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?

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.

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.

High school freshman Simon desperately looks for a new image, but clothes nor hairstyle do the trick, so he ends up with an earring. Matt is puzzled when a girl he approaches in the library calls her brother's help against him as 'stalker' after hearing he once dated Heather. Mary breaks every rule and promise when babysitting for Hank by taking in Frances's baby so her 'friend' can spy on Johnny, but the Camden parents' pool night just there makes the real, for all concerned unpleasant difference when Eric blindly assumes Johnny to be an abusive adulterer, while Frankie rather trapped him.

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 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.

Robbie remains inconsolable since Mary left with Wilson. The Colonel figures she won't go to college but marry and be a mother to Billy, so he insists on a job, preferably in public service, but he nor Wilson are pleased she opts for the police or fire department. Lucy refuses to explain why she left the New York seminary, apparently after a break-up with Jeremy, and Robbie is parentally dissuaded as consoling company. Annie works out her pre-menopause frustration on Eric, and he takes it out deviously on model student Simon for just a bit of attitude. Matt loses his hospital orderly job, but soon gets another: in a free clinic with mainly teenage and young-adult mothers-to-be.

Robbie amuses sneaky cookie-thief Ruthie by nicknaming her Snookie and sets straight Lucy's far less flattering interpretation. Wilson diplomatically handles Mary's absurd blaming him for her failed fire department application after she set fire to the colonel's curtains. Despite Eric's continuous meanness, Simon acts most responsibly when a kid only he, not even a teacher, defended against school bullies mentions planning to shoot them. Eric confronts the supervisor of a firm's staff where 'pranks' extend to stealing a prosthetic arm an counsels his ex Merle on forgiveness.

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 are jealous. Billy clearly pretends to be 'really' sick to make Mary stay with him and perhaps become his mama. Lucy promises handyman Ray Rickey work on the garage apartment, but the crook fakes a fall and has a leech-lawyer waiting.

Robbie introduces Lucy to his friend Hugh, feeling she should date again, but gets jealous enough to separate them with lies. Matt stands up against the free clinic's staff and gets Hank to overrule Dr. Kent's diagnose-and-operate routine. Feeling incompetent as a waiter at Pete's Simon resigns, but he gets promoted because of his business-planning skills. Cued by Billy via George, Wilson and Mary (who is failing in firefighter training) realize it's time to decide whether to commit to becoming a family.

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

Robbie and Lucy gather the courage to tell everybody about their affair, only to find they all knew and don't really care. Without the thrill of sneaking, their first date fizzles. Ben Kinkirk and Mary both pass the firefighters course, but their meeting on whether to celebrate with classmates messes up Mary's reconciliation with fiancé Wilson., and Billy's questions make Wilson decide against her plan to elope. Matt discovers that Hank and Julie are planning a divorce, and Eric and Annie try to find out why and see if they can help fix it.

Wilson is amused that all the Camdens call him after Mary's sudden return home, but wants her to tell them what happened. Robbie makes clear he's no longer interested at all in her or Lucy, having found a potential bride. The siblings however are furious when their wayward sister gets the royal treatment from their mother, while their better behavior yielded nothing. It's the last straw when the garage apartment they all want is thrown in, so they squat. Annie declares a war of attrition on them. Eric cowardly keeps out and hopes his sermon on the prodigal son may smooth things, but everyone feels targeted.

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.

Robbie has spent too much time with Joy on top of his two jobs, so he demands a day off to study. She insists 'just this one day' and Eric convinces Robbie he should at least find out if it's a special day. On his way, he finds and picks up a stray dog tagged in Arizona. It turns out to be the pet who disappeared exactly two years ago with Joy's kid brother Joseph, and might now lead the police to the boy and his abductor. At home, the girls ask their parents to select ideal partners, leading to lots of speculation. Matt and Simon's attempt to pick up suitable girls by walking the twins backfires.

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.

Robbie volunteers his car to give Simon a driving lesson as Eric again fails to turn up as promised. Alas, they bump into Matt's car. Wilson has moved and left instructions not to tell Mary his new location. Firefighter Ben Kinkirk volunteers to pick up a rescue dog so he can visit Mary, who instantly calls him her true love again, but ends up found out. Meanwhile Lucy, who refuses to take off Jeremy's ring, is openly jealous of such a hunky suitor, Ruthie pretends not to care. Robbie's brother Ronald drops by and is furious to hear that his muse Lucy dated Robbie. Annie resigns her teaching post without consulting anyone.

While Robbie visits his mother in Florida, Ruthie sneaks in her friend Yasmine Halawi, a Muslim girl who has become the target of two bullies on the street. The whole family feels obligated to help the whole Halawi family, who has lived in Glenoak for years without problems, but every attempt proves difficult or even counterproductive; Matt and Simon nearly beat up the wrong suspects, and Ruthie's private school's board votes against admitting Yasmine.

Matt fails to warn Simon, who got Eric's permission behind Annie's back, about the dangers of attending older guys' parties. Simon's friend Morris drives him home but hesitates to ring the bell and see him safely inside his home; given spiked punch promises a killer hangover anyway. Meanwhile, Lucy settles her mutual good/popular-girl jealousy with Mary, but is nearly forced to drink at a get-together with coursemates.

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.

Robbie's apparently firm happiness with Joy kindles envy in Matt, who is now so in love with wedding plans that he vows that his next steady date must be *the one*. Being commandeered into clinic duty, Matt misses his date with a promising candidate but he also meets a fellow med student, Sarah Glass, daughter of Rabbi Richard Glass. Sarah insists that they must meet each other's parents. Although both parental pairs plead against a mixed-religions marriage, the lovebirds soldier on.

Matt has married Rabbi Glass' daughter Sarah after one date. Robbie is mildly amused at the family's speculations and how they're worrying about whether Matt 'was dumber than Mary with Wilson'. Only Ruthie finds out, answering when Matt calls, but he swears her to secrecy. Meanwhile, Matt and Sarah go tell her parents first, but at the last moment she pretends they just got engaged, a lie they must now extend to the Camden home, where the 'news' only adds to the mounting stress.

Level-headed Robbie is the only one intentionally left home to babysit the twins when the Camdens accept a first dinner invitation at humorist Rabbi Glass's home. Mary beats Lucy to the punch faking illness so she can escape the event and try to seduce Robbie away from Joy. Simon takes his half-Jewish friend Morris along, but he fails miserably as a good example of someone from a mixed-faith household: he has no clue about the Sabbath or other Jewish traditions. Eric loses it completely when Matt says he's considering converting to Judaism, but they make up during a synagogue service.

Matt ignores at his peril Robbie and Simon's warning not to believe a girl's claim she needs no gift, especially concerning the diamond engagement ring. Eric's solution within budget, industrial imitation, is 'welcomed' even more bitter, until an heirloom is passed on. Lucy flew along to Buffalo with Mary to 'pick up her stuff', but discovers aboard she wants another shot at Ben. After provoking airport security, Lucy gets an instant crush on gallant, hot cop Kevin Kinkirk. She arranges a double-date with his brother, who turns out to be none other then Ben, who is however most suspicious of record-fickle Mary until Kevin gives the decisive push.

The Camdens are surprised by the arrival of Mary with her new guy Ben and his cop brother Kevin, and with her new flight-attendant job that enabled their cheap flights. While Lucy gets close to Kevin, Eric still obsesses over Matt's secret and Robbie and Ruthie still help keep it. Eric neglects his counseling appointment with the elderly Tallridges whose adult son Jerry has 'suddenly' moved out, yet that's just what 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.

Preparations for Matt and Sarah's wedding are being made and things aren't going the way Eric or Annie planned. Matt decides he will convert to Judaism after a discussion with Sarah's dad who convinces Matt that he can convert on the wedding day much to Eric's dismay. Annie panics when Sarah's mother tells her to expect 100 kosher guests to her backyard pot luck dinner. Ruthie and Simon begin to resent Robbie being in the house. Ruthie wants her bedroom back forcing Robbie out now that Matt will be moving out and Simon gets upset that Matt chooses Robbie to be his best man and Sam and David call for Robbie instead of him. Lucy gets upset that Kevin won't come to Glen Oak for Matt's wedding and Ben decides to propose to Mary after Mary starts giving him the cold shoulder. Eric and Sarah's dad the Rabbi go head to head and it seems Matt and Sarah's wedding won't go ahead after all.

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; Simon's former 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 one of Eric's counseling sessions; Lucy and Kevin's different views on the judicial system become apparent when Lucy tries to avoid jury duty.

Chandler learns that his father is dying of lung cancer and rejects Eric's efforts to help them; Lucy accepts a date with Chandler's chain-smoking tattooed brother Sid (guest-star Jason London) in order to make Kevin jealous enough to propose to her; Annie is shocked to find a pack of cigarettes in Simon's bedroom; Peter begs Ruthie to lie to his mother about his smoking.

Lucy dreams that Kevin takes her out for Valentine's Day, and Roxanne comes to steal Kevin away. When Kevin does ask her out, she does not want to go, but she goes, and he proposes to her. 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 girls' 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 Camdens have a bad vacation;Simon is depressed over accidentally killing a classmate; Lucy and Kevin discuss starting a family; Mary deals with something she's not ready to share; Peter spends more time with the Camdens.

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 and asks Eric plead his case; Simon's advisor is also the son of a preacher; a bully bothers Ruthie; Kevin must babysit his boss's grandchild; Chandler is caught kissing another woman.

Investigating a domestic-violence call, Kevin gets beaten up by the wife; nobody seems to care that Simon's about to leave for college; Ruthie and Peter work on a school project; Martin Brewer enters the Camdens' lives.

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

Weeks after the September 11 attacks, Eric challenges his parishioners to do something good for someone else and use their own special talents to help people in need; he must find his own way of giving to others.

When Roxanne's neighbor's home is robbed, she thinks the thief is the first young boy she's mentoring; Annie and Eric host a party for new neighbors who are hesitant to attend, fearing prejudice against them.

Lucy signs up for the police department's husband-and-wife softball team; Cecilia starts dating someone new.

The high-school principal has a strict rule about only parents visiting the school; Eric informing her about a family that wants an exception leads to the school board investigating the principal.

When Matt and Sarah begin training at the hospital in New York, Matt finds answering questions and performing procedures easy 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.

Eric tries to help Paris' ex-husband Vic, who wants to be part of her and Peter's lives again; she doesn't want him back and Peter is afraid it would affect his relationship with Chandler.

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 and 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 and Kevin look for their first home as does Chandler; turns out they are looking at the same place. Eric and Annie decide to buy their house from the church; Ruthie plans to move into 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. Peter gets caught drinking.

Ruthie and Peter get separated from their classmates on a 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 is still an emotional mess, but is ready to return to school when he meets Justin Smith, the brother of the boy he accidentally ran over. He finds he's finally off drugs and even grateful that the trauma repaired his family rift; closure becomes possible before he moves to college. Harry is determined to let the Camden parents tell Ruthy it's over. He decides to find a family of his own by marrying a girl in the Social Services home they're both desperate to get out of. Both Kevin and Martin play the protective big brothers. There's also a bird which fell out of the nest; Ruthie's responsibility just because she found it. High-pregnant teenager Leanne wants Eric to choose an adoptive couple to be parents for her baby, but goes in labor early. Lucy finds both candidate couples utterly selfish. Eric finds the father, Charlie Bates, still prepared to do he right thing provided Eric helps him with his parents. Charlie's parents fear he would throw away his own future for a girl they did so much for, and then split up. Leanne's lousy, virtually absent mother gives Annie a hard time just to visit her offspring in hospital.

As the presidential election approaches, Martin is too vocal in his opinions and Ruthie realizes she has none, Annie and Eric might be on different sides of the political ticket, and Lucy and Kevin have never registered to vote.

Lucy and Kevin see a new doctor for their pregnancy and they have different opinions of her. Ruthie 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 Martin and Mac go play darts in the pool hall with Kevin, he naughtily leaves without telling they are being mistaken for new police rookies, so notorious Venus picks up physically mature Martin, who gives her a ride home on request -even stranding Mac- but stays aloof until they discover both their fathers are Marines on war theater missions. Lucy makes sure dad finds out so Kevin starts calling round for Venus's phone number, which starts the rumor he's two-timing Lucy, who stupidly takes it seriously even from an amused petty criminal Kevin just arrested, while Mac spreads one about Martin scoring at high-school, where Venus turns up the next morning as substitute teacher. Another utterly undeserved 'my-house-my-rules' lecture from sanctimonious liar Eric decides Martin it's time to get emancipated and move out, that very evening. Then he spots two marines with a briefcase.Meanwhile Ben's own lie to hide he spent three days camping with Dr. Miranda Pearson has its own unpredictable consequences.

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.

Shortly before Thanksgiving, Eric, Annie, and the twins are still not home; Eric has a cold and Annie already blames him for ruining the family Thanksgiving again. Simon has brought Georgia home but she refuses to tell anyone about her pregnancy until they tell his parents; later she tells him she lied so he wouldn't leave her. Pregnant Lucy is moody and takes advantage of her condition, driving Kevin and Matt mad; the weather cancels Martin's camping trip. Lucy gets Matt to take her to the supermarket where she faints, and Matt's limited medical-student knowledge bothers Dr. Klein. When Ruthie calls from Puerto Rico, lonely because Carlos' family is occupied with the baby, Martin assures her that Thanksgiving is celebrated in overseas territories too.

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 parents' home where there is one mother too many. Annie tries to impart her mothering skills on Lucy, who has different ideas. 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 the 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.

The Camden kids panic about their cover-lie for "Simon's" (actually covering for fickle, unfaithful Mary's) secret after Annie phones with Carlos; she doesn't learn it yet, but decides to surprise-visit Mary in New York excited about the fictitious baby; the following family calls only weave the web of deception and misunderstandings ever tighter, even gold-honest Kevin gets ragged in; even when Eric's overhears an unclosed line, he keeps it secret for Annie but visits Simon, also on false pretenses. After dragging it out of Ruthie, Martin wisely abstains from compounded lying. Martin and Mac, who sort of hopes to get her on the rebound, catch Vincent dating another girl, but only to make Ruthie jealous, who brushed him off with a lie, next Vincent goes make up with her.

Ben Kinkirk practically invites himself to stay with brother Kevin to see Lucy and their baby, knowing absent Martin's apartment is available that weekend, and speculates about him dating Mary again now she has left Carlos. Annie has the morbid obsession that the family should attend a 'birthday party' for her late mother Jenny. Ruthie would rather spend that time with Vincent, and she runs a plan by Lucy while they shop for flowers. Meanwhile, Eric tries to help career woman Marie Wagner work out how to handle her mother's worsening physical and mental health.

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.

When Simon visits home to write a paper, the twins are just happy, the sisters speculate what trouble he's in; dad guesses his Bible reading is a pact with God for a clear bill on his venereal disease test. Zoe convinces Martin to join her watching a meteor shower for an astronomy assignment, but he leaves his cell phone afraid to tell Eric as it's at night, and thus misses a persistent caller- from Iraq. Lucy wants to return to parish work, but Kevin refuses to dump their baby on her ma, even prefers doing night-shifts or becoming a home dad. Ruthy's ex Peter Petrowski's parents George 'Vic' and Paris ask Eric to remarry them. Ruthy's boyfriend Vincent is offended she nags about Peter saying not to feel anything for her anymore.

Cecilia's dad George Smith tells Eric that he and his wife Gwen are looking for a foster-son, about 10 years old, to fill the now empty-feeling home, with the hope of adopting. The enthusiastic reverend immediately thinks of orphanage boy Danny Davies, who proves charming and eager. Danny expects to that his sisters will be adopted too. It's only fair that Eric helps put that straight, which proves even more complicated then it sounds. Carlos tells Matt he's leaving New York for his dad's firm in Puerto Rico because 'mother' Mary makes no marital effort at all, having cheerfully signed over custody of baby Charlie. The twins are sad that Martin, and in time all their siblings seem to leave, even Lucy now. Kevin presses her to finally choose a house, then concludes the mother is the one who pushes fledglings out of the nest. Simon's girlfriend Rose wants to dump him unless he gives a good reason why they still don't have sex. Vincent pushes Martin to help him break up with Ruthie, in case he meets a girl while on vacation with his grandparents on Hawaii.

Eric hides Mary's divorce from Annie, and Simon's romance heats up. While the Smiths brace for a custody battle over the Davis kids, Simon arrives home for an overnight visit with his girlfriend Rose (Sarah Thompson), whom Annie finds "condescending and rude." Annie's intuition tells her Rose is pushing Simon for marriage, and that something's up with Mary and Carlos. Although Eric knows Mary has filed for divorce, he avoids sharing that information with Annie just yet. Since Vincent doesn't have the guts to break up with Ruthie, Martin takes it upon himself to reveal the truth. Lucy is surprised by Annie's erroneous assumption that Carlos and Mary are still together. Meanwhile, Simon hears from Kevin that Rose had led Annie to believe they're engaged. When Simon confronts Rose, he reiterates that, even if they discussed the possibility of marriage, he didn't actually propose. Visibly upset, Rose walks off. The Davis kids are stunned to learn their mom is refusing to relinquish custody. As much as they want to be adopted by the Smiths, the children fear that if they testify against their mother in family court, she'll wind up turning to drugs and alcohol. That's not a risk they're willing to take. Later, Ruthie asks Vincent to never call her again, and Rose asks Simon what he wants from their relationship. To Kevin's delight, Lucy puts an offer on a fixer-upper house next door! The Smiths and Davises reach a compromise: George and his wife won't push for adoption, but Mrs. Davis will allow them to become the kids' foster parents. Minutes after Eric shocks Annie with the news of Mary's divorce, Simon and Rose announce they intend to get engaged "in the near future." That evening, the Camdens join Martin as he welcomes his father home from Iraq. .. _

Eric tries to avoid telling his parents about Mary's divorce. Simon's fiancee wants him to move up the wedding date. Lucy learns the difficulties of being an associate pastor.

After a scary arrest which could have gone fatally wrong, Kevin decides to leave the police before someone gets hurts as he can no longer concentrate on anything but his young family. Ruthie brings over Meredith and her presumed boyfriend Jack, who proves a natural with babies and a nice senior - too old, so - and is on to her plan; Meredith actually is more interested in the other good boy, Tyler, who agrees with a demure kiss to date. The colonel arrives, winking to Martin about his Iraq veteran dad's gardening job and to Eric's surprise already knows about Charlie - even got and believes Mary's version that Carlos cheated on her, but Carlos explains she just 'caught' him dining with Cecily, the nanny he had to hire because Mary was never home. Simon first scolds, then consoles his ex Sandy for having seduced and made a baby with Martin. Eric spoils the twins fun playing cowboys with granddad because he bans all gun toys and is told to bother about real problems. Lou Dalton tells Eric most parishioners want Lucy fired as his associate pastor.

Rosie moves in with Simon and remodels his studio, while keeping her apartment as a front, but that proves unpractical. Simon insists on telling their parents they'll get married, but after graduation. When Simon announces that he is going to come and bring bad news, dad and Lucy falsely 'hope' it's their break-up. They disagree on what to offer single women, except a 'church social', which Martin accepts and brings Meredith as their first date. Kevin eagerly accepts Joanie's invitation to her 'mom and I' class, where the sensitive hunk is an instant hit. The parents disagree whether to forbid Ruthie going out with 'too mature' Jack, so she gets Martin to set her up with honor student Sam Walker.

Simon bursts his startled parents' malicious bubble: he's not dumping Rose, she moved in. When Simon accepts 'too easily' to give Rosie her marching orders -which she ignores- as they pay for the apartment, they hoped he wanted an excuse to break up and be with Sandy, who they prefer, this time partially true. The twins announce they have each found true love. Ruthie tries to get rid of Sam Walker, but neither Eric nor Martin agree to do her dirty work. After church teenagers class girl Lizzie Wheeler admits an unwanted pregnancy, Lucy doubts her decision to stay in pastoral work and envies Kevin's obviously excellent home parenting, then Lizzie changes her story. Rosie sets an ultimatum. Martin tells Lucy he'll become a father.

Kevin was happy to perform at a kids party in a Riverton rat costume, but when Mat 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.

After Sandy has Braxton-Hicks contractions, she admits that a miscarriage would simplify her life, but Simon's fear that the truth is about to come out seems ever more warranted. Kevin and Eric worry as Lucy keeps insisting that nobody else should meddle with her 'client' Sandy. They must tell her who has already found out and Kevin must physically stop her from assaulting Sandy's alcoholic dad, Edward Jameson. Eric fears that George Smith is about to find out too. Ruthie lies about her new date being 16 as Martin says his team's huge shortstop Brian is 18.

Ruthie tackles a new project and Martin confronts his father. Sandy's estranged dad Ed stops by church with $3,000 he wants Lucy to give to his daughter. Angry with Simon for buying Rose's diamond ring, Eric refuses to loan him $100 to pay his phone bill. Ruthie announces she's collecting Campbell's soup labels to raise funds to buy a computer for the school newspaper. Knowing Martin dreams of joining a minor league baseball team after graduation, Meredith promises to wait for him until they're both ready to settle down. To aid Ruthie's cause, all the Camdens start eating lots of soup. Simon tries hitting up Matt and Kevin for money, but they decline. Ruthie tells Annie she hopes to date Jack, an 18-year-old "hottie" from school. During a conversation about Ed's unexpected gift, Sandy surprises Lucy by saying she once slept with Simon. Fortunately, Sandy assures Lucy that the baby she's carrying is Martin's child. While Martin tries to summon up the courage to discuss Sandy's pregnancy with his father Bill, Ruthie is thrilled when Jack confesses he'd like to date her, once her parents allow it. Later, Martin asks Eric to help him break the bad news to Bill. Although Bill claims everything will be okay, Martin disagrees, stating, "My life is over!" before walking out. Both Bill and Eric wonder how Meredith and Ruthie will react when they find out about Sandy. The next day, Ed, an admitted alcoholic, returns to church. He's just lost his job and wants his money back. Lucy lies, saying she's already wired the funds to Sandy. Eric vows they'll support Ed...if he goes into rehab. Over at school, Kevin urges Martin to come clean about Sandy with Meredith and Ruthie. When Simon reveals his sister Mary lent him $100 to pay his phone bill, Eric hangs up on him. .. _

The mixed joys of fatherhood way heavy. While Annie tends to the flu patients, Eric feels no better after learning that the haughty Colonel sired him before marriage. Martin's dad needs all his paternal love and self-control to patiently push the boy to step up to his upcoming paternity. Sandy's parents tell the Reverends to butt out, then refuse any responsibility for Sandy and disown her. Martin discovers an excellent reason that Ruthie shouldn't date Jack.

Ruthie becomes the subject of a shocking rumor.

While Eric sneakily prowls for pie, Ruthie tells off Jack, who indignantly rebukes Martin's insinuations as just that, and even gets his and Eric's apologies. While Simon can finally just rest, Rose stresses that he shouldn't find out her dad's fourth marriage is breaking up like her mother's third, which is why he's selling his house, which she's hoping to get for herself and Simon. Kevin says Martin needs a good beating, if not from his father than from him, but both basically-good boys feel relieved after rolling around in the grass letting off steam by fisticuffs.

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 Jesus 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.

When Ruthie's new black classmate Alex insists on doing his 'Famous Americans' report on his idol Martin Luther King and no other, although his day was the week before, baseball teammate Martin Brewer's innocent remark that it's not worth risking his sports career for has absurd consequences, as if he, not the teacher, changed the assignment to reports on 'African-Americans' only, which annoys everybody who already wrote on classics which return every year. Someone is so pissed off that Martin's car gets vandalized with racist language, which the model of fairness refuses on principle to clean up a coward's mess. Kevin gets his former colleague Phil, now the officer in charge of hate crimes, on the case, while emotions run high throughout Glenoak.

Martin refuses to drop baseball training to go to Sandy who is giving birth, although Eric begs him; Martin also gets a full-scholarship offer from nearby Sequoia College. Kevin patiently convinces Lucy that his 'husband at home' dreams squares ideally with a second-child wish. Martin finally visits his newborn son in the hospital, where both grandfathers commit to help each other and their offspring.

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

Eric welcomes Kevin's invitation for a Valentine's dinner with the whole family at the anniversary and in the restaurant of his proposal to Lucy, doubling as the twins birthday party. After all, Annie made a drama about the twins wanting a store birthday cake, not her traditional home-made ones, and Sam being by little Rachel without soon jealous David spells trouble between both them and their parents, as Eric wants to let them decide what to do together and tries to compensate by taking just David for ice-cream during Sam's play-date. Ruthie keeps dreaming about Martin dropping Sandy, the baby and college for her, yet finds some solace in a daily 'job' Eric got for her, helping old Ms. Rusnak to get used to a new bike, or rather for the company. As if his parents weren't unhappy enough about bride Rose, she even refuses Simon to get married in Eric's church. Lucy manages to embarrass herself in a daring dress at the restaurant, but nobody else enjoys dinner anyhow.

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.

Simon isn't amused that Rose pulls all the stops out hosting a luxurious dinner to impress her Italian ex, Umberto 'Bert' Lanzo, who left her at the altar. He jests about wanting her back, or is he serious - and who is the mystery girl Simon agrees to talk to immediately but covertly? The Camden parents, are not amused that Ruthie's long-awaited cellphone does nothing for her social life. Eric urges the boys to call her, helped by unwilling Peter Petrowski's dad George 'Vic' Vickery and Kevin. Benjamin Bainsworth, meanwhile, finds her number and works up the courage to call after a year.

Annie loathes receiving an invitation to Simon's 'disaster' wedding to Rose in May, until she realizes that's the same day as Matt and Sarah's med-school graduation. Neither group will even consider another date, arguing that the other event is less important or troublesome. Ruthie considers taking a summer poetry course in Scotland to be with her ex Peter, but Eric won't pay and the phone-bill hits hard. Kevin plants the romantic idea of eloping. Rose's jealous ex Bert grills Simon about his mystery girlfriend and questions his commitment; Annie finds out and teams up with Bert, who talks Rose out of eloping as the Camdens would ruin this by attending. Yet the changes of plans and the truths that turn up inspire surprising changes of heart.

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

The cookies-and-milk 'truth serum' brings out the truth about Kevin's generous offer to pay for Simon's ring, and he and Rose 'call off' the wedding, but Simon insists that he keep working to pay off 'his' debt; meanwhile; Eric blurts to the twins that he replaced the expensive ring Annie gave him after losing it years before, and Kevin loses his and desperately tries to find it before Lucy does; Annie gets angry enough to curse Mr. Riley, who owns the building she wants for her teen-mothers' center, with warped results.

The wedding preparations inspire Eric and Annie to reminisce about their children's childhoods; Rose tells Simon she's late and he prays as passionately to make the right decision about starting a family as he once prayed to get a dog; Simon is disappointed that hardly anybody wants to attend his wedding and Rose somehow blames Umberto and keeps his doubts alive while her divorced parents, between blaming each other for everything (as usual), fear it's a "shotgun wedding"; at the rehearsal dinner, Ruthie meets charming teenage waiter Paul from Edinburgh.

Annie and Eric are delighted with Matt and Sarah's surprise visit in time for Simon's wedding--and not just because they announce they're expecting. Simon is relieved that he and Rose aren't expecting, therefore marrying purely for love; but the next minute he gets cold feet, at which Lucy eagerly pokes. More visitors, like Matt's one-time bride-to-be Heather, stir further reminiscing and speculations; Rose's ex Umberto even asks Eric's permission to sabotage the wedding. The big day is full of surprises, including from Matt and Carlos.

The kids, except for Sam and David, have been away for several months. The parents feel awkward, especially stay-at-home-dad Kevin. He's an amazing all-around help and thinks of starting a house-renovation business with enthusiastic Annie. Lucy is having a hard time after losing their twins and endlessly-patient Kevin always bends over backwards trying to help her, even when she goes too far in public. Martin makes a go at turning his life around to be a father to his son with Sandy, who insists that he should live his own life and let her live hers. Martin calls Sandy a Lucy-clone who still hopes Simon will take her back; meanwhile he's jealous of her date Daniel.

Reverend Eric Camden feels old after the twins' young teacher mistakes him for their grandfather and being unable to keep up physically with wife Annie's sexual appetite. Martin gets in trouble with Sandy when she overhears him in the baby-phone thanking Kevin for the -mis-understood- advice to seduce her by cooking for her. Lucy worries what it means about his sexual appetite now Kevin has stopped cooking elaborate dinners after talking to lonely young teenager movie theater tickets clerk T-bone, who considers her highly desirable. Kevin selflessly worries about all of them.

Now Annie is away for four weeks, Eric wakes up with a stiff neck but already promised the twins to sleep a night in a tent in the garden- not so easy as it sounds, especially when the dog Happy goes missing, actually tagging along with Kevin's canines. Kevin couldn't turn down his brother Ben who wants to came spend time with them, but Lucy isn't ready for any visitors yet, so he stays with Eric, whom he assures he can safely straighten his neck having nurse training- a painful mistake. When the twins' attractive young teacher Margo makes a pass at Eric, the principal laughs away the very thought: the old goat must misinterpret. Lucy changes her mind and decides to get the guest room ready for Ben to stay in 'any time'. Eric's cardiologist has crushing news. Eric publicly rages at Margo's unacceptable immorality and takes his kids away, then insists to pig out with unhealthy food as a fake birthday and even lets Ben give him another neck-crack. Lucy smells a rat.

While Annie is still away, Reverend Eric Camden keeps behaving weirdly, so his nosy daughter Lucy forces her unwilling, privacy-respecting husband Kevin to help her find out what's going on. For once he gets interested himself as it turns out there actually is a lot to uncover, starting with the fact Eric bought the twins hamsters as a consolation because his disgust at their teacher Miss Margo's flirting made Eric take the boys out of school to teach them himself. Kevin even ends up taking his pants off as bribe for homeless Stanley to tell what he knows about the hospital episode.

Lucy tells two girls that they won't get access to the pregnancy-home apartments, neither through her nor Annie, but such cheap rent remains a prize worth fighting for. When Eric's car breaks down, he learns that T-Bone, the movie-ticket seller who has a crush on Lucy, is actually a courageous abandoned kid. When the girls come the Camden house, they recognize T-Bone as "Theodore." Eric lets them stay for one night until Annie returns, even after discovering that they smoke pot, but Annie returns early and leaves it to the pastors to find a solution for the girls. Sandy makes Eric listen over the phone to her boyfriend Daniel, who she now believes to want only loveless sex and housekeeping comfort; as he states upfront intentions, Martin barges in. T-Bone insists that he can't stay or he'll spill the beans as long as Eric hasn't told the family about his heart problems, which he guessed after witnessing Kevin's sacrificed trousers . Eric only tells Annie about his intention to keep home-schooling the twins.

Misery all the way while Eric stubbornly keeps hiding his heart problems for Annie, the only one he wanted to know ever, even after a misunderstanding brings paramedics rushing, but ends up telling the truth to Kevin who manages to make him take his long-delayed cardiology check up. T-bone proves a second Robby, as helpful as an angel and a butler, yet incredulous Annie can find him a home, at 17. Meanwhile the bitchy girls can't wriggle out of accepting the burger-joint jobs (ironically, they're vocal vegetarians) Annie arranged for them. Tyler's baby's mother Sandy is in love again with Daniel.

Eric has finally decided to tell the children about his heart condition. He and Annie are flying to Scotland, so Ruthie is frantic, she doesn't want to return home but stay 'normal', not a 'preacher's kid'. Lucy plays the drama queen not to be told earlier and now refuses to listen now to Kevin, who once again is caught from all sides. T-Bone and the girls pretend to be scared and want to stay in Kevin's house while the Camdens are away, Kevin doesn't buy it; indeed Jeane is hiding from her husband, a boot-camp private she married only three weeks ago just for the benefits. Margaret has bad news for T-Bone. Sandy calls Lucy she was crazy to declare her love to co-student Daniel, she now wants her baby's dad Martin back...

At home, Kevin has a hard time teaching the twins pets like their hamsters are for life when they want to dump them on him; Lucy ultimately finds out their motive: they think daddy needs help. Mother Annie is furious to learn in Edinburgh, like Lucy earlier over the phone, selfish Ruthie has no interest in leaving her Scottish luxury life and privacy, even plans a Swiss ski trip, but cardio-terminal dad Eric declares he's allowed to be selfish and orders her home. T-Bone is furious when a phone-call from the girls gets his selfish mother on his trail, live- Kevin recognizes her as a whore he once arrested, but she consents with Lucy's advice to neglected son Theodore: get him legally emancipated, i.e. early majority in a court procedure. Martin's mate Mac is back, as best man for the wedding, but makes Sandy consider whether they're getting married for the right reason, love, not jealousy, an excuse to leave Daniel, etc. ...

Ruthie's run-in with airport security delays the family's return home. Angered that her one-way ticket triggered a search during a layover in New York, Ruthie sarcastically remarks, "I'm a terrorist," which causes Officer Keaton of the Port Authority police force to detain Ruthie, Eric and Annie for questioning. At home, Lucy finds the Camden kitchen overrun with casseroles and flowers from parishioners concerned over Eric's health. Fortunately, Lucy's calm confidence and positive attitude about Eric's heart condition lessens the anxieties of church members. While Margaret and the twins plan a musical "welcome home" for Eric, T-Bone and Jane brainstorm a special gift for him. In New York, Officer Keaton confides in Eric that his fiancée of five years, who's flying to London that night, refuses to marry him because she's afraid she might lose him in the line of fire. Later, Lucy inspires the family's neighbor, Mrs. Beeker, with her faith and strength, while Eric gives a speech at the airport, emphasizing the need to live without fear, despite the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001. In addition, he tracks down Officer Keaton's fiancée and performs a gate-side wedding ceremony. To her surprise, Sandy discovers Mac's "friendly" visit is actually a "spy" mission on behalf of Martin, who wants to know if Sandy is dating Simon, which she isn't. That evening, the Camdens arrive home to a rousing chorus of "This Land is Your Land," performed by Margaret and the twins. Up in their bedroom, Annie and Eric are surprised to find T-Bone and Jane's gift: an adjustable bed, donated by a parishioner.

Now Eric is terminal, he tells his parishioners the truth, even when it hurts, yet it seems to work out almost miraculously on several counts. Lucy takes a trip with Kevin. Ruthie is spiteful since her return from Scotland, and ever cheerful T-Bone tells her the truth, she just warns Eric will probably back-stab his emancipation, but when their bickering ends in kissing, her mood starts to turn. Margaret gets a domestic job. The whole Camden clan promises to come over for Christmas. Then lucky bum Stanley suggests to Eric he should just ask God for healing...

A few days before what Eric thinks might be his last Christmas with the whole Camden clan, he wakes up in heaven, which looks rather like Glenoak, and is welcomed by his loving mother-in-law and deceased people who appreciate what he did for them and their loved ones and worry about the mortals still on earth, including the Camden family who are preparing for Christmas--even Lucy and Kevin are back early from San Francisco. While in heaven Eric is offered miraculous Christmas gifts for his family, all things he generously gave his parishioners, such as time for Matt and Mary to spend on their families and erasers for memories which poison relationships. His family decides to extend their annual Charity Day to 3 days: 1 because it feels good, 1 as Eric's favorite present, and 1 for the infant Jesus. The best might be his own gift: everybody has a bunch of guardian angels, and the experienced one in charge of his paperwork is processing an application from colleague Stanley to grant his suggested wish for more time alive on earth.

Kevin feels that Lucy is too lazy to grocery-shop as she keeps promising to do; she hates that he buys wholesale and throws out everything officially past its expiration date, and he is pragmatic about his New Year's resolution to save money before they have a second baby. The twins spend $50 of their savings to help Darfur through Nicodemus, a Sudanese refugee who once helped Ruthie get home from a school field trip. The reverends oppose several old deacon votes Lou informs them of on matters from office furniture for Lucy (the selfish priority openly disgusts Kevin) to whether Darfur is too political a cause to get the parish's financial support. Ruthie arrogantly pretends her Scottish political talks make her an expert on all world problems compared to T-Bone, who never traveled overseas and doesn't even own a computer, but he soon finds that Margaret has doubts about the material Jane gave Ruthie, and in mere hours he learns more than she knows. Kevin tries to educate the girls, who react emotively and show generosity.

While Eric and Lucy sneak off fishing, pretending it's for a 'church stuff' seminar, Kevin must give advice -which he does in scary terms- to poor T-Bone, whose snooty girlfriend Ruthie (ab)uses him to cause jealousy with her sort-of-ex Mac, who gets himself invited to stay at the Camdens after moving back in town only to find his reuniting parents' condo has only one bedroom, and his best friend -and other semi-ex- Martin, who gets bitched at by his baby son Aaron's unmarried mother Sandy after Mac arranged for them to to double-date with T-Bone, Margaret and Jane...

T-Bone needs a drivers license to have some privacy with Ruthie, so he asks Kevin to give him practice lessons, but gets a torture version. Annie doesn't believe Lou's announcement the deacons want youth-friendlier church services because of a $16,000 budget deviation, and even a publicity swap with a car dealership; ultimately the twins solve the accounts discrepancy. Mac needs a job to pay his part of a place with Margareth and Jane, so T-Bone gets him hired as ticket colleague.

Colonel John Camden and his wife Ruth are staying over on their way to Hawaii, unannounced. Fearing they will spill the beans, Lucy wants to skip town with Kevin supposedly to help Simon, asking Sandy to cover church service, so she stays in their place with baby Aaron; she's warm to boy-friend Dr. Jonathan Sanderson, chilly to Martin. T-Bone needs help for his first Valentine's day with a girl-friend, Ruthie insists they get matching tattoos, despite his and Margaret's reluctance for permanent markings, having to hide them for the Camdens and a serious needle-phobia. Mac is happy moving into the trio's apartment means 'adult' independence, the girls see domestic misery. When Jane gets her divorce papers from soldier Jack, she wants to wait till after Valentine's day. The grandparents overhear the twins with their parents, and suggest they may soon move for good. Lucy changes her minds and turns up with Kevin.

When they realize that Ruthie has a secret and T-Bone won't talk, the Camden parents fear that her sudden religious interest means something bad, even if their denial of sex is sincere. After some prodding, the twins tell Annie, Kevin drags and bribes out of Mac, Lucy learns from Sandy, and even Eric gets from Margaret and Jane that it's just tattoos--just like Simon, Lucy, and Mary before her, supposedly all unknown to their parents. Again everyone tries to pretend to the others neither to know nor to have told; then the game shifts to guessing who knows what and who, if anyone, should tell Eric..

When a frantic Ruthie loses the tiny diamond from the promise ring that T-Bone gave her, she takes it as a sign that maybe they shouldn't be together and enlists the entire household to search for the missing stone. Meanwhile, Eric and Lucy independently come across a mysterious black bird and interpret it as a sign of bad things to come. Jonathan tells Sandy that he has strong feelings for her.

T-Bone feels insecure to learn the only thing stopping Ruthie from having her tattoo with his name removed by a doctor is lack of money; her parents firmly refuse to help pay and she is reluctant to take a job for her skin-integrity. When T-Bone generously offers to pay, 'feeling somehow responsible,' Annie and Eric are lividly disgusted when she agrees, taking money he needs for college, and they order her to take a job immediately and pay every cent herself. Meanwhile, Lucy and Kevin discover that the church of their potential parish, Crossroads, is inside the bar/grocery/school annex, there are 27 inhabitants, and Kevin would be the sheriff. The Asian doctor who runs the church complex explains that the parish gets about 100 worshippers of different denominations from four churchless counties and the minister couple should act as their 'group parents.' Mac blurts to Haley that Martin has no game that day so she makes him admit that he lied to have a day off; she also reproaches Martin for neglecting his son. Jane learns that Margaret is helping Mac with his English assignment and seems interested in him. Eric tells Margaret she should concentrate on going to college and assures T-Bone that he's not obliged to stay with selfish Ruthie unless he wishes to, or to take responsibility for her own stupidity. Kevin is eager to move to the challenging parish, Lucy feels overwhelmed, and the locals hope they will move in.

When Ruthie asks T-Bone to help her get a job at his movie theater, to earn enough for an anniversary present reciprocating his engagement ring, he tells colleague Mac that he wants to use Eric's permission to break up with Ruthie but doesn't know how. Without asking, Mac uses T-Bone's cell phone to send Ruthie a text message meaning "I break up with you", and as if that weren't blunt enough accidentally copies it to the boy's entire phone-list, so everybody knows, only Ruthie doesn't get it. Lucy is furious at 'insensitive T-Bone', Anny blames Eric fearing his permission will overshadow the couple's own feelings. Margaret is furious, feeling used, when she hears Mac has taken full credit reading the Crawford English literature paper she helped him write; Jane says that kills her blossoming love for him, Mac feels an attack by lip contact is his best shot. Kevin is very eager to become sheriff in Crossroads, where he could make a real difference, but Lucy doesn't want to move and collects excuses, so they decide to ponder their choice a bit longer. Police captain Michaels tells Kevin the job pays great, but also offers him an alternative job without moving, now he's up for promotion to chief of police himself. Martin acts toward Jane as if they aren't together, but refuses Mac's suggestion to look for a more practical girl-friend, at his college. Ruthie considers dad's advice to leave T-Bone free to choose, true love comes trough anyway; T-Bone gets second thoughts...

Eric tries to reassure T-Bone there is no reason to move out, Ruthie doesn't hate him and her spending much time with Martin doesn't have to mean anything. Then a surprise takes priority: dentist Theodore Alan 'Al' Bonaducci rides on by Harley and assures T-bone 'junior' that was his nickname as a youngster, his ma just told him in Vegas he's the kid's father, alas 17 years too late... Dr. Jonathan Sanderson proposes to elated Sandy for marriage after her graduation in a year; she promises Lucy she can delay that now Kevin and she have decided to accept the Crossroads parish. Mac is in Margaret's kissing grace. Jane assures T-Bone that Martin is not into Ruthie but with her, yet Martin also accepts a serious talk with Sandy. Only when Ruthie hears T-Bone accepts to go away a whole summer with his dad, she tells her dad she hates their break-up...

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.

Now Eric is miraculously cured, the colonel sends him a celebration gift: an RV. He impulsively decides to take it on an unplanned maiden trip, for which the other residents soon sign on, the only limitation being one suitcase and three personal items each. Kevin and Lucy will get out in Crossroads, to decide whether to move there permanently, but wrestle with another terrifying doubt. Martin has another question. T-Bone only lifts along to join his dad's motor road trip.

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

Level-headed Robbie is the only one intentionally left home to babysit the twins when the Camdens accept a first dinner invitation at humorist Rabbi Glass's home. Mary beats Lucy to the punch faking illness so she can escape the event and try to seduce Robbie away from Joy. Simon takes his half-Jewish friend Morris along, but he fails miserably as a good example of someone from a mixed-faith household: he has no clue about the Sabbath or other Jewish traditions. Eric loses it completely when Matt says he's considering converting to Judaism, but they make up during a synagogue service.

Lucy and Kevin see a new doctor for their pregnancy and they have different opinions of her. Ruthie 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.

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

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

Preparations for Matt and Sarah's wedding are being made and things aren't going the way Eric or Annie planned. Matt decides he will convert to Judaism after a discussion with Sarah's dad who convinces Matt that he can convert on the wedding day much to Eric's dismay. Annie panics when Sarah's mother tells her to expect 100 kosher guests to her backyard pot luck dinner. Ruthie and Simon begin to resent Robbie being in the house. Ruthie wants her bedroom back forcing Robbie out now that Matt will be moving out and Simon gets upset that Matt chooses Robbie to be his best man and Sam and David call for Robbie instead of him. Lucy gets upset that Kevin won't come to Glen Oak for Matt's wedding and Ben decides to propose to Mary after Mary starts giving him the cold shoulder. Eric and Sarah's dad the Rabbi go head to head and it seems Matt and Sarah's wedding won't go ahead after all.

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.

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

The cookies-and-milk 'truth serum' brings out the truth about Kevin's generous offer to pay for Simon's ring, and he and Rose 'call off' the wedding, but Simon insists that he keep working to pay off 'his' debt; meanwhile; Eric blurts to the twins that he replaced the expensive ring Annie gave him after losing it years before, and Kevin loses his and desperately tries to find it before Lucy does; Annie gets angry enough to curse Mr. Riley, who owns the building she wants for her teen-mothers' center, with warped results.

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.