Simon and Rose prepare for their wedding day, despite speculation that it is not the right decision. Annie and Eric go through countless scenarios in their minds as they reflect on how the wedding will actually turn out. Meanwhile, Rose's former boyfriend shows up unexpectedly. Ruthie considers studying in Scotland over the summer. Kevin, Lucy, Matt, and Sarah all have life-changing news, if only they can find the perfect time to share it with the family.

As Rose gets ready to make a huge announcement, Simon breaks down as he realizes that he may have trapped himself in a marriage that he does not want. Meanwhile, Eric and Annie reminisce about their children and their younger days as they prepare for the rehearsal dinner and meet Rose's unconventional parents.

The cookies and milk 'truth serum' curse works on: the truth about Simon's ring and Kevin's generous offer to pay it for him as a present get known till it makes him and Rose 'call off' the wedding, yet Simon insists to keep working to pay 'his' debt. Meanwhile dad blurts out to the twins that he replaced the expensive ring Annie gave him after losing it years ago, while Kevin tries to find his before Lucy after losing it too. Annie gets mad enough to curse Mr. Riley, who owns the building her teenage mothers center needs, with warped results.

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

The Camdens receive official invitations to Simon and Rose's wedding, and to their dismay, they learn that the date conflicts with Matt and Sarah's graduation from medical school. As this news creates a tailspin with the family, Rose stubbornly refuses to change the wedding date. Eric and Kevin think they have a solution to the problem, but when Annie disapproves of their methods, she looks for help from an entirely different source. Meanwhile, Ruthie wants to enroll in a summer program that takes place in Scotland.

Ruthie is upset that she hasn't gotten any calls on her new cell phone, so Eric gives out her number. Meanwhile, Simon and Rose have dinner with her former fiancé, and the man is nothing like what Simon expected.

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.

As Valentine's Day approaches, Kevin plans a special dinner, while Ruthie has a difficult time letting go of her feelings for Martin. Elsewhere, Annie has trouble accepting Rose—and the twins' request for a store-bought birthday cake instead of one made by her.

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

As Sandy prepares to give birth, almost everyone rallies around her at the hospital. Everybody hopes that Martin--who has an important baseball tryout with a talent scout—will take what might be his very last chance to accept responsibility for his actions. Meanwhile, Kevin and Lucy are at odds over the idea of having more children, while Simon and Rose's relationship appears to be on its last straw—much to the Camden family's delight.

Racism comes to light at the high school when Alex, a new African-American student, wants to give a report on Dr. Martin Luther King, but his teacher argues that they have already covered that topic in class. When Martin inadvertently supports Alex's case, he falls victim to a hate crime. His car is defaced with racial slurs, and he refuses to wash it off until the culprit is caught. Meanwhile, for her own report, Ruthie attempts to recycle an essay that she wrote three years ago.

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.

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.

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.

Eric gets a new perspective on Sandy's pregnancy when he learns his mom was pregnant with him before marrying his dad. Elsewhere, Sandy's parents want nothing to do with her or the baby.

Eric meets Sandy's father, who gives him an envelope of money intended for Sandy; and Ruthie collects soup-can labels to help her school's newspaper. Elsewhere, Simon has money troubles and his phone service gets shut off; and Martin has a heart-to-heart talk with Meredith about their future.

Kevin asks Lucy to let him help her with a problem that she is handling regarding Martin and Sandy and Ruthie introduces Eric to a boy she wants to date. Elsewhere, Eric meets with Meredith's adoptive father, who has questions about Martin.

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

Simon finds a way to slow down his relationship with Rose, but her stubbornness derails his plan and Ruthie tries to ditch a boy who wants to go out with her. Elsewhere, one of the girls in Lucy's support group tells Lucy, that she is pregnant.

Eric gets the cold shoulder from Ruthie after she loses the chance to date an older boy and Lucy doesn't like the repercussions of Kevin's new role in their daughter's life. Elsewhere, Eric misinterprets a phone call from Simon.

Kevin gets shot at by a young boy. The Colonel and Ruth are in Glen Oak for a visit. Rose wants them to know that she and Simon are engaged. Everyone else, including Simon, thinks that this is not a good idea. Sandy is feeling betrayed when Martin will not even call her back. In fact, Martin is asking out someone else completely.

Martin receives a visit from Sandy, a college student he has spent time with over the summer, and she has some unfortunate news for him. Lucy speaks about parenthood in her first sermon at the church and most of the congregation is angry about the message she sends across. Also, Ruthie sets out to gain the attention of a boy who is already dating one of her friends, and Eric and Annie have to deal with telling Eric's parents about what happened to Mary and Carlos.