The Bachelor star Nick Viall visited Raven Gates, Corinne Olympios, Rachel Lindsay and Vanessa Grimaldi's hometowns during Monday night's episode on ABC.

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The Bachelor episode, which did not feature an elimination, began with Vanessa, a 29-year-old special education teacher from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, venting to the cameras about how she was done with surprises after watching the lovely Kristina Schulman go home. Corinne, a 24-year-old from Miami, FL, even worried Nick might still get rid of her since he's so unpredictable in this process.

After Nick returned from his conversation with Kristina in Bimini, he explained to his four remaining bachelorettes that it was time to visit their hometowns. 

Nick canceled the Rose Ceremony to alleviate some stress and casually handed roses to Raven, a 25-year-old fashion boutique owner from Hoxie, AR -- who already had one from the group date in Bimini, but he wanted to check she didn't change her mind about him -- Vanessa, Corinne and then Rachel, a 31-year-old attorney from Dallas, TX.

The girls were so excited to go home, and Corinne was ready to yell to the world, "I love you Nick!"

Raven's hometown of Hoxie, AR, was up first. She took Nick ATVing or four-wheeling through the mud and attempted to climb a giant grain bin. Police showed up when the couple was climbing the bin, and Nick got very nervous when a man asked to see their identification; however, the guy turned out to be Raven's brother and everyone had a good laugh.

Nick knew life with Raven would be fun, entertaining and a little bit crazy, and he said their relationship was moving at the fastest pace. Nick found her sexy and smart, and they definitely had strong chemistry and potential. When the couple played and flirted in a swamp, it was clear the couple was on the path to love.

Raven introduced Nick to her father Wesley, mother Tracy and brother Weston in her parents' Arkansas home. Raven learned that after being diagnosed with lung cancer about 18 months prior, doctors just informed Wes he's cancer free. Raven got emotional and said it was special to learn such amazing news with Nick by her side.

Raven only brought home one other man in her life, so introducing Nick to her loved ones was a very big deal. Raven told her mother that she never had these feelings for another guy before and she was falling in love with him.

When Nick got some alone time with Raven's father, the Bachelor asked if he'd be comfortable with a potential engagement. Wes admitted he didn't expect to like Nick as much as he did, and he gave the Bachelor his blessing considering he trusts his daughter's judgment. Wes noted he "could live with" Nick proposing to Raven and later told the cameras he believed there was a good chance they'd end up together.

When she walked Nick to the car after their date, Raven expressed how she had no hesitation about their future together. However, she declined to tell the Bachelor she loved him or was even falling in love with him, so Raven missed an opportunity and felt worried she let their relationship fall behind what he had with other women -- who might have been more vocal with him about their feelings up until this point.

Next up was Rachel's hometown date in Dallas. Nick said they had the "most explosive chemistry" out of all the women and she had all the qualities he wants in a future wife. Rachel decided to show Nick her own version of Dallas by taking him to a church with a primarily black congregation. Rachel wondered whether Nick would feel comfortable in that setting, but he told the cameras he never felt closer to her.

Nick's parents fell in love thanks to their mutual faith, so he thought it would be wonderful to share the same thing with Rachel. Nick felt like he could be himself around the bachelorette and loved how there was nothing they couldn't talk about. Rachel had a blast at church and felt proud to have Nick there. Race didn't seem to matter to either of them, and Rachel felt Nick saw her beyond the "surface level stuff."

Rachel's father, a federal judge, unfortunately missed his daughter's date due to "work obligations," and Nick was pretty bummed out although he understood. Rachel never brought a white man home --  although she's dated white guys before -- but her older sister Constance married a white man, so the family was very accepting in general.

Nick met Rachel's mom Kathy, younger sister Heather, cousin Andrea, as well as Constance and her husband Alex and their baby. Rachel knew a guy needed to have fun and keep up in her household. She said he doesn't need black skin but rather a thick skin.

Constance and Alex discussed navigating racism in the real world and made sure Nick was completely comfortable with an interracial relationship. Although Nick has taken black girls out on dates, he's never been in a serious relationship with a black woman before. But Nick liked Rachel for who she is, saying that she just happens to be black. He found her challenging and strong-minded.

Nick let Rachel's mother know that he was ready and willing to face the world head on while in a relationship with Rachel and any adversity they'd face together would just make them stronger.

Nick said that he communicated well with Rachel and could always rely on her for a laugh. Kathy thought the conversation was positive overall, and Rachel later confessed to her mom that she was falling in love with Nick. Rachel said she was attracted to his sincerity, and Kathy pointed out that Nick seemed self-assured and confident -- just like Rachel's dad, which was a compliment that blew her away.

"I hate to use the word perfect, but today was perfect," Rachel said in a confessional before kissing Nick goodbye. "I'm falling in love with him."

Nick then traveled to Miami to meet Corinne's family, including her famous nanny Raquel. Nick didn't know what to expect for their date but figured it would be fun and fabulous no matter what. Corinne continued to surprise him in great ways, and he appreciated how she made up her own rules.

For the date, Corinne took Nick shopping in some upscale stores and fancy clothing boutiques. Corinne admitted she enjoys the finer things in life, as does Nick. It turned out Corinne was friendly -- and on a first-name basis -- with most of the store owners or managers.

"I think that's a good thing," Nick told the cameras. "I always thought I had expensive taste -- and then I met Corinne."

"The dressing room is your holy ground," Corinne told the Bachelor.

After Nick tried on a few different ensembles, she purchased him an expensive outfit and ended up spending $3,400 in the store. Nick loved her energy and how she embraced life.

At lunch that day, Corinne expressed her feelings for Nick by saying, "I really, really fell for you and I love you."

Nick didn't reply but sealed the conversation with a kiss.

"He had a look in his eyes that made me really happy," Corinne noted.

Nick eventually met Corinne's mother Peri, sister Taylor, father Jim and, of course, Raquel. Peri explained to Nick that Raquel is like the girls' second mother and she's part of the family. Corinne made it known to the table there had been a negative connotation about the word "nanny," so Nick seemed to feel better about the situation after that.

Corinne told her father that Nick was the type of guy she never saw herself worthy of having and that she needed to give herself more credit. She said Nick saw in her what most people don't -- the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Meanwhile, Raquel asked Nick what his intentions were with Corinne, and he called her a sweet, fun-loving girl. Jim then asked Corinne if she's okay with being the breadwinner, and she confessed that she was fine with that. Jim wanted to make sure Nick could make her happy and provide his little girl with all the things she desires in life.

Corinne assured her dad that she was crazy about Nick and later told her mother that she'd be heartbroken if he decided to let her go. Jim never saw his eldest daughter so happy, but he still had concerns.

Nick then asked Jim for his blessing to potentially get engaged to Corinne, and he said "yes" as long as Corinne is the woman he could see himself being with for the rest of his life. Jim ended up liking Nick a lot more than he initially thought he would.

"I think Corinne is the lid to his pot," Jim told the cameras afterward. "I really do."

Nick revealed he would be very excited and lucky to be a part of her family, and Corinne felt their relationship kept growing. She was on Cloud 9.

Nick's last stop of the week was Montreal to meet Vanessa's family. But first, Vanessa took him to school to introduce him to her special-education students, who happen to be English or French adults over the age of 21. When Vanessa walked into the building with Nick, her students cheered and cried tears of joy in the hallway as they held up signs to welcome her.

Nick got a little choked up at the sight and realized Vanessa was a very special person. He felt touched. One of Vanessa's students even told Nick he was lucky to be her boyfriend.

For the day portion of their date, Vanessa's students put together a scrapbook for her of her memories with Nick on The Bachelor. He found "beauty and magic" in that classroom.

Vanessa explained to Nick that her parents are divorced and so he'd be meeting her mother and father separately since they are civil but not the best of friends. She was 100 percent sure her family would love him because she loved him. However, she needed their approval and hadn't brought a man home in the last three years since her previous serious relationship.

When Nick walked in the front door, he seemed overwhelmed by the number of people sitting at the dinner table -- including her mother Mary, sister Melissa, brother-in-law, brother, nephew, cousins, an uncle, grandparents and two best friends. Vanessa hoped he could handle it.

It quickly became clear that Vanessa and Nick failed to have some serious conversations, like where the couple would move if they got engaged. Vanessa obviously loved her job in Montreal and adored being close to her huge family, but moving to Montreal would probably be a stretch for Nick, although he remained open-minded and really liked the city.

Nick was grilled by Vanessa's parents and sister, and he found the conversations intense. Melissa even made Nick cry when she told him that she would hate him if he hurt her sister. She didn't want to see Vanessa leave the show with a broken heart, nor did her brother, who got choked up while telling his sister to be wary and careful.

Vanessa acknowledged that uprooting her life for love was a huge deal, and it was clear the couple kept putting off that conversation. The family liked Nick but was scared for Vanessa. Her loved ones were simply protective.

Vanessa informed Melissa that her gut was telling her "this is it" and she'd definitely accept a proposal from Nick at this point. Melissa didn't think Vanessa -- who is usually cautious and realistic -- was thinking things through. Vanessa didn't even know what Nick wanted to do for a job after the show. Mary was especially worried because her daughter invests so much into love and her relationships.

"I'm totally falling for Vanessa and it is so easy to picture a life with her," Nick told the cameras, before admitting he had some questions to ask Vanessa about where they saw themselves in the future.

The day portion of Vanessa's date didn't go all that smooth for Nick, so he hoped meeting her father that night would be different. Vanessa introduced Nick to her father and stepmother. Nick told the couple that he loved Vanessa's vibe and could be himself around her. They felt safe with each other, and Nick promised Vanessa's dad that he respected her immensely. 

Vanessa's dad was hesitant to give Nick his blessing to propose to his daughter because three other women were still involved, but after talking things through, he told Nick it would be fine if he opted to propose. Nick made it clear this journey was real for him and he would do the right thing.

Vanessa then sat down with her dad, who revealed Nick had asked multiple fathers for permission to propose. Vanessa appeared shocked and hurt, telling her dad that's a "game-changer." She wondered if she had underestimate his feelings for the other women and how far along those relationships were. Vanessa felt Nick asking for her father's blessing was less meaningful.

Vanessa explained in a confessional that if Nick wasn't sure this late in the game, she needed to re-evaluate where their relationship was at. Vanessa wondered if her judgment was off and was terrified she may end up regretting going on The Bachelor to begin with.

The episode concluded with Nick getting ready for a Rose Ceremony in New York. Former The Bachelorette star, Andi Dorfman, also paid Nick a surprise visit to his hotel room. 


About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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