Credits | Previous Episode | Next Episode
Original Airdate: 12/16/96
After church, Mary tries to convince Lucy to quit with the cheerleading stuff. Matt introduces Tia to his parents and Tia is genuinely touched by Eric's sermon. Annie suggests that Matt bring Tia over to the house for dinner an Tia accepts right away.
Back at the house, Eric helps Annie prepare dinner by slicing the green beans. Annie tells Eric he could try and be a little more romantic now and then after seeing Matt and Tia together. She tells Eric she misses the surprises they used to have in their relationship.
Lucy is in the back yard trying to get down how to do a cartwheel and asks Mary for help. Mary says cheerleading is simply making a spectacle out of yourself and she won't have any part of it. Tia overhears and offers to help Lucy.
Everyone sits down to dinner and Tia talks to Eric about his sermon earlier that day. She asks him to recite the Robert Frost poem again, but as he does so, she breaks into tears and runs from the table. Matt rushes over to her in the living room and asks what is wrong. She confides in Matt that her parents just got divorced and how lucky Matt is to be part of a great family.
The next day after school, Tia asks Matt if he can give her a ride to her father's house so she can pick up her car, and then they can go back to his house and study. He says it's no problem and goes to pick up Lucy and the rest of the kids from school. On the way to the car, Lucy overhears some of the cheer squad members talking about how she is a klutz, and Lucy decides she doesn't want to go out for cheerleading after all. Matt offers to help her but she isn't convinced that he can help in this area, but agrees to let him try.
After dinner and studying, Eric and Annie hint that it's time for Tia to go home. After a goodbye kiss, Tia leaves for her father's house. Late that night, Eric gets a phone call from Tia's father asking if he's seen her. Eric searches the house and finds Matt asleep, but Annie finds Tia sleeping in her car in the driveway. They ask if Tia wants to spend the night and she accepts.
The next day, Eric pays a visit to Tia's father who tell him that he thinks it is good for Tia to get out more because she has been glum and staying in her room since the divorce. He then tells Eric he is very busy and Eric leaves her father to his work.
Matt picks up Lucy and takes her to a gym where they can work alone, thanks to a favor from an ex-girlfriend's sister. Matt helps her with several gymnastics and cheerleading skills - but the most important thing he teaches Lucy is self-confidence. Soon Lucy is ready to try out for the squad.
After Lucy's great try-outs, Tia's mom comes over to the house, expecting Eric and Annie to set her up with a date. She is surprised when Tia's father comes through the door. The two parents are told to sit and wait and Tia comes out to talk to them. Tia tells them how she feels that neither of them care about her - they only care about getting back at each other. Both parents agree to set up meetings with Eric and Tia to work out their problems.
After a failed attempt to surprise Annie, Eric gathers up a picnic basket, some blankets and his guitar and takes Annie onto the roof. Annie is happy that Eric is finally rekindling the very basis of their relationship and the two sing into the night.