Simon is verbally threatened with gun-violence by Deena's ex-boyfriend, Johnny Morton. School regulations don't allow precipitous action, but Eric's police friend tells him Johnny has a record and his family owns a registered gun. Meanwhile, Jordan is patient with Lucy's weird idea about 'romantic' slapping; Mary's careless basketball blackens Matt's eye, but he thinks Mary might be in real danger if she dates Shana's suave but violent brother George.

The first weekend all seven siblings are home, Eric and Annie plan to extend their child-labor scheme to baby-sitting the noisy newborns. Matt starts his new job at the Dairy Shack, but can't stick it out with the owner's son as his hostile boss, but the evening holds one happy surprise for him. Mary slips away to meet Wilson and runs into Jordan, while Lucy does double chores. Happy is neglected and Ruthie feels neglected, and Eric ignores Simon's well-read parenting tips and steals his Dairy Shack order. Which family member restores heavenly peace to the household?

Hoping to make the school baseball team but fearing nepotism from the coach, Simon asks sports star Mary to put in a good word--and gets stuck being equipment manager; Jimmy Moon's parents consult Eric when he gets involved in drug dealing, and Lucy's unwanted meddling gets her arrested; Ruthie deliberately doesn't pass on phone messages just for sibling attention; Eric suspects a church conspiracy.

Simon risks losing his paper-route unless he manages to collect the money from scrooge Malone and Mrs. Hinckle suggests how to trap him. Matt's married college president Jack Brenner's reputation is tarnished by at times even violent public controversy over a formally allowed affair with a grad student. Matt's friends and parents get involved including him. Mary bumped into Miles Olsen's car in the school parking lot, but he gets a date with Lucy.

A school janitor claims that God is talking to him. So the school wants him to retire with his pension intact but if he continues to act the way he does, they're ready to dismiss him which means he'll lose his pension. So Eric tries to talk to him but he steadfastly maintains that God is talking to him and that he has a mission.

The whole Camden family is invited to Matt's deaf ex Heather's wedding to Mason, celebrated by Eric. Matt brings current girlfriend Shana, yet ends up convincing the bride to leave the groom at the altar and drive away together. Wile his ex Lucy flirts with Joe, Jordan gathers the courage to tell her he's dating Mary. Simon is confused after being kissed by Deenah's cahoot.

Matt brings unamused Heather, who hoped he would propose again, back to church, where he exposes after some hesitation groom Mason's flaw, while desperately trying not to lose 'abandoned' Shana. Simon learns the kiss was a 'love test', which is rewarded with more, and Jordan encourages to just enjoy it without excessive worries. Jordan tells Lucy, who out of mere jealousy makes out with wedding guest Joe. Eric has a hard time accepting Julie's sudden announcement to marry Dr. Hank Hastings, but doubts soon shake that couple to be.

Eric is released from hospital but drives everyone crazy with his enjoyment of every imaginable 'small blessing'. Simon man feels his stepping in as in the house is undermined when Matt joins the ridicule of him shaving and is tricked by Ruthie. Simon makes a commiserating friend, Jim. Matt still tries to get used to his early morning job and Shana is jealous about him spending most time there and with his roommate.

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.

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.

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 World War II internment-camp survivor donates a $20,000 check to the church; Shana wants to slow down her relationship with Matt but his eavesdropping sisters suspect otherwise; classmates shun Lucy just for being Mary's sister.

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 didn't tell him she applied for an NYU scholarship and dad recommended her behind his back.

Robbie fears Eric will never give him a chance when told, now his and Mary's community service goes so well they can meet, but only at home. Super hot Brad Landers finally asks Lucy on a date, but she stresses over a time-clashing girls project. Simon looked forward to the 'guys night like it used to be' Matt promised him, but his sleepover proves a testing marathon of witnessing stressing over Shana's New York dorm. Annie's step-ma arrives reporting Charles has Alzheimer, he claims it's the other way around. Schoolmate Ben's family inspires Ruthie to fear an apocalyptic millennium bug.

Matt spends the night with Shana--on the couch--while packing for New York, which just makes the farewell harder. Simon is depressed because Deena bugs him about color-matched outfits and his sisters bug him about pointless phone calls. Lucy is unfair to movie-date Brad Landers and better kisser Andrew Nayloss. While Annie takes a weekend off alone, Eric lets the house get into disorder and fails to keep 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 is upset over an insensitive remark from Simon. Matt is in a stage where he refuses to take calls from Shana, the next bodes even more trouble for their long-distance relationship.

The parents insist on spoiling the kids' Valentine's day by celebrating the baby twins' birthday and demanding presents. Robbie gets permission afterward to drive Mary to the coffeehouse where his parents met. Matt puts off telling Shana his ex Heather transferred to his college, but Mary spills the beans. Simon's first passionate kiss caused a love-bite, which Deena meanly insists to return, causing disastrous discovery. Matt sees Robbie with 'his brother's date', sees through it but isn't believed that's cheating, until the romantic trip's hidden agenda is revealed.

Each one of the Camden kids has a relationship problem; Mary decides to skip college and get back together with Robbie; Simon is dumped; Matt is torn.

Simon learns the truth from Deena about why she broke up with him; Ruthie and Lucy try to reconcile with their exes; Matt gets back together with Heater.

The next Valentine's day, Robbie prepared a surprise for Joy. Mary meanly supposes the hotel she overheard him contacting by phone means another sex trap. Joy, who assumed the butler to be away like her father really is, isn't discouraged, but bitterly claims Robbie doesn't love her truly because he refuses to risk getting intimate. Matt contacts all his 'true lovers', wondering why he never stayed hooked up. Lucy again assumes Jeremy, who is back in town and double-dating with Mike, wants her back and pretends to have a date. Mary is shocked to see Wilson moved back and goes steady with her former school friend Corey Conway. Simon gets permission to let his hot senior date Maria 'help babysit' and gets her cute kid brother Jake to spare Ruthie dateless embarrassment.