes piano lessons as her "pregnancy project." Meanwhile, Matt makes a move on one of his college teachers. It turns out he misunderstood her signals. Mary and her friends skip a boring class and get caught. Also, Lucy forgets her lunch in geometry class and finds her teacher eating it--- two days in a row. She and her friend Shelby then learn a good geometry lesson. Lastly, Ruthie has trouble finding the perfect instrument for music class.

Eric is trying to cheer up a woman whose son died three years ago. She wants to meet the people who received her son's organs after he died. Mary got her driver's permit, but not everyone is enthusiastic to ride with her. Meanwhile, Lucy and Simon decide to take the bus. A freshman has a crush on Lucy and sits beside her, which makes his girlfriend jealous and angry with Lucy. Simon gets into some trouble with this tough guy who wants help with his homework. Also, a pregnant girl steals Matt's car and leaves Matt with her broken car, which happens to be stolen. She is running away from home because her parent's don't forgive her for getting pregnant.

Annie's father, Charles is getting married to his girlfriend Ginger. The wedding reception is supposed to be at the Camden's house and Annie is the one in charge of preparing the menu. Annie isn't enthusiastic about the wedding and the reception. On her way to the grocery store, she meets a homeless veteran and invites him home. He is the one ending up preparing the menu since he was a chef for forty years. Also, Matt and Mary are taking a little road trip, which ends up being very long when they get a flat tire. Simon is spending the day with his new girlfriend Deena. Lucy is spending the day with Jordan, the guy she can now call her boyfriend. Lastly, Ruthie is feeling lonely, so she pretends her imaginary friend Huey is back the whole day.

Ruthie wants the "Booboom" video game that her friend has and is walking around the house pretending she is dropping bombs which is annoying Annie a lot. Simon has a BIG problem at school when his girlfriend Deena tells him that her former boyfriend Johnny just got dumped by his girlfriend and might be coming after him so he could get back together with Deena. Johnny then threatens to shoot Simon the next day at school. Simon tells Eric this and tries his best to settle this matter leading to bad consequences on both sides as someone gets shot. Meanwhile, Matt introduces Mary to his friend Shana and her brother. He asks Mary out on a date, but has no idea that he has a BIG problem--- he is violent. Meanwhile, Lucy tries to be romantic with Jordan and wants to slap him after watching "Gone with the Wind."

After drinking Matt's coffee once, Simon fears to be addicted and acts accordingly. A natural, legal 'supplement' is offered to study-exhausted Matt by buddy Scott, whose pa got it in a health store, and to Mary by over-competitive teammate Diane Butler, whose father uses it himself. Eric realizes it contains dangerous epefrine. Eric's former rock band mates visit Glenoak. Matt sets something right. The Butlers are in for a shock.

Simon invests in a babysitting course, but pays dearly when he lets Annie talk him into trying out on Ruthie, who already abused every older sibling even when much younger. Matt desperately seeks inspiration for a college project on sexuality. Wade patiently handles Lucy's insanely jealous and insecure worries after a -for him, unlike Mary, canceled- senior jocks sleepover until Matt comes to her 'rescue', then spontaneously braves Eric. Teenage mothers and (potential) fathers in Eric and Annie's church program go trough surprising hellish moves.

It's the Christmas season and Eric has his three oldest children doing charity work for the community. Mary and Lucy aren't enthusiastic about the charity work that Eric wants them to do. Mary is working in a soup kitchen while Lucy has to organize auditions for the "Live Nativity" at the church. Meanwhile, Eric has given Matt a well-paid job as Santa Claus at the mall. Also, Simon is in the spirit of wearing his VERY tight candy cane pajamas and wanting to put on lights inside the house since he's not allowed to do it outside alone. As a family ritual, each family member picks a name out of a hat of who to get for Christmas while Eric and Annie cheat. Before going on his family vacation, Jordan accidently gives Lucy a gift that was meant for his uncle's monkey (shoe shine-kit), but was supposed to give her a basketball signed 'I Love You'. Also, Mary meets a a guy, Carlos at the soup kitchen who doesn't have a place to stay for Christmas, so Mary invites him to stay over at their hous

Simon is deeply hurt because pa didn't tell him his girlfriend Deena behaves so moodily because of her annual leukemia check-up, yet handles her admirably. Matt discovers aunt Julie has moved in town and taken a teaching job. She rudely keeps him and later brother Eric at arms-length, resenting obvious concerns for her alcoholism problem. Fake tears' success on the DMV examiner success inspires Mary to abuse crying regularly, to nobody's ultimate profit.

Simon's obsessive worrying what to give Deena for their three month 'anniversary' chases his sleepover guest. Matt tries to get his deaf ex Heather back, only to hear she's engaged and wants Eric to marry her. Lucy's ex Ron hides at the Camdens' after his ma's death until coached to make up with his absented dad at the funeral. Annie soon swallows her irate grudge at Dr. Hank Hastings.

Lucy is spending the weekend at camp 'All By Myself'. It turns out everyone at the camp has to spend the weekend all by themselves without talking to anyone. Ruthie is angry with classmate Bobby Tripp because he keeps making fun of her since he accidently saw her underwear. Now, Ruthie decides to make him realize what he did was wrong by starting a war: Camdens vs. Tripps. The church's women group throws a baby shower for Annie. Eric and Matt have lunch with Morgan and John Hamilton. The manager of the restaurant doesn't serve Morgan and John their meal because he doesn't serve black people.

It's Annie's sixth time going to the hospital and as her most difficult labor yet ensues the older kids must find ways to entertain themselves. Lucy questions her true feelings for Jordan and grapples with ending the relationship. Matt has to muster enough courage to give blood, while Simon is in the hospital praying for baby brothers. Meanwhile, Happy the Dog is having a blast in the empty house The babies are delivered with the last minute assistance of Dr. Hastings.

Samuel and David are home and will not stop crying. Matt gets a new job at the Dairy Shack as a delivery guy. Mary sneaks to the pool hall to meet Wilson, while Lucy covers for her at home, only to end up doing all the cleaning by herself. Mary hangs out with Jordan as Wilson arrives. Wilson is thinking of moving back to Glen Oak, but Mary realizes she doesn't have feelings for him anymore. Ruthie wants to run away from home because she doesn't get much attention as she used to, but Annie helps ease her feelings by giving Ruthie her baby book. Matt gets fired from his job, but meets an old girlfriend, Shana.

Eric has reason to believe that Lucy's ex-boyfriend Jimmy Moon is using drugs, so the whole Camden family bands together in an effort to convince Lucy not to see him anymore. However, Lucy does not listen to them and gets a lot more than what she bargained for when trying to help Jimmy on her own. When a not-so-athletic Simon doesn't have a chance of making the baseball team, he hopes to use basketball star Mary as a reference.

Eric counsels a troubled couple on the brink of divorce, Ted and Emily. Matt decides to join the Army without consulting his parents about it. Also, Mary and Lucy are desperate to get out of the house and later get into a car accident with Ted, who was driving drunk when going out to get some more beer for his new apartment. Matt cannot join the Army because he is not fully measured for the job. Also, Simon tries to find his red-lightning ring to get out of his bad luck as being the new middle child of the family now, even trying chain letters in an effort to do so. Lastly, Ruthie tries her best to get people's attention when their focuses are on the new babies.

Moral outrage explodes in the community over an affair between a college president and a student at Matt's college, and Matt gets into a fight with some people at his school due to a disagreement of opinions with the chancellor's affair. Simon and Ruthie get an after school job. Mary thinks she hit a car in the school parking lot, and to make amends, promises the driver a date with Lucy.

Eric defends a custodian named Rudy from Simon's school, who claims to be hearing messages from God and is forced into early retirement through the school board. Annie wants to cut loose for the evening, and does so with other fellow mothers. Ruthie encounters a chimp living in the Camdens' tree in the backyard, but nobody in her family believes her when she tells them about it. Mary volunteers herself and Lucy to babysit the twins, but expects her sister to do the bulk of the work.

Two parishioners entreat Eric to take their suffering dog to the vet to be put down. Matt catches Mary kissing her almost-killer Michael Towner in Sergeant Michaels' squad car. Simon goes on his first date with Deena, bringing Lucy along to accompany Deena's brother.

Eric worries about Matt as Heather's wedding approaches. Eric learns that his sister Julie is dating Dr. Hastings (the doctor who delivered the twins and almost killed Matt at birth) without telling him or the family. Also, Lucy and Simon are both in their awkward day as Simon gets kissed by Deena's cousin and Lucy's ex Jordan admits he likes Mary. Ruthie wants to be a bridesmaid at Heather's wedding.

Eric counsels an engaged couple facing difficulties. Mary, Lucy, and Simon learn the repercussions of forbidden love, especially Simon when Ruthie catches him and Deena kissing in his bedroom, and threatens to tell on them. Julie gets married to Dr. Hastings and learns that she is pregnant. Also, Heather breaks up with her fiance after she learns he was cheating on her with another woman. Matt tries to save his relationship with Shana after running off with Heather.

"The Colonel" and Grandma Ruth return from being out of the country for six months. Simon surprises his grandparents with his new haircut. Matt decides to move out of the house and gets his own apartment with his friend John Hamilton. Aunt Julie's new husband Hank gets Matt a job at his hospital working in the cafeteria. Also, Eric suffers a mild heart attack due to job-related stress. Eric spends a few days in the hospital with the support from his family and is told to take things slow while recovering.

Eric develops a child-like fascination with life when he takes a much-needed vacation after his heart attack episode, while Annie runs into interference with each of the kids. Meanwhile, Simon assumes the role of the 'man of the house', but feels Matt is undermining his authority when he keeps on making fun of him. Also, Matt grows uncomfortable with the blossoming friendship between his girlfriend Shana and his roommate John while he's busy with other issues. Also, Lucy finds a direction in her life with her interest in Habitat for Humanity, after taking her father's advice.

Annie and Lucy get involved in an organized protest about the treatment of women in Afghanistan. A young couple talks to Eric about sexual equality in their own marriage. Ruthie wants to play on the school's football team.

Simon lets school friends convince him he should kindly handle a crazy girl who signed his first name all over a notebook but keeps sending mixed or rather contradictory signals. When his roommate gets a cool job, Matt is fed up with his menial one in the cafeteria. Kid patient Adam's attempts to help seem to backfire. The Camdens really need a new car, but when Eric is seen test-driving a sports-car and Lou sees furnishings arrive for the extra bathroom Annie helps the girls install for their 'attick suite', the board votes against his annually scheduled raise.

Matt tutors silver spoon James Potter in history, refuses to help him cheat but is still in trouble when the professor smells a rat. Simon's new classmate Lee Patterson boasts his cool dad works with FBI and even NASA, but actually is an unemployed ex-con and petty marijuana dealer. Lucy regrets taking a school secretary job, is flattered when older hunk Tyler asks her for a dance, but that bubble bursts when he actually wants the password to enter the school computer.

Eric and Annie put on their counseling hats when a very pregnant Julie appears on their doorstep prepared to leave her new husband Hank. Eric decides to take Hank out to dinner to discuss their issues. While they are at dinner, a very pregnant Julie goes into early labor. Unable to transport her to the hospital because Simon and Mary are out to dinner and Lucy is on a date, Annie does her best to calm Julie down. Hank and Eric return to the house just in time for the birth. Julie delivers a baby girl. Grateful for Eric's effort, Julie names the baby after him: Erica. Meanwhile, Lucy is disappointed when her date expects her to be 'the man', and Simon attracts the attention of an older female admirer.

Simon is in absurd trouble just because his mother and the principal make a huge drama of a finger-gesture among schoolboys. Matt tries to explain, but Simon feels he's robbed of another part of his childish innocence. Matt wrestles with domestic problems among his roommates and considers moving back home on account of Eric's cardiac condition. Basketball coach Jason Cleary decides the girls' continuing grades slip warrants drastic action: a team lockout, which makes the local TV news and because of official secrecy starts a rumors circuit.

The whole community is shocked to see Mary and half her Wildcats team meanly vandalized the school's gym. Simon and Ruthie feel guilty for not telling they overheard her planning 'something extreme', so they seek redemption in Catholic confession, a synagogue and a Buddhist temple. Matt feels guilty enough to move back in and resume his task as big brother, only to find that o longer requires his presence and return to his house-mates. Eric calls a marker on lawyer Bill Mays, he gets her in to a trial-avoiding parole office 'last chance' program.

A Japanese woman donates $20,000 in reparation money to the church. Ruthie learns a lesson in rejecting others. Matt and Shana get back together after Shana wants to see other people. Lucy decides whether or not to go to a party with girls who have invited her, but rejected Mary.

In order to get extra credit, model pupil Simon reluctantly joins a of voluntary mural painting project. He instantly feels unwelcome, and is threatened to keep silent after witnessing them using and sniffing spray paint. He sees Pete get a nose bleed and cues dad to guess and tell him how dangerous the addiction is after Pete is hospitalized. Lies add to Simon's endurance. During community service, Mary meets and instantly falls for Robbie Palmer, a gentleman who was convicted without blame and impresses the Camden parents. Matt feels twice betrayed because Shana ...

Ginger arrives, not knowing where Charles is and reveals he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. However, it turns out later that Charles claims it is Ginger who has Alzheimer's. Ruthie is worried about the millennium. Lucy wants to see a guy instead of doing community work, and gets rejected by her fellow Habitat for Humanity volunteers when she gets caught on her date in the pool hall. Simon and Matt hang out with disastrous results. Mary receives good news about her 30-day evaluation, then is angry when Eric won't let her date Robbie. Eric lets him come to the house and see her under their supervision, but Robbie doesn't believe their relationship will work. Matt feels depressed over Shana going to NYU, then even more when he finds out that she's living with guys in a fraternity house. Eric and Robbie talk, and Mary and Robbie get back together. Charles and Ginger see another doctor about dealing with Alzheimer's. Annie and Charles share memories from the photo album.

Matt spends the night with Shana in between packing for New York, but on the couch and it only makes the farewell harder. Simon is depressed because Deenah bugs him about color-matched outfits, his sisters about pointless phone-calls. Lucy is unfair to movie-date Brad Landers and better kisser Andrew Nayloss. The house is a mess as marital walkover Eric let Annie get away with taking a weekend off alone, which she can't enjoy missing everyone, while he fails to keep any promises.

Robbie and Mary get to go to the movies on a double-date with his brother Rick and Lucy, but that unwilling couple ends up cheating on their partners, while Robbie has another secret. Simon and Nigel buy cigarettes illegally for a school project, yet Eric waits even while they ponder about smoking 'just one'. Matt is a wreck after Shana fails to call once, worse when she does too cheerfully, but his very despair attracts both girl neighbors his house-mate invited.

New parishioners Carver's son Bobby has a condition, allegedly ADD, but former Tourette's-patient Louis Shea, MD recognizes that's the problem. Only pa Bill Carver can't cope with the diagnosis on account of the family past. Simon sticks up for Bobby against the bully jocks captain, while Mary makes an absurd drama of a remark Simon didn't even realize. Matt is in a stage where he refuses to take calls from Shana, the next bodes even more trouble for their long-distance relationship.

It is Valentine's Day, and the Camdens are celebrating the day of love with a special party in honor of the twins' first birthday. Eric and Annie fret over how to make it a memorable birthday, while the rest of the family learn different ways of exchanging love. After finally gaining her parents' trust, Mary is allowed to spend a romantic dinner with Robbie, only to learn he has ulterior motives. Meanwhile, Simon and Deena confess to their parents that they have given each other love bites. Also, Matt welcomes his ex-girlfriend Heather back into his life, threatening his relationship with Shana.

Eric's reading of an anonymous letter, the juvenile author of which he later shamelessly tracks down, asking for prayer, the power of which he praises blindly, starts an epidemic of selfish praying. Matt and his roommate want female companionship, but Raven of mixed exotic extraction only complicates their lives. Simon hopes to mend with Deena's family, Mary to undo the break-up with Robbie she caused. Lucy secretly wants Andrew but only if he loves her, and gets to meet his namesake in church.

Eric finds himself on the hung jury of a case that he considers to be "open and shut," only to realize that he must help the other jurors regain their faith in the legal process in order to reach a fair verdict (a sort of Twelve Angry Men in reverse). Meanwhile, the other Camdens are suffering their own wrong doings as Annie and Ruthie ponder whether two wrongs make a right. Mary becomes indebted to Lucy after accidentally giving her ablack eye. Also, Simon and Deena realize that saying "sorry" can't turn back time, and Matt learns how important one person's voice can be.

Simon and Lucy talk about their parents lives. When Eric and Annie overhear them, they are hurt by the discussion. Mary has dreams of being a basketball star and a talent scout contacts her.

Rev. Camden counsels a sexually molested girl to help her express the rage and pain she has been hiding from her family. This dark secret that Mary knows about weighs in on her, which brings her to open up to Lucy. Meanwhile, Simon and Ruthie learn the power of communication with their friends and classmates. Also, Matt helps Hank reveal an important personal secret to Julie before his mother visits.

Eric is very proud when newspaper reporter Sam Robbins offers to cover his reverend's family. Despite warnings from the kids, the parents force all to collaborate, and but they end up betraying all the dirty laundry they warned their siblings not to betray. Matt meanwhile thinks that new orderly Elisabeth admires him, but in fact she only spreads malicious lies.

Eric and Annie must deal with the emotional fallout as they learn about their kids tumultuous love lives. Mary upsets her parents by announcing that not only has she decided to skip college in the fall, but she is also getting back together with Robbie. Matt is forced to choose between his girlfriend Shana (who has moved back to Glen Oak for the summer) or his ex Heather, who confesses that she still loves him. Lucy dates Robbie's cute brother, Ronald, disappointing Andrew Nayloss who still harbors feelings for her. Also, Simon gets dumped by Deena, and Ruthie takes advantage of her new boyfriend.

Simon finds out the real reason why Deena wants to break up with him. Ruthie does her best to get back together with her old boyfriend, Burt, while Lucy also tries to go after an old flame: Andrew Nayloss. Mary decides to take things slowly with her relationship with Robbie and her life. Matt and Shana break up, but he reconciles with Heather.

Eric is distressed by the fact that his daughter Mary has opted to postpone college in favor of a little soul searching and the glory of minimum wage. Mary decides to buy a car. Annie leaves Eric with a handful at home so she can complete her teaching degree. Meanwhile, Simon attempts to fit in with the treacherous terrain of high school, and Lucy looks forward to ruling the school as a senior. Lucy can't wait to start a relationship with Andrew Nayloss, but he has not come back from summer vacation yet. Meanwhile, Matt's on-again-off-again relationship with Heather threatens to be off-again—permanently. Matt considers the pre-med track at college and Ruthie learns that she will have to spend another year with her despised third grade teacher, Ms. Riddle.

Matt blames his first-ever bad grade, for the crucial course organic chemistry, on everyone and collect excuses to delay studying rather then seek help. Simon is desperately lonely again after Jim's ma absurdly blamed him, but finds unhoped popularity when helping Lucy campaign for ball queen. Eric worries more about a surprise visit then the obvious reason, another attempt to make Mary see sense now she's behind with her car insurance payments.

Responsibilities fly out the window when Eric and Annie enjoy separate nights out on Friday. Although the reverend can't find anyone to hang out with him, so he calls a bewildered Matt. Annie is conferring with a professor. Mary strays even further away from her parent's image of her when she is tempted to drink and smoke one night after work. Also, Mary makes friends with married co-workers Frankie and Johnny with questionable morals while working the late shift. Matt blows Simon's chance at a big date with an older woman when Matt is distracted by a close encounter of the female kind and forgets to pick up Simon. Also, Lucy gets a taste of the not-so-glamorous side of parenting when her and a classmate take care of an egg.

Exasperation reaches an all-time high in the Camden household, as Eric and Annie helplessly watch Mary and her worrisome friends continue to head down the path of destruction and into the hands of the law. When Frankie expresses interest in signing up for college classes, Mary starts checking out Lucy's early application packets. Meanwhile, Simon has a hot date, and Lucy gets a weird proposition from a classmate. Lastly, Ruthie discovers the manipulative fun of keeping a diary.

Tensions run high as a doubtful Julie lets Mary babysit Erica, only if Mary has no visitors. But when Frankie comes by and begs Mary to take care of her baby Mercy, Mary can't resist helping her. Then, Mary is then caught with an open bottle of beer while babysitting. Meanwhile, Lucy volunteers to supervise Ruthie's sleep over, and to watch the twins. Simon is on a quest to change his image, and does this by piercing his ear. Matt pursues a woman who wants nothing to do with him. Also, Eric and Annie clash with Mary's disreputable friends.

Irresponsible 'adult' Mary fails to realize how deep she's sinking, but both parents and siblings piece together from various sources she's about to hit rock-bottom and wants to help, but how? Eric can barely keep Annie from intervening directly before they know everything. As even Simon is near-broke and Matt can't keep up pretending he's a lawyer, the kids decide to 'borrow' enough from the twins' full piggy-banks to advance her all due debts. But creditors seeing cash convince her to 'refinance' over longer, which means even more interest.

The monthly day when the twins' piggybacks are enriched with §10 is ahead, so the siblings fear the game is up unless Mary manages to repay the 'loan', but now her debt is reshuffled she idly spends her days in the movie theatre. So the Camden parents soon learn the dreadful truth they already dreaded. After pondering how to help her, a family intervention proving she's still in haughty denial, the last resort is packing her off to Buffalo, to be taken in hand by the Colonel.

Simon lets his mate Luke set them up with the Murphy twins, who fall for his cool 'bad boy' image by association with Mary, but the vixens make the knaves join them in shoplifting and other mischief. Matt falls in love at first sight with a girl in a wedding dress, actually model Julie. Only Mike teaches Lucy how to handle gossip. Annie seeks comfort with a friend, positive thinking guru Robin, who turns out rather negative.

There is cause for alarm when the Camdens disapprove of Simon's new friends, one of whom insults Annie and Lucy with his chauvinistic remarks. Norton, the kid that Simon befriends, is a fan of violent rap whose negative attitude towards women seems to be influenced by misogynist lyrics. At the same time, Eric and Annie confront Simon about his new-found interest in rap music and somewhat misogynist attitude towards women. Heather reconnects with Matt, but Matt is unsure of her intentions. He then finds out that she is dating someone else again!

Despite the disapproval from the rest of the family and his own hesitations, Eric invites Mary's ex-boyfriend Robbie Palmer to stay with them for a night after learning that he's homeless. Matt also shows up unexpectedly after being kicked out of his apartment by John, who needs quality time with his girlfriend. Meanwhile, Mary calls home again and hears Robbie's voice on the other end, and assumes he's dating Lucy now. Also, John proposes to his girlfriend Priscilla in front of Matt.

A month has passed since Eric invited Mary's ex-boyfriend to stay with them until he got on his feet. Robbie happily continues to act as a member of the household, and it's driving Annie crazy. Robbie is Eric's latest project, Ruthie's new best friend, recipient of Simon's financial advice, and according to Mary, Lucy's boyfriend. He's even cooking and folding laundry (the wrong way!). Frustrated and emotionally strained, Annie starts to think nobody needs a mother anymore. Matt also feels unneeded by the family due to Robbie, and pays an unexpected visit to Heather and her new boyfriend.

Robbie is threatened with eviction by Eric for apparently keeping secrets about Mary. The home buzzes with rumors and secret talk, but in the end it's all just an elaborate surprise party for Eric's birthday. Johhny dropped his baby at the Camden's door after Frankie enraged him and left completely. Mike trusts Lucy enough to mind his ma one evening, but she confides in Lucy she wants Mike to sell the house, put her in a home and resume his life.

Robbie is not amused by week-long roommate Matt's jealous whining, but still helps him make up with John, who lacked the courage to tell Priscilla her 'Japanese' room remodeling disgusts both guys. Mike decides after a kiss without chemistry to trade in Lucy for Elaina Casey, while matching Lucy with Mike's friend Jeremy. Simon and Robbie prevent suddenly jealous Lucy's reactions spoiling the whole partner-switch, which thus ends well.

Robbie admits to the Camden tribe, but only after long guessing and the facts, that his Valentine's date was with Cheryl again, but it actually provides closure, for he still wants Mary. Jeremy impresses Lucy with a fancy dinner and more, regardless of her exes popping up everywhere. The other siblings miss out on dates, but still dislike the twins' birthday party, the childishness of which finally gets through to the parents.

An item found in a lost wallet starts speculations whether it's Simon's or Robbie's and how to make sure it doesn't mean their dates go too far. None of the siblings gives Mary the triumphant welcome she hoped for at her first weekend visit, so Robbie is scolded for not wildly kissing her.

Robbie's father Ed Palmer, a deadbeat who left the boys very young, turns up and slickly gets free board, next convinces his boy to move out and rent a room together. Eric perseveres to make Robbie realize he can't waste his future on a super-dad that never existed, as his very imperfect mother always claimed. Simon's social life clashes badly with parental essay standard demands. Matt is furious to find Ruthie lied to use him in willful disobedience. Lucy hangs out with classmate Ashley's 'cool' mother Serena, only to find a 'regular' mother is better.

Matt is terrified when summoned stat for a psychological session, standard for med students. After an unsatisfactory attempt to be 'coached' by therapy-experienced Mike, Matt lands with Doc, who turns out to be fraud and yet a godsend. Simon wants to break up with older, yet immature Sasha, but lets various advice how to go easy on her complicate things for him. Eric confronts a rather blunt hospital doctor about what to tell terminal patients like Harold Mann about their life expectancy and why.

Robbie is told last, despite Camden's advice for her to be open, that Mary has bumped into her ex Wilson, who does a course in Buffalo, and agreed to a dinner at his place. Robbie is doubly vexed as he immediately calls her after meeting a lookalike, Marie, also a basketball player, whom he asked over to get hold of her study notes. Matt meets and dates Cheryl before he realizes she's Robbie's ex. Mary also bumps into Lucy's Jeremy.

Annie discovers that the particularly flirtatious mother of one of Lucy's friends, Serena is seeing Eric for therapy sessions. Annie strongly requests that he refers her to someone else. Annie then has to deal with the guilt over her jealousy-induced interference between the two. Also, Simon is mortified when word gets around school over the fact that he's a virgin. Annie had shared the details of Simon's sexual inexperience with his ex-girlfriend's (Sasha) mother, Rita. Meanwhile, Matt struggles about telling Robbie he's interested with his ex-girlfriend, Cheryl. Lastly, Robbie is also hiding a secret from Matt that involves his ex-girlfriend Heather.

At first, Annie is devastated when she finds out her father secretly had a daughter out of wedlock. Eventually, she comes to accept her new half-sister.

Lucy and Jeremy announce their engagement. Matt reveals that he has been dating Cheryl. Feeling rejected by Robbie, Mary makes a shocking declaration that causes havoc in the family.

Lucy and Jeremy are delighted when Annie and Eric offer to support their long-term engagement. Robbie and Mary agree to be friends, but an ultimatum from Wilson leaves Mary with a life-changing decision.

Eric's stress level rises when he learns that Matt has lost his job at the hospital, and is relying on his pals to find him new work. Simon adds to the tension by pressuring his pop to let him get his learner's permit. Lucy just cries in her room and refuses to discuss what happened in New York between her and Jeremy. Even lodger Robbie, still longing for Mary, is moping around the house. To top it all off, Annie's odd behavior has Eric wondering what is going on with her.

Simon stands up for a bullied student only to have the boy tell him that he is going to shoot his tormentors. Robbie gives Ruthie a playful nickname and she comes up with a less-pleasant one for Lucy. Meanwhile Lucy snaps at Ruthie, and teases her before bed about being called snooki, and it comes back to haunt her when she unwittingly ends up causing a rift in Ruthie and Robbie's relationship. Eric gets a visit from an old female friend with family issues of her own.

Robbie offers to pay $200 rent for the garage apartment if it ever gets finished. However the siblings all want it, so Matt is promised a switch with his room and the others whine jealously. Billy clearly pretends to be 'really' sick to make Mary stay with him and perhaps become his first mama. Lucy promised handyman Ray Rickey work on the garage apartment, but the crook fakes a fall and has a leech-lawyer waiting.

Eric tries to arrange a romantic evening alone with Annie, but she rebukes his every attempt. Meanwhile, Simon's tardiness and poor people skills put his new job in jeopardy. Robbie sets Lucy up on a date with one of his friends. And Matt is concerned about a woman who keeps showing up at the clinic.

Robbie is insecure, hiding his budding rebound-affair with Lucy. Wilson is deeply hurt when he finds fickle 'bride' Mary kissing fire department course mate Ben Kinkirk. Simon doesn't enjoy bully-mate Rick's girl abusing him as excuse to dump him. Annie experiences her flippant advice nearly wrecked pupil Christy Parks's parents' marriage, yet resists help even from Eric.

Simon meets up with an old girlfriend, Sasha and they both try to catch up on their personal lives. Lucy and Robbie argue over who should tell Mary about their emerging relationship. Matt worries that a young woman in his study group might be a victim of physical abuse at the hands of her belligerent boyfriend. Elsewhere, Eric's sister shows up at the house with her toddler and annoys Annie as she tries to prepare a lesson for her class.

The Camden house gets a little more crowded when Mary returns, and tells her family that she is home to stay. Mary's sudden arrival has everyone in the family wondering what happened between her and Wilson. Are they married? Did they break up? Only Mary knows and she is not telling—at least not yet. Her presence delights Annie, who goes out of her way to make her daughter comfortable, even offering her the coveted garage apartment. But not everyone is happy to see her. Ruthie feels that Mary owes everyone an apology for the actions that led to her initial ouster from the Camden home.

Robbie is happy with his new hot Latina girlfriend Joy Reyes and persuades her rich, devoutly Catholic father Ramon Reyes (for now) of his honorable intentions. The garage apartment squatters' resolve is self-sabotaged by their rivalry to get what shouldn't be Mary's and Ruthie's scheming. In the end return under the maternal yoke and make up (more or less forcibly) with Mary, who meanwhile repents, but Eric wisely doubts her sincerity and rectitude.

Mary and Lucy ask their parents to find new boyfriends (and potential husbands) for both of them. Robbie argues with Joy about spending so much time together when she insists on seeing him right away. Meanwhile, Simon and Matt use the twins to attract women.

Simon's big day, the start of his driving lessons, finally arrived, but Eric just forgot about it. Grandpa Jackson seduces the knave into driving him around without a license, which leads through more bad grandfatherly advice to a televised police car chase. Jealous of Joy, Matt behaves childishly toward Robbie whose gentleman's attitude ultimately gives in. Lucy hoped Jeremy called to make up, but he just wants his engagement ring back. The local fire chief isn't fooled by Mary's eagerness to transfer.

Annie quits her teaching job without discussing it with Eric first; and Mary calls Wilson and learns from his landlord that he has moved out of his apartment. Meanwhile, Simon uses Robbie's car to practice driving and he accidentally smashes into Matt's vehicle and this finally prompts Robbie to confront Matt about his relationship with the Camdens.

While Robbie visits his mother in Florida, Ruthie sneaks in her friend Yasmine Halawi, a Muslim girl who became the target of two bullies on the street. All Camdens feel obliged to help the Halawi family, which lived in Glenoak for years without problems, but every attempt proves hard or even counterproductive. Matt and Simon nearly beat up wrong suspects. Ruthie's private school's board votes against admitting Yasmine.

With Robbie still in Florida, Matt fails to warn Simon, who got paternal permission behind ma's back, for the angers of attending older boys' parties. Simon's mate Morris drives him home but hesitates to ring given spiked punch promises a killer hangover anyway. Meanwhile Lucy settles her mutual good/popular girl jealousy with Mary, but jointly attending a frat party nearly sees Lucy forced to drink.

Valentine's Day delivers a few surprises for the Camden family as a grounded Simon is asked out by a senior, named Maria. Annie's attempt to surprise Eric with romantic Valentine's plans backfires, and results in a big fight. Meanwhile, a nosy Mary discovers Robbie's plans with Joy. Lucy runs into her ex-fiance Jeremy outside one of her classrooms and finds out that he is going to the pool hall to meet with a "friend" for Valentine's, which is to Lucy's surprise. Mary also meets up with Wilson who also has a new girlfriend, her old friend, Corey Conway. Also, Matt seeks his fathers help with his love life, and wants to get serious with a girl—which leads him to seek out old girlfriends as to why they are no longer together. Lastly, Ruthie is hesitant to go to a party because her friend tricked her into asking out a boy that she is already going out with.

Robbie's apparently firm happiness with Joy causes envy with his roommate. Matt is now in love with wedding plans, enough to vow his next steady date must be for keeps. Matt misses his date with a promising candidate, being commandeered for clinic duty. Yet thus he meets a fellow med student, Rabbi Richard Glass's daughter Sarah, who get doc's blessing. She insists they must meet each-other's families. Although both parents pairs plead against a mixed religions couple, the love-birds soldier on.

After a love night, Matt has got married with rabbi Glass's daughter Sarah. Robbie is mildly amused at the fuzz of all other Camdens speculating and worrying whether Matt 'was dumber than Mary with Wilson'. Only Ruthie finds out, answering when Matt calls, but is sworn to secrecy. Meanwhile Matt and Sarah go tell her parents first, but she shies away from telling the truth and pretends they just got engaged, a lie they now have to extend to the Camden home, where the 'news' only adds to the mounting stress.

Annie frantically cooks Jewish dishes as the Camdens prepare to head out to a Shabbat dinner at the Glasses. Simon asks Matt and Sarah if he can bring his friend Morris to the dinner. Matt agrees to allow Morris to come to the dinner as he is half-Jew. That, however, does not go as he planned, as he is not very knowledgeable about his faith. Lucy and Mary play sick to try to skip the outing so they can stay home with Robbie. While home, Mary flirts with Robbie. Lastly, Eric and Annie are unable to handle it all when they are shocked to find out during dinner that Matt is considering to convert to Judaism.

Matt and Sarah argue over their wedding plans and their agreement to forgo buying an engagement ring, and seek Eric for advice—who is not happy with Matt for getting engaged in the first place. Through the advice of Eric, Matt buys Sarah a fake engagement ring. Mary and Lucy fly to Buffalo for a weekend, or at least that is what Lucy thinks, as Mary makes plans of her own. While there, Lucy meets a police officer named Kevin who confiscated her bag, and he invites Lucy and Mary to a double-date with him and his brother—but with a big surprise in store for Mary.

The Camden home is surprised, especially Eric, by the arrival of Mary with her lover Ben, his brother cop Kevin, now Lucy's, and her new job as flight attendant which enabled their cheap flights. Still obsessed with Matt's secret, hopefully marriage, which Robbie and Ruthie help keep, Eric neglect his counseling appointment with the elderly Tallridges couple about their adult son Jerry's 'sudden' moving out, yet just that will inspire him.

Annie discovers Ruthie is writing to a Marine fighting in Afghanistan as part of a school project. The Camden family read what Ruthie has written to her pen pal about their lives and in turn learn about a Marine who so bravely has left his wife and son to fight in the war against terror. When Ruthie fails to get a response email at school and Eric hears about a helicopter going down killing two people he contacts the Colonel.

Matt discusses wedding plans with Eric and his future father-in-law, Rabbi Glass. Matt makes a spontaneous decision that infuriates his father and creates tension between the two families. As all this is going on, Annie tries to plan the perfect rehearsal dinner, but she is having some difficulties. Annie's father and stepmother are flying in for a visit, but they get lost at the airport. Simon is angry when Matt does not choose him to be his best man, and Ruthie gets into an unexpected fight with Robbie. Finally, as Aunt Julie goes into labor, Lucy argues with her boyfriend over moving arrangements.

The Camden family gather together for Matt and Sarah's wedding. Eric and the Rabbi make amends while Ben and Kevin decide to go to Glen Oak to pursue Mary and Lucy. Ruthie and Simon sort out their issues with Robbie.

The season starts with the Camden house in a state of change. Kevin moves in the garage apartment and plans to propose to Lucy. Robbie meets Kevin's police partner and is ready for romance. Ruthie starts dating, and Mary has an older boyfriend.

Simon starts a dating service. Mary and Jack are planning to move to Florida. Annie and Eric have their hands full with family events.

Ken Smith threatens the church because he disapproves of Mary's relationship with his son. Ben reads Lucy's diary and Simon's old girlfriend is rumored to be pregnant.

Eric is told he has to have open heart surgery and is faced with telling Annie and the family.

Eric has double bypass surgery and most of the family waits for results at the hospital. Ruthie stays home to watch the twins. Lucy tells her parents she is ready to accept a wedding proposal, but Kevin is no longer ready to propose.

Eric is recovering from surgery at home and starting to get restless. Annie tells everyone in the family to talk to Eric about their problems so he will fell useful. Lucy's friend Paul asks her to convince his parents to let him travel.

The Colonel sends a nutty old lady to help the Camdens.

While still recovering from surgery, Eric decides to spy on the new associate pastor. Ruthie is caught with her boyfriend when she is supposed to be babysitting. Kevin's ex-wife appears.

Since the new associate pastor is doing a good job, Eric decides to give up his job as pastor, and tires of everyone asking him for advice. Kevin and Roxanne seem to have a good working relationship and this worries Lucy.

Eric becomes the new DJ for a college radio station and he is immediately is involved in a suicide call by a student. Lucy continues to be upset about the partnership of Kevin with Roxanne.

Roxanne starts dating Chandler. Simon and Cecilia talk about having sex for the first time. Eric spends his time writing, and Annie finds out it is book with sexual scenes.

Eric continues his apathetic ways, and it gets to the point where Annie insists he see someone to talk about it. Cecilia starts avoiding Simon. Ruthie learns a friend has cystic fibrosis.

Annie attends on the counseling sessions with Eric. Lucy and Kevin have different views on the judicial system, and it becomes apparent when Lucy tries to avoid jury duty.

Eric tries to help Chandler after the young minister learns that his father is dying of lung cancer, but Chandler rejects Eric's aid and pushes him away. Lucy accepts a date with Chandler's chain-smoking tattooed brother Sid in order to make Kevin jealous enough to propose to her. Elsewhere, Annie is shocked when she finds a pack of cigarettes in Simon's bedroom. Lastly, Ruthie's friend Peter begs her to lie and not tell his mother that he smokes.

Lucy dreams that Kevin takes her out for Valentines Day, and Roxanne comes to steal Kevin away. When Kevin does ask her out for real, she does not want to go. She does go, and he proposes to Lucy. Eric and Annie try to have their own date.

Lucy fears her father's return to the church will upstage her wedding celebration. Roxanne introduces Chandler to her father. With Simon and Cecilia working together, one day he notices the business manager stealing from the company.

Lucy tells Kevin she is thinking of quitting school, and he tells her the wedding is off if she quits. Annie and Eric help another couple face their marital problems and share their own problems. Roxanne leaves the police department.

A big storm interferes with Lucy & Kevin's wedding plans. Kevin's family and many of the guests have trouble getting to the church.

The church needs a new roof, and Chandler talks Eric into helping him ask a stubborn parishioner. She agrees because she needs some help as well. Annie finds out the twins are stealing money. Lucy and Roxanne go out for a girl's night.

Ruthie's friend Peter is upset that his mother is marrying a man he does not know that well. Eric counsels him and the mother. Meanwhile Chandler helps another couple who wants to marry but has several problems with their relationship.

Chandler's father is dying. Eric tries to get Chandler and his father to talk before he dies. Simon asks Cecilia to the prom. Ruthie has problems but does not want to talk about it. Mary has news for her father. Sarah thinks she is pregnant.

Peter tells Ruthie she should talk to her parents about her problem. Simon asks someone else to the prom since Cecilia does not want to go. Annie talks to Sarah's mother.

The Camden's have a bad vacation. Simon is depressed over the accidental killing of his friend. Lucy & Kevin talk about starting a family. Mary deals with a problem that she does not want to share. Peter spends more time with the Camden's

Mary reveals that she married Carlos. Simon does not want to return to high school and Eric tries to find a solution for him. Roxanne and Chandler end their relationship.

Simon hopes for an early graduation from school & asks Eric plead his case. Simon's adviser is also the son of a preacher. Ruthie is being bothered by a bully. Kevin has to babysit his boss's child. Candler is caught kissing another woman.

Kevin is caught unaware on a domestic violence call, and he gets beaten by the wife. Simon is about to leave for college, and no one seems to notice. Ruthie & Peter have a school project to complete. Martin becomes part of the family.

Simon applies to college and decides to submit a video for his essay. He tells the story of the Camden's from his point of view.

Weeks after the September 11 attack, Eric asks his parishioners to do something good for someone else, use their own special talent to help someone who is in need. Eric has to find his own way of giving to others.

Roxanne is worried about her first time being a mentor. When a neighbor's home is robbed, she thinks it is the boy. Eric and Annie host a party for the new neighbors who are hesitant to attend for fear of prejudice against them.

Lucy signs up for the husband and wife softball team at the police department. Cecilia starts dating someone new.

A high school principal has a strict rule about people visiting the school unless they are the parents. Eric talks to her about a family wanting an exception, which then leads to the school board investigating the principal.

Matt & Sarah begin training at the hospital in New York. Matt finds it easy to answer questions and preform procedures while the other students struggle.

Matt wants to drop out of medical school after Sarah leaves him. Rabbi Glass talks to Matt about Sarah. Kevin's ex-wife is in town and wants to have dinner with him and Lucy. Martin's aunt wants Martin to move with her to New York.

Paris meets up with her ex-husband Vic, who wants to be part of the life again. Paris does not want him back, and Peter is afraid it would affect his relationship with Chandler. Eric tries to find a way to help Vic.

Martin wants to drop out of school when a sports team recruits him. Lucy wants to move out after an argument with her mother; Kevin tells her to apologize and be more active in their finances. Chandler is the executor of his father's estate.

At a Camden party, Roxanne and Betsy get into an argument about the war in Iraq. When Martin's father shows up, Roxanne is attracted to him. The twins want to spend more time with Ruthie.

A school project gets Ruthie & Peter in trouble as they write a newspaper article about two presidents containing false information. Annie's half-sister visits to discuss information about their father, but Annie does not want to listen.

Matt and Ruthie get together to share a special anniversary date for something they share, but Matt does not want others to know he is in town. Martin takes Cecilia on a date. Vic wants to spend time with Paris because he wants to propose.

Love and marriage seems to be on everyone's mind as Annie's sister is planning her wedding, a mentally challenged couple wants to get married after just one date, and a couple has their premarital counseling with Chandler.

Annie's father has died, but Annie seems upbeat. Perhaps she is in the denial stage of grief. Chandler is still upset over losing his own father, and breaking up with Roxanne. Eric suggests he adopt a child.

Lucy & Kevin look for their first home, as does Chandler. Turns out they are looking at the same place. Annie and Eric decide to buy their home from the church. Ruthie has plans to move to the garage apartment when Lucy and Kevin move out.

Chandler has Jeffrey for the night since his grandmother is in the hospital. Lucy and Kevin celebrate their wedding anniversary and discuss starting a family. Cecilia makes plans for going to college and discusses her relationship with Martin.

Ruthie & Peter get lost from their classmates on a school field trip. Kevin and Roxanne go undercover for a police assignment. Chandler struggles as a new parent.

Lucy thinks Kevin's partner is keeping secrets from him, such as she is trying to become a detective. Matt is having problems in his marriage. Martin learns that everyone thinks he is having sex with Cecilia.

Cecilia breaks up with Martin because she wants to be with Simon. Matt continues to run into a former girlfriend and is concerned about his marriage falling apart. Ruthie's foreign exchange student visits and is now living with the Camdens.

It's a big day for the Camden's as the twins start kindergarten. Lucy is pregnant but does not want to get maternity clothes yet. Simon and Georgia may be having sex. Ruthie gets in trouble at school.

A pregnant Lucy & Kevin learn they are going to have a girl. Simon tells his parents he is having sex with Georgia and is on probation at college. Eric decides to set up an abstinence pledge group at church, and Ruthie signs it.

Lucy is promoted to Associate Pastor at the church and faces the task of writing her first sermon. Simon starts going to a therapist and realizes he has been suppressing his guilt of a previous car accident. Ruthie wants to go on a date.

Simon comes to terms with his fears over the accident last year and goes on a bicycle ride with Justin. Ruthie and Harry decide to break up. Lucy counsels a pregnant girl.

The presidential election approaching. Martin is too vocal in his opinions and Ruthie realizes she does not have any. Annie and Eric might be on different sides of the political ticket. Lucy and Kevin have not registered to vote.

Lucy and Kevin see a new doctor for their pregnancy and they have different opinions of her, Lucy loving her and Kevin not so much. Ruthy becomes interested in Martin's friend and starts wearing makeup and acting older. Charlie, the new father of Leanne's baby, is having a hard time and wants out of parenthood, so Eric enlists the help of an old, dear family friend.

When Kevin purposely leads Venus, a young woman to believe that Martin is a rookie police officer, she quickly expresses interest in him and invites him over to her house and spend time together. Martin's friend Mac encourages him to pursue Venus. Martin has a hard time revealing the truth about himself after he learns that Venus' father is serving in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Eric and Annie are worried that Martin is getting in over his head with Venus and enlist Kevin to fix things, which only leads to rumors around the police station that Kevin is cheating on Lucy. Mac also jumps in by spreading rumors about Martin at school when Venus shows up at the high school for work. Lastly, Ben continues to hide his relationship with Lucy's new baby doctor, even though they spend a weekend together.

Simon calls Lucy and Kevin to borrow money. They turn to Eric for advice. Simon has been told to leave the dorm after breaking rules by having his girlfriend spend the night in his room.

With Thanksgiving approaching, everyone seems to be planning something different. Lucy wants to host the big meal, Simon wants to stay at college, Mary is staying in Puerto Rico, and the others also have different plans. Annie is upset.

Simon's ex-girlfriend claims she is pregnant, and as Simon tries to figure out how to tell his parents, he does not realize that there is more to the story. Eric, Annie, and the twins are on their way back from visiting Annie's stepmother, and they reminisce about old times they have shared together. A pregnant Lucy collapses at the grocery store while shopping with Matt, and they cannot seem to track Kevin down. Lastly, Ruthie is visiting Mary, Carlos, and baby Charles in Puerto Rico, but she isn't exactly having a good time.

Lucy is home from the hospital but is irritable, confined to bed rest. Kevin tells her to finish her studies. Martin is having problems at school and Ruthie learns his father's tour of duty is extended. Wayne Newton makes an appearance.

Matt takes Lucy shopping so that she is out of the house. Annie prepares for the baby shower while she is gone. At the store, Lucy goes into labor. Matt & Lucy are stuck in an elevator. Lucy gives birth to a girl.

Lucy, Kevin, and Savannah move back to her parent's home where there is one mother too many. Annie tries to impart her mothering skills on Lucy, who has different ideas for parenting. Ruthie sees an opportunity to get a favor from Martin.

Ruthie is going on her first date, and everyone else is more worked up than she is.

The cast shows their singing skills as they express their feelings about Valentine's Day. Simon starts dating another gal. The twins celebrate their birthday.

Kevin meets the previous owner of his new home who seems to miss the memories of his former residence. Simon asks Matt to give him a prescription for birth control pills for his girlfriend.

Simon has always been careful about practicing safe sex, so he panics when his girlfriend admits to having an STD the morning after they've slept together. Meanwhile, Martin and Mac catch Ruthie's boyfriend with another girl, and they don't know how to break the news to her. Matt, Simon, Lucy, and Ruthie know a dark secret about Mary, and they agonize over how to tell their parents, who falsely believe that Mary is pregnant again.

A non-church patron Marie enlists Eric's help in handling her elderly mother, Mrs. Wagner into getting her into a nursing home, but Eric gets a different impression when he finally meets Mrs. Wagner and sees that she doesn't need help and is still very capable. In fact, it turns out Marie may need more help than her mother as she is very unhappy with her life. But things turn out bad later on when Mrs. Wagner ends up in the emergency room due to her stress from her daughter. Ruthie puts up a fight with Lucy while shopping as she wants to spend the day with Vincent without Annie knowing about it. Ruthie wants to go to a family dinner with Vincent. Although, it inevitably blows up in her face and leads to an interesting conversation with Annie and Lucy in the driveway. Ben shows up in Glen Oak to pay Kevin and his new family a visit and makes himself well at home again in the garage apartment. But Kevin is not happy to see his brother as he wanted his mom and husband Frank to come over and see Savannah first. Lastly, the family spends the day setting up a special family dinner of what would've been Annie's mother, Jenny, her 75th birthday.

Lucy seems to only have time for Savannah, and Kevin feels left out. Vincent's new girlfriend is a snob who looks for ways to insult others. Zoe confides in Ruthie that their family does not have enough money for food. The twins are sick.

An extremely nervous Simon comes home to Glenoak to await the results of his STD test from the clinic. Eric counsels a woman who is caring for her two daughters with sickle cell anemia and whose absentee father is hoping to take them back with him to Memphis, Tennessee for treatment at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Meanwhile, Ruthie's ex-boyfriend Peter and his parents Paris and Vic pay a surprise visit to the Camden family, which creates problems for Ruthie and her current boyfriend, Vincent. A pregnant Paris and Vic decide to get married and ask Eric to be the minister to wed them. Also, Lucy and Kevin disagree over who should care for Savannah when Lucy returns to work. Lastly, Martin misses an important call from his father in Iraq while sneaking out of the house to be with his girlfriend. Martin begins to have second thoughts on their relationship.

After discovering that Mary has filed for divorce and signed away custody of her son, Matt is at a loss for how he should to break the awful news to Eric and Annie. Simon informs his new girlfriend, Rose, that he will not have sex with her, but avoids telling her the reason behind his decision. She gets fed up with him but comes back to him when she finds out his true intentions for them—marriage. Meanwhile, Ruthie's boyfriend, Vincent, asks Martin to get Ruthie to break up with him. Also, Eric gets involved once again with the Davis family children when little boy Danny is being adopted by Cecilia's parents, George and Gwen, but forgets to mention that the kid is part of a package deal as Danny has three sisters in Social Services as well, and try to take them in as well. Kevin is about fed up with Lucy as he's frustrated that they have not moved out of the Camden home as Lucy is stalling with the Realtor over a new home. Lastly, Lucy and Kevin may have finally found the perfect house.

When Simon and his new girlfriend Rose, make an unexpected visit to Glenoak to meet their respective parents, Annie begins to suspect their relationship might be on a fast track. She lets them know they are not allowed to sleep in the same room together in the house as they spend the night. Rose puts up a fight with both Annie and Simon over the sleeping arrangements, but eventually take will. Meanwhile, Eric hides the news of Mary's divorce, worried that it will most certainly break Annie's heart. Also, Martin becomes the third wheel again in Ruthie's and Vincent's relationship as Ruthie thinks Martin is jealous of their relationship despite the fact that Vincent wants Martin to convince Ruthie to dump him. The adoption process for George and his wife over the Davis children becomes more complicated when their biological mother fights for the adoption process to not happen. Lastly, Martin's father, Bill returns from Iraq to greet his son.

Martin receives a visit from Sandy, a college student he has spent time with over the summer, and she has some unfortunate news for him. Lucy speaks about parenthood in her first sermon at the church and most of the congregation is angry about the message she sends across. Also, Ruthie sets out to gain the attention of a boy who is already dating one of her friends, and Eric and Annie have to deal with telling Eric's parents about what happened to Mary and Carlos.

Kevin gets shot at by a young boy. The Colonel and Ruth are in Glen Oak for a visit. Rose wants them to know that she and Simon are engaged. Everyone else, including Simon, thinks that this is not a good idea. Sandy is feeling betrayed when Martin will not even call her back. In fact, Martin is asking out someone else completely.

Eric gets the cold shoulder from Ruthie after she loses the chance to date an older boy and Lucy doesn't like the repercussions of Kevin's new role in their daughter's life. Elsewhere, Eric misinterprets a phone call from Simon.

Simon finds a way to slow down his relationship with Rose, but her stubbornness derails his plan and Ruthie tries to ditch a boy who wants to go out with her. Elsewhere, one of the girls in Lucy's support group tells Lucy, that she is pregnant.

Kevin was happy to perform at a kids party in a Riverton rat costume, but when Matt hears Lucy is visiting Simon, prods him along to spy and soon finds Eric is doing the same, alas equally clumsily. Rose knew Lucy came for Sandy, so Martin's secret gets spread. Meredith gets Ruthie to find out if Martin disconnects his cellphone because he has another, while he is considering his options whether to play baseball full time in his senior year semester as he already has enough credited courses.

Kevin asks Lucy to let him help her with a problem that she is handling regarding Martin and Sandy and Ruthie introduces Eric to a boy she wants to date. Elsewhere, Eric meets with Meredith's adoptive father, who has questions about Martin.

Eric meets Sandy's father, who gives him an envelope of money intended for Sandy; and Ruthie collects soup-can labels to help her school's newspaper. Elsewhere, Simon has money troubles and his phone service gets shut off; and Martin has a heart-to-heart talk with Meredith about their future.

Eric gets a new perspective on Sandy's pregnancy when he learns his mom was pregnant with him before marrying his dad. Elsewhere, Sandy's parents want nothing to do with her or the baby.

With Thanksgiving at hand, continuous pussyfooting about Sandy's pregnancy causes a further avalanche of lies, pretenses and false assumptions, even that Martin got Ruthie knocked up. Breaking the truth proves equally unpleasant. Poor Simon is left working his tail off at his exams and extra radio shifts for Rose's diamond engagement ring, while the ingrate and Sandy -who have finished- want to attend the parish dinner without him in Glenoak, where Eric preaches reconciliation.

While Eric sneakily prowls for pie, Ruthie tells off Jack, who indignantly rebukes Martin's insinuations as just that, even gets his and Eric's apologies. While Simon can finally just rest, Rose stresses he shouldn't find out her dad's fourth marriage is breaking up, like her ma's third, which is why he sells his house, which she hopes to get for Simon and her. Kevin says Martin needs a good bating, if not paternal then from him, but both basically good boys are actually rather relieved after rolling in the grass letting off steams by fists.

Kevin makes a fine Father Christmas and knows the ideal gift: a dog, but Lucy insists to wait till after the holidays, then sneakily goes to the asylum herself, only to find their tastes in canines differ greatly. Heathen Rose has no clue what Christmas has to do with Nativity, so she 'tests' the twins, but in the process makes them doubt if either Santa or Jezus really exist. Sandy isn't keen either to participate in the parish's nativity scene. In the end, things work out as by Christmas magic.

Racism comes to light at the high school when Alex, a new African-American student, wants to give a report on Dr. Martin Luther King, but his teacher argues that they have already covered that topic in class. When Martin inadvertently supports Alex's case, he falls victim to a hate crime. His car is defaced with racial slurs, and he refuses to wash it off until the culprit is caught. Meanwhile, for her own report, Ruthie attempts to recycle an essay that she wrote three years ago.

As Sandy prepares to give birth, almost everyone rallies around her at the hospital. Everybody hopes that Martin--who has an important baseball tryout with a talent scout—will take what might be his very last chance to accept responsibility for his actions. Meanwhile, Kevin and Lucy are at odds over the idea of having more children, while Simon and Rose's relationship appears to be on its last straw—much to the Camden family's delight.

Ruthie is having a hard time getting over Martin, who is finally making an effort to be there for Sandy and the baby. Ruthie meets a new friend, Maggie, and they must both sit in detention after school. The teacher in charge at detention, a music teacher called Feinstein, manages to get the students' attention by giving them some new insights on music and its relation to history. He also plays Gershwin songs on the piano, which seem to calm Ruthie's heartache.

As Valentine's Day approaches, Kevin plans a special dinner, while Ruthie has a difficult time letting go of her feelings for Martin. Elsewhere, Annie has trouble accepting Rose—and the twins' request for a store-bought birthday cake instead of one made by her.

Lucy's life gets more complicated personally and professionally when she begins to feel the presence of her late Grandma Jenny visiting her and warning her of the challenges that are coming in her life. Meanwhile, Annie and Ruthie decide to take a day off together to unwind. Rose is angry with Simon for neglecting to tell her that he slept with Sandy. Lastly, Eric unintentionally shakes things up between Rose and Simon.

Ruthie is upset that she hasn't gotten any calls on her new cell phone, so Eric gives out her number. Meanwhile, Simon and Rose have dinner with her former fiancé, and the man is nothing like what Simon expected.

The Camdens receive official invitations to Simon and Rose's wedding, and to their dismay, they learn that the date conflicts with Matt and Sarah's graduation from medical school. As this news creates a tailspin with the family, Rose stubbornly refuses to change the wedding date. Eric and Kevin think they have a solution to the problem, but when Annie disapproves of their methods, she looks for help from an entirely different source. Meanwhile, Ruthie wants to enroll in a summer program that takes place in Scotland.

Sam and David discover that while eating Oreos everyone is more likely to share their deep secrets ... the Rev., Lucy, Annie, everyone but Ruthie ... although she nearly spills the beans on Matt while having cookies with Annie.

The cookies and milk 'truth serum' curse works on: the truth about Simon's ring and Kevin's generous offer to pay it for him as a present get known till it makes him and Rose 'call off' the wedding, yet Simon insists to keep working to pay 'his' debt. Meanwhile dad blurts out to the twins that he replaced the expensive ring Annie gave him after losing it years ago, while Kevin tries to find his before Lucy after losing it too. Annie gets mad enough to curse Mr. Riley, who owns the building her teenage mothers center needs, with warped results.

As Rose gets ready to make a huge announcement, Simon breaks down as he realizes that he may have trapped himself in a marriage that he does not want. Meanwhile, Eric and Annie reminisce about their children and their younger days as they prepare for the rehearsal dinner and meet Rose's unconventional parents.

Simon and Rose prepare for their wedding day, despite speculation that it is not the right decision. Annie and Eric go through countless scenarios in their minds as they reflect on how the wedding will actually turn out. Meanwhile, Rose's former boyfriend shows up unexpectedly. Ruthie considers studying in Scotland over the summer. Kevin, Lucy, Matt, and Sarah all have life-changing news, if only they can find the perfect time to share it with the family.

Strenuous events impact all the Camdens as Kevin and Lucy cope with an unexpected tragedy in their young lives. Matters worsen when Lucy convinces her father to let her deliver next Sunday's sermon while she is still in an emotionally unstable condition. Martin frustrates Sandy by suggesting that they get married and build a family for their infant son, then becomes angry when he realizes why Sandy is really holding back. Ruthie is studying in Scotland for the time being, and Annie can't shake the feeling that something is terribly wrong with Eric.

Tension mounts in Kevin and Lucy's marriage as Lucy pulls away from him emotionally, spends increasing amounts of time at the movie theater, and even starts pouring her heart out to a teenage boy who works there. Back at home, Annie encourages Kevin to not give up on Lucy. Eric is less than thrilled with the new name that his twin sons have given him, but it is nothing compared to a little run-in that he has with their very young third grade teacher.

Mary has recently given birth to twin daughters, so Annie heads off to Buffalo to help her out. Eric is left to take care of things at home. A difficult issue with the boys' teacher prompts him to pull them out of school without consulting Annie, and an excruciating physical pain in his neck isn't helping matters. Kevin's brother Ben arrives for a visit, but there is only one way they can convince an emotionally unstable Lucy to let him stay with them for a little while.

Eric continues to manage the household in Annie's absence. He begins home-schooling the twins and finds even more stress added to his life when their third grade teacher shows up at the house, eager to start a relationship with him. Meanwhile, Kevin and Lucy start noticing Eric's strange behavior, but their attempts to uncover the truth only make matters worse.

Eric makes yet another decision without consulting his wife, who finally comes home to some drastic changes in the house. Elsewhere, Sandy finds herself in a romantic triangle with Martin and a guy from school. Eric meets three homeless teens and gives them a place to stay—in his and Annie's home.

When the paramedics are called to the house, Annie realizes that Eric has been hiding his health issues from her, even though he insists he is fine. Meanwhile, Lucy contemplates having more children after visiting with Sandy, who has problems of her own when she must choose between the two guys in her life.

Ruthie is nervous when she finds out that her parents are heading to Scotland. She reveals a very unattractive side of herself when she openly admits that she is not about to sacrifice her own freedom and happiness to come home and be with her sick father. Kevin has a difficult time helping Lucy come to grips with Eric's illness. Sandy accepts Martin's marriage proposal just to get rid of her clingy boyfriend. Kevin finds out a secret about Jane.

Ruthie is informed of her father's health prognosis when her parents show up in Scotland, but she shocks them by reacting with very little sympathy or understanding. Sandy calls off her marriage plans with Martin after his best friend questions why they are in such a rush. Back at home, Lucy steps up as a much-needed source of stability for her younger siblings, as well as T-Bone, who needs help making a dramatic decision.

Eric, Annie and Ruthie are on their way home from Scotland, but they are held for questioning at the airport after Ruthie makes an unusual comment. Elsewhere, as a favor to Martin, Mac seeks information about Sandy's feelings for Simon. Lucy does her best to stay strong for the whole family as the truth about her father's health condition comes out.

Eric takes a new approach to counseling members of the church. T-Bone stuns Ruthie by telling her what he really thinks of her selfish and obnoxious attitude, then ending their argument with a kiss.

Eric suddenly finds himself in heaven, quite literally, when he runs into several people who have gone before him, particularly Annie's late mother. Meanwhile, the family becomes nervous when Eric does not come home from work, and Annie tries to hold everyone together. Could he soon be headed to the pearly gates himself?

When Ruthie and T-Bone work on a school assignment about the genocide in Darfur, they get the whole Camden family, and the community involved in the cause.

Eric and Lucy tell everyone that they are going out of town on "official church business," which is not exactly true, while Annie and Kevin seek the truth about their spouses' little white lies. Meanwhile, Sandy takes over Lucy's teen class for the day, and Ruthie will do anything to prove that she is not a little girl anymore.

Ruthie insists that T-Bone get his driver's license so they can go away for privacy; unfortunately, T-Bone makes the mistake of asking Kevin to help him get ready for the test. Lou informs a stunned Eric that the church deacons feel he and Lucy are no longer appealing to the younger church members, so it is suggested that Sandy deliver the next sermon. Mac gets a job at the movie theater so he can afford an apartment with Jane and Margaret.

Sandy starts falling for a handsome doctor, and Martin may not be able to handle it. Elsewhere, T-Bone and Ruthie want to do something romantic for Valentine's Day, and they profess their love for each other in an unusual way. The Colonel and Ruth drop by unexpectedly, prompting Lucy and Kevin to leave town, and Eric fears that his parents know about his health problems.

Ruthie tries to hide her tattoo from her parents, not realizing that they already know something is up with her. Lucy knows about the tattoo, but she has a very specific reason for keeping it to herself. As it turns out, most of the Camdens have dirty little secrets that they would rather not reveal.

When small things happen, some Camdens see them as signs. Lucy and Eric both cross paths with a black bird. They both come to the conclusion that this is a sign, and a bad one at that. Meanwhile, Ruthie gets a sign on her own. When she loses a diamond in the ring that T-Bone gave her as a promise to get engaged someday, she thinks that this is her sign that maybe being with T-Bone is not the best choice.

When Lucy gets an unexpected job offer in a small town known as Crossroads, she and Kevin take a trip out there to see if they might consider making the move. Back in Glenoak, Ruthie learns that removing her tattoo will not be an inexpensive procedure, and after getting no sympathy from her parents, she tries "guilting" T-Bone into paying the bill.

Ruthie gets a text message from what she thinks is T-Bone breaking up with her. But the truth behind the matter is a bit different. Meanwhile, Lucy and Kevin try to decide whether or not they will relocate to Crossroads.

With plans for another child, Lucy tells Kevin that it might not be a good idea to move so far away from the rest of the family. T-Bone confides to Eric that he's having second thoughts about breaking up with Ruthie, who is spending all of her free time lately with her former crush, Martin. Sandy's boyfriend surprises her with a marriage proposal, and T-Bone's estranged father shows up on the Camdens' doorstep.

Eric and Annie rush to the hospital after Eric wakes up with a good feeling about his heart condition. Unsure whether her parents are at the hospital due to good news or bad news, Lucy is a bundle of nerves, and it's up to Kevin to keep her thinking positively as they wait for news. T-Bone and Ruthie decide to get back together, but Martin hopes to change Ruthie's mind when he reveals that he's in love with her as well.

After Eric receives good news about his heart, the Colonel and Ruth decide to give him and Annie an RV as a gift. As a result, they decide to take the family on a cross-country trip in it. Upon hearing their news, Lucy starts to panic because she and Kevin were planning on taking on jobs in Crossroads. Lucy then decides to invite herself, Kevin, Savannah, Sandy, and her boyfriend along on their adventure.