In this story, Mary hasn't been in trouble with the law in high school, she is a freshman at Crawford, this is staged after Christmas in the part of the fifth season, and Robbie hasn't moved in the house at all.

Eric was in his office when one of the deacons in his church tells him about a cruise to Alaska in mid April. The cruise was only for ministers and deacons of the church and it is for 7 days.

"That sounds like fun!!" Eric says.

"There are a lot of rules everyone has to go by and here are the rules and the schedules if you decide to go." Jason tells him.

"How many are going?"

"100 people." Jason responds.

"I'm going to have to think this over and see what my wife would say."

"Okay but the deadline is February 20th. " Jason responds.

"What month is this again, January of 2001?"

"Yes."

"Just checking, thanks." Eric responds.

Jason then leaves and Eric reads the rules and regulations. When Eric gets home he sees Annie on the phone, so he waves to her and she waves back.

"Can you hold on just for one second Patricia? Hi honey."

"Hi." Eric says as he kisses Annie on the cheek.

"Would you please check on David and Sam they should be waking up or wake them up if they aren't awake."

"Okay." Eric says as he goes upstairs.

"What were you telling me Patricia?"

"A cruise to Alaska?" Annie asks.

"Yes. Oh, Morgan is home so I'll talk to you later okay." Patricia responds.

"Okay bye." Annie responds as she and Patricia hang up.

In Eric's room, Matt was talking to Eric as Annie came to their room to see what he and the twins were up to. Matt then left to see what Ruthie was up to since she didn't seem talkative when they came home from school.

"Well the boys have been changed and they are rested!!"

"Yes and you are mine." Annie says to Eric.

"Oh, yes."

Eric and Annie kiss then a few minutes later they took the twins downstairs. Eric takes Sam and David to the den to play with their toys while Annie cooked. The doorbell rings as Lucy comes downstairs so she gets the door and lets in Mike who is one of the ministers. Lucy takes the twins into the living room to play with them while Eric talks to Mike who was nervous about the cruise since he would be away from his wife for a week which never has happened in their marriage that they be alone for more than 3 days. As dinner arrives, Eric goes in the living room to get Sam as Lucy takes David in the kitchen then Eric calls the rest of the kids after putting Sam in the high chair. As Mary and Ruthie were about to pass him to the kitchen, he took them aside and told them that if they needed to talk about anything that they can come to him, Matt or mom, which they told him okay and that nothing was wrong. They then went to sit down for dinner as Annie asked Eric how things at the office went then he told her off.

"Annie Jackson Camden, just say it, don't beat around the bush 'cause I know you already know."

"What does mom know dad?" Lucy asks.

"Well, what are you talking about, dear?" Annie asks in a deceivingly sarcastic way.

"The cruise to Alaska and I know Patricia told you about it." Eric said as he fed David.

"You're right, I already know about it." Annie confesses as she fed Sam.

"And, no I haven't even decided yet and I need to look into it more."

"You do, why?" Annie asked confused.

"Do you really think I want to go on a cruise all by myself?"

"You don't want to go by yourself?" Annie asked.

"No, I want you to come too.

"You do, Eric?" Annie asked.

"Of course I do."

"Well, Eric I think you deserve a week on a cruise by yourself." Annie said.

"What!?" Mary, Lucy, Ruthie, Simon and Matt said in unison.

"You want me to go by myself?" Eric asked in a surprising tone of voice.

"Yes, I think it would be good for you."

After dinner while Mary and Ruthie did the dishes, Simon cleaned the table, Annie and Lucy are in the living room playing with Sam and David while Eric was on the phone with Mike and that Mike's wife and Annie will let them go to the cruise. Few minutes later after the kids go upstairs to do homework, Eric and Annie reads the rules on the cruise tickets.

"Think about it, Mary will be home on some days and the kids will be home after school, and it will be nice for you to get away at least for a week."

"Aren't you going to miss me?" Eric asked in a jokingly crying way.

"You bet I will." Annie replied in laughter as they kissed.

Then a mid April Sunday afternoon comes by as the kids and Annie say goodbye to Eric on the docks where he goes on this cruise.

"I can't believe this!!" Mike says.

"I know." Eric replies as the cruise ship leaves port.

At the Camden household....

"Mom, are you sure you wanted dad to go on a cruise?" Mary asks.

"Yes, why?"

"Just wondering." Mary says.

"Listen Mary, I trust your father and I know that he loves me as I love him. What is this about? Honey whatever you are worried about, you need to talk to someone because I'm worried about you and Ruthie."

"I know." Mary says then she goes upstairs to do homework that was due the next day.