The Camden kids learn hard lessons about race when Eric invites a black family to stay at the house after their church is destroyed in a racially motivated arson.

Matt helps out an elderly neighbor, but winds up getting in hot water for it; Eric searches for a way to aid a proud but homeless family; Lucy's 13th birthday approaches and she wants a party.

Annie volunteers as the church's treasurer pro tem but gets caught in the middle when Eric wants to hire an ex-con against the advice of the church vestry. Meanwhile, Mary agrees to tutor Jimmy Moon in science.

Eric and Annie decide to renew their vows; a widow seeks Eric's help to confront the juvenile who murdered her husband; Mary is reluctant to put down her crutches.

Against Eric's wishes, Simon asks Mrs. Kerjesz (guest-star real life survivor, Rita Zoharm) to tell her story about being in the Holocaust in his class presentation. To form a strong sisterly bond, Mary and Lucy decide to hate Matt's new girlfriend for no good reason and end up hurting her feelings and breaking up with Matt. Also, Annie suffers heartache when Ruthie tells her she ""hates"" her for making her clean the walls in her room after scribbling crayons on them.

When Eric helps his friend Reverend Morgan Hamilton secretly meet up with his wife's ex-husband Kevin, they are shocked at the outcome that he's paralyzed from the waist down. While covering for the Hamilton's daughter Keesha, Lucy unexpectedly goes on a double date with them. Soon Annie and Mrs. Hamilton bust the girls when taking Ruthie and Lynn to the movies. Back at school, Mary clandestinely dates one of Lucy's classmates.

Matt tries to find the right time to tell his parents that he's accepted an internship in Washington. Meanwhile, his concern for his sisters leads to a confrontation with Mary and Wilson.

Eric and Annie's parents arrive right in the middle of the crisis involving Mary and Matt; and Happy's original owner comes to take him back.

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

During a difficult labor, Annie asks Dr. Hastings for help. Lucy decides to break up with Jordan because she doesn't feel the same love for him as he feels for her. Simon continues to pray for twin boys. Happy is alone in the house causing some mess and trouble. Simon suddenly decides that he would ask his parent's if he could get his ear pierced. Matt is reluctant and scared about giving blood and also tries to calm everybody's tensions with the arrival of the babies. Lastly, Ruthie is the same as usual in this heart-warming episode; bad-mouthing the twins until they come.

In the third season finale, Eric counsels an engaged couple facing difficulties. Mary, Lucy and Simon learn the repercussions of forbidden love, especially Simon when he is caught in his bedroom alone with Deena kissing near his bed. Julie gets married to Dr. Hastings (Hank) and learns that she's pregnant. Also, Heather breaks up with her fiance after she learns he was cheating on her with another woman. Matt tries to save his relationship with Shana after he ran off with Heather, and does this through his pleading of forgiveness.

The Colonel and Grandma Ruth return from being out of the country for six months. Simon surprises his grandparents with his new haircut. Matt decides to move out of the house and gets his own apartment with John Hamilton. Aunt Julie's new husband Hank gets Matt a job at his hospital working in the cafeteria. Eric begins to suffer a mild heart attack due to the stress from his job.

After Eric receives a mysterious check of $20,000, he learns that the gift was from one of his parishioners who was a World War 2 internment camp survivor. When he hears that the woman has never been able cope from her internment experience, Eric helps her come to terms with the pain. Meanwhile, Ruthie learns a valuable lesson about the meaning of friendship when bribing a classmate. Matt and Shana have a miscommunication about laundry that sends their relationship temporarily into a tailspin. Simon is woeful over the injustices of the world, and Mary adjusts to her lower social status at school.

Reverend Camden helps a new family in the congregation who has a son suffering from Tourette's Syndrome. With the assistance of Simon, Simon sticks up for the boy at school when bullies pick on him. Meanwhile, Annie takes matters into her own hands when she horrifyingly learns from Lucy that Ruthie's teacher has reportedly been calling her ""stupid."" Simon unknowingly hurts Mary's feelings with something he said to her earlier, and Matt puts his girlfriend Shana on the silent treatment when he contemplates calling things off.

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

In the fourth season finale, Simon finds out the real reason why Deena wants to break up with him. Also Ruthie does her best to get back together with her old boyfriend Burt, while Lucy also tries to go after an old flame: Andrew Nayloss. Mary decides to take things slow with her relationship with Robbie and her life. Matt and Shana break up their relationship, but reconciles with Heather. At the end of the show, it shows Matt and Heather may have gotten married- but didn't.

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

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

Mary's feelings for Robbie resurface when she inadvertently finds out he has a secret date for Valentine's Day, and the whole family schemes to uncover the mystery woman. Meanwhile, with the exception of Lucy who has a date with Jeremy, the other Camden kids feel deflated when their Valentine's plans fall through and they end up stuck at home celebrating Sam and David's second birthday. Lucy and Jeremy's first date does not go as expected as they both keep on running into Lucy's ex-boyfriends. Although all's well that ends well by the end of the episode for everyone.

Mary returns home back to Glenoak for the summer to spend some time with her family, but fears about being together again with Robbie. Eric and Annie are recipients of what may or may not be advances from unmarried acquaintances. Simon and Deena see that they still have feelings for each other, even though she has a boyfriend. Matt agonizes over telling his family about his new relationship with Cheryl, but soon decides to tell them all. Lastly, Lucy surprises herself and others when making a proposal to Jeremy and the possibility of going to college in New York with Jeremy. Although plans change when Mary, feeling rejected by Robbie, makes a shocking declaration.

Mary tries to right a wrong by explaining to Lucy that she never had adult relations with her sister's fiance. The only problem left is trying to convince Lucy. Wilson unexpectedly drops by the Camden home from New York to see if he and Mary are really over by finding out her answer. James talks to Eric about him attempting to have an affair with Annie as Serena comes clean with Annie about her trying to have an affair with Eric. Robbie and Wilson set aside their differences so that they can talk about Mary. Matt learns a few things when it comes to Cheryl's honesty when she doesn't tell her friends that she's dating him.

Eric's stress level rises when he learns that Matt has lost his job at the hospital and is relying on his friends to find him new work. Simon is adding to Eric's tensions by pressuring him to let him get his learner's permit. At the same time, Lucy breaks off her engagement to Jeremy and just cries in her room and refuses to discuss what happened. Robbie, still longing for Mary, is moping around the house as she returns to New York to be with Wilson. Annie's behavior has Eric wondering what's going on with her and suspects she's pregnant.

As Annie begins teaching, she inadvertently gives a student some bad advice. At the same time, Eric and Annie painfully discover how much their constant arguing is affecting the family. Lucy and Robbie finally face up to their feelings after she intentionally sabotages one of his dates out of jealousy. Cheryl goes to Eric for some guidance in her relationship with Matt, but she misinterprets the reverend's input in the matter. Simon is attracted to a girl who is dating one of his friends. Mary is left to mull over Wilson's marriage proposal and it's even more confusing when she has a romantic encounter with a fellow firefighter trainee who shows an interest in her.

Mary and Lucy seek their parents for expertise in matchmaking and ask their parents to find new boyfriends for the both of them. Robbie argues with Joy about spending so much time together when she insists on seeing him right away. Simon and Matt are looking for girls using the Sam and David as adorable bait to attract women, but it doesn't go as planned. Robbie unknowingly becomes the key to finding Joy's missing younger brother Joseph when he finds a stray dog in the street that belonged to him.

Simon persuades his parents to let him go to a party after they meet his friend, a senior who promises to look out after him. When he comes back home completely drunk, he puts his siblings in a terrible position on what do. Matt gets letters from two medical schools but he is hesitant to open them and they eventually end up with Ruthie. When Mary and Lucy take the same classes at an area college, they decide to go to a bar with Lucy's friends.

Matt is determined to settle down before heading off to medical school. While in search of a woman to marry, he goes out on a date Sarah, who is the daughter of a rabbi. Ruthie tries to set her brother straight by telling him not to do anything stupid. Eventually concern grows to fear for both families as both Matt and Sarah do not come home after their second date together in less than 24 hours.

The Colonel drops by to tell Ruthie about the death of a soldier she has been corresponding with. Ruthie shares her letters with the family. At the memorial service, Eric asks everyone to advocate good deeds and go out into the community, as the family does.