Against Eric's advice, Matt takes a job caring for a dying boy named Steve. Annie goes into the muffin-making business after being convinced by her daughters Mary and Lucy. Annie goes into business with a cookie shop owner, David Friel who's looking to expand his profits, although it's much harder work for Annie than what she had originally anticipated. Also, Ruthie teaches Simon a tough lesson about the art of being a salesperson when being his competition in selling greeting cards.

Eric tries to unravel the mystery surrounding a young homeless girl, Sarah James, that Simon brings home who's lost. Eric tries to help her and her alcoholic father, Joe James. Matt delights the prospect of going away to college. Matt says he needs personal space when having a older woman sleep-over. Also, sharing a room begins to fuel differences between Mary and Lucy.

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 and Annie are taking prenatal classes--- for the sixth time. Annie helps two teenage girls get through their pregnancy while Eric helps the two teenage fathers deal with the news and finding a job. Simon is taking babysitting classes and gets his first job babysitting Ruthie, although it doesn't go quite the way he expected it to. Meanwhile, Mary is sneaking to a coed basketball sleep over. Plus, Lucy is thinking of having sex with Jordan to see if he's really attracted to her, but it blows in her face. Lastly, Matt has to do research on sex for his class and is having trouble over finding a topic..

Samuel and David are home and won't 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. Lucy ends 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. Annie gives Ruthie her baby book. Simon orders food from the Dairy Shack to check out Matt's new job. Matt is fired from his job and meets an old girlfriend, Shana.

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 love triangle between all of their two best friends and lovers. Ruthie wants to be a bridesmaid and a bride at Heather's wedding.

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 Hamilton 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 fathers advice.

Mary and her basketball teammates are upset when their high school coach imposes a lockout on the season, citing that their studies should be top priority. When the school calls a meeting to discuss the situation, Eric and Annie support the coach's concerns and decisions. Outraged by the apparent betrayal, Mary and some members of the team break into the gym and vandalize it. They are soon caught by the police and are arrested. Meanwhile, sparks fly when Simon is caught making a lewd hand gesture in front of the school, and is busted. Also, Matt contemplates returning home and Ruthie obsesses about being one of the guys.

The Camden family rallies together after Mary's arrest. Mary truly learns the consequences of her actions after she learns that she is losing her scholarship to college, faces possible school expulsion and jail time. Eric and Annie enlist the help of a lawyer who manages to get Mary enrolled in a community service program. Simon and Ruthie feel overwhelming pangs of guilt for having some knowlege of Mary's intentions and not telling their parients about it. Simon and Ruthie decide to visit many different houses of worship to attain atonement. Also, Matt moves back home to help with the family, but soon realizes he needs to live on his own.

Eric Camden finds himself on a hung jury of a case that he considers ""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. Meanwhile, the other Camden's are suffering their own wrong doings as Annie and Ruthie ponder whether two wrongs make a right. Mary becomes in debt with Lucy after accidently giving her a black 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.

Rev. Eric Camden counsels a sexually molested girl to help her express the rage and pain she's 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.

Mary, still intent on her independence, finds herself buried under a number of unpaid bills after losing her job at the pool hall. Meanwhile, ""The Colonel"" (guest-star Peter Graves) surprises Eric and Annie with an unexpected visit. Matt blames everyone but himself for his failing grade in organic chemistry class. Lucy enlists Simon to assist her with her Homecoming Queen Campaign to help him gain popularity in school, and Ruthie's prayers are answered when she's transferred out of her nemesis' class and into a prestigious private school.

Exasperation reaches an all-time high in the Camden household, as Eric and Annie helplessly watch their oldest daughter Mary and her worrisome friends continue to head down the path of destruction and into the hands of the law. When Frankie (guest-star Chyler Leigh) 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 manipulative fun of keeping a diary--- much to the embarrassment of Eric and Annie when she sees them having SEX!

There is cause for alarm when the Camden's disapprove of Simon's new group of 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 newfound interest in rap music and somewhat misogynist attitude towards women. Heather gets back in touch with Matt, but Matt is unsure of her intentions. He then finds out that she is dating someone else AGAIN!

After their lackluster attempt at kissing, Mike (guest-star Jeremy Lelliot) and Lucy agree to be friends and to fix each other up on dates--- but the plan bothers Lucy more than she anticipated. Meanwhile, Matt's in a huff over John and Robbie's newfound friendship and feels slighted by the family. Eric also continues to feel alienated from his family when they keep going to Annie for advice. Also, Annie feels slighted when Ruthie plays an un-funny joke when the twins recognize her as their ""mama"".

Robbie is ecstatic when his long-lost father (guest-star Alan Thicke) who is a dead-beat dad appears out of the blue. Although, Eric and Annie distrust the dead-beat dad's motives. He also convinces Robbie to move out with him; against Eric's wishes. Meanwhile, Ruthie turns to Mary for advice on how to get around their parents rules when wanting to buy a makeup kit that they said 'no' to. Also, a very convinced Annie worries when Lucy starts having a relationship with her friend's freewheeling ""unmotherlike"" mom. Also, Simon develops a bad attitude with his mother when not wanting to do his school work, but wants to hang out with his friends.

The Glenoak Community is making a big fuss over a petition that is protesting the apparently unfair firing of one of Ruthie's teachers, Mrs. Miller at her private school. Annie's father Charles drops by at the Camden's for a visit. Annie is then surprised and shocked when she she learns she has a half-sister.

Simon decides to stand up for bullied student at school only to have the boy tell him that he is going to shoot his tormentors. Robbie decides to give Ruthie a playful new nickname, but at the same time Ruthie comes up with a less-pleasant one for Lucy after breaking off her engagement to Jeremy in New York. Eric gets a visit from an old friend Merle with some family issues of her own. Mary gets serious with pursuing the career as a firefighter, but things don't turn out the way she had planned.

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

Annie's father Charles shows up at the Camden household for a weekend visit as Ginger supposedly needs to get away for a bit. But Eric forgot to tell his wife about it and nearly everyone in the Camden household is too busy to spend time with the elderly man. So Grandpa Charles takes Simon to get his learner's permit for driving and they end up being the center of a televised police-pursuit. Eric lies to Annie about his plans for the day, which include a trip to Glenoak Hospital.

St. Valentine's Day delivers a few surprises for the Camden family. A grounded Simon is asked out by a senior. Annie's attempt to surprise Eric with romantic Valentine's plans backfires and results in a big fight. Mary discovers Robbie's plans with Joy. Lucy and Mary learn that Jeremy and Wilson both have dates for Valentine's. Matt seeks his fathers help as he wants to settle down, which leads him to seek out old girlfriends as to why they're no longer together. Ruthie is hesitant to go to a party because her friend tricked her into asking out a boy she's already going out with.

Matt and Sarah argue over their wedding plans and their agreement to forego buying an engagement ring and seek Eric for advice, who isn't happy with Matt for getting engaged in the first place. Because of Eric, Matt buys Sarah a fake engagement ring. Mary and Lucy fly to Buffalo for a weekend, or at least that's what Lucy thinks as Mary makes plans of her own. At the airport, Lucy meets a police officer who invites her and Mary to double-date with him and his brother.

Matt and Eric meet with Rabbi Glass to discuss wedding plans, and Eric learns that he is playing a smaller role than he had originally planned. Annie prepared for fewer guests to attend the rehearsal dinner and gets very flustered when she does not have kosher food. Ginger and Charles are prepared to fly to Glenoak, but Charles get's lost at the airport. Simon gets angry when Matt asks Robbie to be his best man. Meanwhile, Ruthie tells Robbie that she wants his room for herself after Matt moves out. Ben proposes to Mary, but he gets an unexpected answer.

Matt and Sarah grieve over Eric's decision not to attend the nuptials following his argument with Rabbi Glass over Matt's conversion to Judaism. Hoping to patch things up between their fathers, Matt and Sarah seek their mothers' help in persuading them to put aside their differences before it's too late. Ben and Kevin come to Glenoak to meet up with Mary and Lucy so that they can resolve their problems. Robbie tries to figure out why Ruthie wants him to move out of the Camden household.

Kevin is now living in the garage apartment and is madly in love with Lucy and waiting for the right time to ask Lucy to marry him. He invites his new rookie partner Roxanne over to meet Lucy who takes one look at her and flies into a jealous frenzy. Robbie is jealous of Kevin because he feels as though Kevin is like a new big brother taking over Matt's place. Robbie, who has been lamenting the departure of girlfriend Joy, may also be ready for romance when he runs into Kevin's partner Roxanne, an old classmate from 7th grade.

Ruthie is asked to babysit a chimp which lives across the street. Ruthie also invites her boyfriend over which stuns Eric. Mary desperately tries to keep her mysterious new boyfriend a secret. When he unexpectedly shows up at the Camden home, no one is more surprised than Eric to see the good-looking 40-something pilot standing in the doorway.

When Eric learns that he must undergo double bypass surgery, he calls a family meeting to share the news but loses his nerve at the last minute and decides the group should go bowling instead. His odd behavior surprises everyone, especially Annie who grows more concerned when Eric's brother-in-law Hank shows up unexpectedly. Meanwhile, Robbie pesters Kevin about helping him make a parking ticket disappear. Lastly, Lucy continues to question whether Kevin has ever been with another woman.

The extended Camden clan wrestles with their emotions as they await the outcome of Eric's double bypass surgery. While under anesthesia, Eric hallucinates that he's Elvis. Lucy finally realizes that Kevin is the one and that she's ready to marry him, but he refuses to propose until Eric gives them his blessing. Simon complains to Annie about the absence of Matt and Mary during their father's health crisis. Sarah also comes to Glen Oak to wish Eric well.

Eric is stunned to find out the church has hired a new associate pastor to help out while he recovers from his heart surgery. Meanwhile, Lucy is furious when she and Ruthie spot Kevin and Roxanne in a jewelry store--as she thinks they're picking out her engagement ring together without her. Meanwhile, Simon listens unenthusiastically as Cecilia tells him all about her new French boyfriend. Lastly, a loud, chain-smoking housekeeper sent by The Colonel arrives to provide order in the Camden household.

In the midst of a career crisis and much to Annie's dismay, Eric takes a job as a talk DJ at a college radio station, but things become serious fast when Eric and his producer find themselves counseling a male student who calls in threatening suicide during his first shift. Lucy refuses to spend time with Roxanne which puts Kevin in an impossible situation. Later on, Roxanne asks her boss to assign her a new partner as tensions simmer between her and Lucy. Ben is almost arrested when he accompanies Simon and Cecilia to an underage club. Ruthie tries to figure out a way to breakup with her boyfriend without making him cry.

Eric begrudgingly agrees to see a therapist in order to appease Annie who is at her wits' end with him. Meanwhile, Simon is ecstatic when Cecilia's father agrees to let him see Cecilia, but feels hurt and confused when she starts avoiding him. Roxanne becomes suspicious when a pretty girl seeks council from Chandler. Lastly, Ruthie is shocked to learn that her new upbeat friend Katelyn suffers from cystic fibrosis.

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.

When a nasty thunderstorm rolls through the region and threatens to postpone Lucy and Kevin's wedding, everyone scrambles to make it to the church in time. Mary barely catches the last flight in and brings Matt with her. Chandler and Roxanne rush to pick up Ben and his mother who are stranded at the airport in Las Vegas, but tensions run high and a fist fight breaks out; and Matt gives Lucy some very special brotherly advice when she confesses to pre-wedding jitters.

Eric flies to New York in a last attempt to convince Chandler's dying father to make peace with Chandler before it's too late. Meanwhile, Matt and Sarah suspect that she might be pregnant and Matt's co-worker lets the news slip to Eric; Lucy fears she might also be pregnant, which causes her to panic and push Kevin away; Mary tries to find Eric to tell him that she did something stupid; Lucy offers her classmate Christine a temporary place to live, unaware that she's hiding a big secret; Simon is crushed when Cecilia refuses to go to the prom with him; and no one can understand why Ruthie is acting especially strange.

Unable to convince Chandler's father to see his son before he dies, Eric is forced into tricking him. Meanwhile, Eric, Annie and Sarah's mother Rosina get together to surprise Matt and congratulate him on the wonderful baby news. Mary confides a big secret to Lucy. Simon gets turned down by a potential prom date. Ruthie gets her period and tries to hide the news from everyone. Kevin recognizes Lucy's house guest Christine as a girl who was previously arrested for prostitution. Lucy takes a home pregnancy test without telling anyone. Lastly, bad news arrives on the Camdens' doorstep.