4Bad Boys, Bad Boys, Whatcha Gonna Do
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.
7Regret to Inform
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.
10Gratitude
Shortly before Thanksgiving, the parents are still not home with the twins, who also are difficult now Eric has a cold and Annie somehow already blames him for ruining the family Thanksgiving again. Simon has brought his pregnant fianc?e Georgia Huffington home, but she refuses to tell anyone else before they tell his parents. Later she tells him she lied not to lose him. Pregenant Lucy takes advantage of her condition and is moody, driving Kevin (who desperately tries to dress for a drug undercover job), and Matt, mad. Martin canceled camping because of the weather. Lucy faints in the supermarket, Matt's limited medical student knowledge makes it harder on the and Dr. Kline. When Ruthie calls from Puerto Rico, lonely as Carlos's family is occupied with the baby, Martin assures her Thanksgiving is celebrated in overseas territories too.
13The Fine Art of Parenting
14First Date
Ruthie is going on her first date, and everyone else is more worked up than she is.
17Tangled Web We Weaved
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.
18Honor Thy Mother
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 tests the ground about him dating Mary again now she has left Carlos. Annie has the morbid obsession everyone should attend -fine for most Camden house-mates- a 'birthday party' for her late mother Jenny. This means barring Ruthie from seeing Vincent again, yet she's eager enough to visit him despite Lucy's warning while flower-shopping together. Ruthie returns in tears and tantrum, as if violated, in fact the kid only wisely took his parents' advice. Eric is excused from the party to help career woman Marie Wagner work out how to handle her mother's worsening health, while the ma -actually adoptive- wants to be independent, not a burden.
20Leaps of Faith
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.
21Mi Familia: Part 1
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.
1Its Late
While even playing liturgical Elvis can only distract Eric momentarily from having to tell his parents about Charlie, Rose wants Simon to tell them about their marriage plan; there is a surprise visit. Lucy's first monthly sermon embarrasses the family by its personal content, antagonizes the congregation with militant feminism and bores by length. Rose pushes Simon to buy her a ring they can't afford and speed up their wedding by telling him she wants to wed first. Also his ex, college student Sandy, did it -once, when visiting him- with now uninterested Martin, whom she keeps bothering, but has a surprisingly serious reason. Kevin startles Lucy by wanting a second child and to become a full-time father. Ruthie schemes to matchmake Martin to Meredith Davies and 'take over' her high-school senior boy-friend Jack.
3Mamas Gonna Buy You a Diamond Ring
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.
4Ring Around the Rosie
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.
5The Rat's Out of the Bag
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. Rosie knew Lucy came for Sandy, so Tyler's secret gets spread. Meredith gets Ruthie to find out if Tyler 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.
6Helpful
Sandy has braxton-hicks contractions, after which 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 (with reason) as Lucy, clearly over her head and incompetent, keeps insisting that nobody else should meddle with her 'client' Sandy. They have to tell her who has already found out and Kevin must physically stop her assaulting her dad, Edward Jameson (an alcoholic). Eric fears George Smith is about to find out too. Ruthie stupidly lies about her new date being '16', as Martin says his -huge- team's shortstop Brian is 18.
7Soup's On
The Camden parents feel guilty for forgetting to pick up the twins, duly humiliated the boys wisely called practically perfect 'fun dad' Kevin, who also helps investigate the alcohol-perfumed $3,000 Sandy's dad Edward Jameson brought in for her. Meredith promises Martin to wait for him if he travels the country in baseball 'farm' teams. Although his dad, Beau Brewer, gently assures the teenager he can tell him everything and get support, Martin needs Eric's moral support to tell he's not considering to join the Marines but becoming a father, and the mother isn't generally approved Meredith. Ruthie earns permission to date Jack -who finds out the truth- by joining a soup label project to fund a new computer for his school paper, which the whole family helps with.
8Chicken Noodle Heads
The mixed joys of fatherhood way heavy. While Annie tends to the flu patients, Eric feels no better after learning his pa the haughty colonel married after siring him. 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, they refuse any responsibility for the pregnant girl and disown her. Even perfect family father Kevin can't swallow jealous Lucy going ape over his play-date in the park for Susanna with former mothers course friend Alice's kid. Martin has discovered an excellent reason for Ruthie not to date Jack.
9Turkey
With Thanksgiving at hand, continuous pussyfooting about Sandy's pregnancy causes a further avalanche of lies, pretenses and false assumptions, even that Martin got Ruthie knocked up. Breaking the truth proves equally unpleasant. Poor Simon is left working his tail off at his exams and extra radio shifts for Rose's diamond engagement ring, while the ingrate and Sandy -who have finished- want to attend the parish dinner without him in Glenoak, where Eric preaches reconciliation.
10Apple Pie
While Eric sneakily prowls for pie, Ruthie tells off Jack, who indignantly rebukes Martin's insinuations as just that, even gets his and Eric's apologies. While Simon can finally just rest, Rose stresses he shouldn't find out her dad's fourth marriage is breaking up, like her ma's third, which is why he sells his house, which she hopes to get for Simon and her. Kevin says Martin needs a good bating, if not paternal then from him, but both basically good boys are actually rather relieved after rolling in the grass letting off steams by fists.
11X-Mas
Kevin makes a fine Father Christmas and knows the ideal gift: a dog, but Lucy insists to wait till after the holidays, then sneakily goes to the asylum herself, only to find their tastes in canines differ greatly. Heathen Rose has no clue what Christmas has to do with Nativity, so she 'tests' the twins, but in the process makes them doubt if either Santa or Jezus really exist. Sandy isn't keen either to participate in the parish's nativity scene. In the end, things work out as by Christmas magic.
12Got MLK?
When Ruthie's black new classmate Alex insists with teacher Porter to do his 'Famous Americans' report on his obsessive idol Martin Luther King, no other, even though his day was shortly before, baseball teammate Martin Brewer's innocent remark it's not worth risking his sports career for has absurd consequences, as if he, not Porter, changed the assignment to reports on 'Afro-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 all trough Glenoak with schoolchildren and adults.
13And Baby Makes Three
Martin refuses to drop baseball training to go to Sandy who is giving birth - even though Eric begs him. Martin, gets a surprising full scholarship offer from nearby Sequoia college, a future after all. Roses' nagging about Simon wanting to stand by her friend, Sandy, causes him to question the marriage plan. She is obsessing about her dream wedding, but reconsiders, even about parenting. Kevin patiently convinces Lucy that his 'husband at home' dream squares ideally with a second child wish. Martin goes to visit his newborn son in hospital, where both grandfathers commit to help each-other for their offspring's sake.
14The Magic of Gershwin
While mournful that Martin seems out of reach forever, Ruthie gets detention. However, like the other kids, she finds it pleasant and fascinating that week, supervised by music teacher Mr. Feinstein. He's a fine pianist whose job is doomed as budget cuts make the school phase out its music program. He warms them to timeless music and shows how it ties in with history and literature, and especially his favorite Gershwin sooths Ruthie's gloom. Feinstein also cues Eric and Kevin about the root of her detention, a new friendship with a fellow pupil who turns out to be homeless but resourceful. Rose wants Simon to pick a song for them, so he makes Ruthie suggest one by her new hero Gershwin.
15Love and Obsession
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.
16Moving Ahead
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.
17Highway to Cell
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.
18Invitation to Disaster
Annie hated receiving an invitation to Simon's 'disaster' wedding with Rose in May, until she realizes that's the same day as big brother Matt and his wife Sara's graduation from New York med school. 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 dad 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 truth time up inspiring surprising changes of heart.
19Secrets
The twins learn that offering people snacks gets them information. Lucy and Ruthie are surprised and slightly jealous how their mother smooches up to Rose. Kevin wants to give Simon his big wedding present early: paying for the expensive rings, but Simon has no idea. He plans to work enough shift to pay off that debt. Ruthie blurts out that she kept Matt's secret for years and asks for a small one in return. The scheming and speculations about a possible wedding cancellation continue to complicate everything.
21Good-Bye...: Part 1
The wedding preparations inspire Simon's parents to reminisce about when they all were much younger. After Rose tells Simon she's late, he prays as passionately that he will make the right decision about starting a family as he did when his wish for a dog was granted almost miraculously. Simon is disappointed that nearly nobody wants to attend his wedding, Rose somehow blames Umberto and keeps the doubts alive, while her divorced parents habitually blame each-other and fear she shotguns Simon. At the rehearsal dinner charming teenage waiter Paul surprises Ruthie: he's from Edinburgh and dates her.
22And Thank You: Part 2
The Camden parents are delighted that Matt and Sarah have surprised them by visiting in time for Simon's wedding. Mainly because they are expecting a baby, but that's not all. Simon is relieved that Rose isn't pregnant after all, they're marrying for love. However, the next minute he gets cold feet, eagerly poked at by Lucy. More visitors, like Matt's one-time bride-to-be Heather Cain, stir further reminiscing, speculations whether the will both say yes. Rose's ex, Umberto, even asks Eric's permission to sabotage the wedding. The decision falls at the altar. Matt and Carlos have wonderful surprises.
