The Bachelorette star JoJo Fletcher selected Jordan Rodgers and accepted a marriage proposal from him during Monday night's Season 12 finale on ABC.

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"It took everything in me to not run down those stairs. I love you so much. I fell in love at first with just us, the person I could be right away -- how comfortable and confident, and you challenged me. You continue to challenge me to be the best version of myself and I love that," Jordan gushed at the Final Rose Ceremony as JoJo stood listening in a sparkly white and gold dress.

"You made me believe that love doesn't need to have scripts, that there's not one way to draw it up. It's in moments like this when I'm holding your hands and looking in your eyes that I'm so unbelievably in love with you. You're my best friend, you're my soul mate. I'm going to keep you safe; I'm going to protect you. I'm going to wake up every morning and choose you over and over and over again until you tell me I can't."

"Can I tell you something first?" JoJo interjected. "I just want to tell you how I feel, because I don't know if I've done that fully yet. Jordan, I love you so much, and I have been waiting to tell you that I love you. I didn't want you to get down on one knee until you hear that."

"It wouldn't stop me!" Jordan joked before bending down on one knee. "Well..."

"Is this happening!?" JoJo exclaimed.

"Yes, it's real. It's been real. I love you so much and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Joelle Hannah Fletcher, will you marry me?" Jordan asked.

JoJo yelled, "Yes!"

In the process of choosing Jordan, a 27-year-old former pro quarterback from Chico, CA, JoJo unfortunately had to dump and devastate runner-up Robby Hayes, a 27-year-old former competitive swimmer from Jacksonville, FL.

"I'm really, really confused," Robby said in his final words, trying to hold back the tears. "I've been waiting for her to say she loves me, and she did, but then she wouldn't let me get down on one knee. When in the world is that okay? When is that alright to happen?... I don't want to say goodbye."

The final broadcast of JoJo's The Bachelorette season began with JoJo admitting that when she was with Robby, she thought of Jordan, and when she was with Jordan, she thought of Robby. She was excited to get her family's input on which man would fit in better with them. JoJo revealed to her family she loved both men but didn't tell either of them that.

Jordan was the type of guy JoJo normally went for in her past and, while she no longer believed he would hurt her, she confessed that was a concern for a while. Jordan hoped JoJo's family would love him for who he is and accept him. JoJo's mom Soraya thought Jordan came across as a sweet and nice at first and very likable, but she worried he was a "playboy" and might be liked by a lot of women, potentially bringing JoJo's trust level down.

Soraya asked Jordan to promise he would not break her daughter's heart, and he replied after a moment of hesitation, "Absolutely not. I promise." Soraya feared JoJo and Jordan were too much alike in that they both loved being the center of attention. Soraya loved him but pointed out that was the problem -- that everyone probably loved him as well.

Jordan didn't want her family to doubt him, and he realized when speaking to her father that there was still another guy left, which changed the mood for him. In the end, Jordan didn't ask her father's permission for JoJo's hand in marriage. The gesture meant the world to JoJo, so while she thought the day went perfectly, she had no idea Jordan avoided such a significant conversation. JoJo was confident Jordan would've asked for her father's permission.

The next day, Robby met JoJo's family, telling them that JoJo was smart and had a contagious energy about her. Soraya liked how Robby was gentle and soft. JoJo told her family that Robby proved his love for her was real from the moment he first said it -- before all of the other men -- and she felt adored and cherished when with him.

JoJo's brothers thought Robby was great, and Ben Patton warned his sister that she wasn't "trying to pick a New Year's Eve date." Ben reminded her to picture the house and marriage and kids. Robby promised Soraya that JoJo would be the priority in his life and he loved her more than he could express in words. He said his love kept growing for her, and JoJo's mom asked him to make the Bachelorette "the queen" of his heart.

Robby then asked JoJo's father for permission to propose with Soraya present for the heartfelt conversation.

"I don't just want her hand in marriage. I want all that is Joelle Hannah Fletcher..." Robby said. "I promise to protect her, and care for her and love her for the rest of my life."

JoJo's dad teared up and told Robby that his daughter trusted him, believed him and loved him. Her dad had no reason but to think their relationship would be "spectacular." Joe was thrilled to hear a man wanted to commit to his daughter and promise her fidelity, and it really struck him in the heart.

Joe got emotional and JoJo thought it was a very sweet moment to see her dad get that way. JoJo thought Robby was "unbelievable, perfect and amazing." He made her feel treasured and her family was in love with him. JoJo noted because of those factors, her decision should be easy, but she still didn't have things figured out.

When JoJo wasn't in the room, JoJo's family discussed how they pretty much preferred Robby because he was a stand-up, loyal guy who was ready to commit. Soraya admitted the "right decision" was Robby.

Once JoJo sat down with her family to discuss the dates, she learned their views on Robby -- that he was so in love, so grounded, good-looking and family oriented. Soraya insisted Robby was "more husband material," and Joe added Robby would be "a more logical fit" for JoJo considering she's always had trust issues.

JoJo's parents then divulged the fact Robby planned to propose in Thailand but Jordan didn't outright ask her father's blessing for her hand in marriage. JoJo was confused because Jordan had disclosed how important that moment would be for him in their overnight Fantasy Suite date. JoJo questioned why Jordan didn't follow through with asking Joe for permission. She was torn between the guys and wished her decision wasn't so hard.

JoJo revealed to her loved ones that if she ended up with Jordan and things got tough -- or more simply, didn't work out -- she'd regret not picking Robby, whom her father called "straight-forward and compelling." However, if she ended up with Robby, she'd always wonder "what if" and question if a life with Jordan was her destiny. JoJo didn't know why the choice wasn't clear.

The following day, JoJo and Robby enjoyed another individual date in which they just swam and kissed and played in the ocean. He solidified their connection and discussed what their future would be like together, complete with meatloaf in the over and kids in the playroom around the corner. JoJo was gaining clarity because Robby wanted what she wanted within the next few years.

That night, Robby wanted to ensure JoJo had no doubts. He hoped she'd view him as the perfect guy, just like he viewed her as the perfect girl. Robby told JoJo that she could be safe with him, and when he plays 18 holes of golf with his buddies, he'll be blowing up her phone. JoJo said she felt love without actually telling him that she was in love.

Robby sealed the deal with a collection of photos from their experience together. JoJo realized her worth in this relationship and learned what she deserved. She was confident about a life with him and saying "yes" to his proposal. Robby worried he was blinded by his love, so he wished she'd say those three little words, but he understood why she refused to after getting her heart broken by former The Bachelor star Ben Higgins.

It then became time for Jordan's last one-on-one date with JoJo. The pair hopped on a boat and took in the sights, kissing so much they barely had time to talk, and then they kayaked to a private beach. Jordan had everything she wanted in a life partner, like how comfortable they were around each other and how they were best friends.

Jordan confessed to JoJo on the beach he didn't shy away from making it known to her parents he was crazy in love with her -- that he made his feelings abundantly known, however, he didn't ask Joe for permission to propose. Jordan explained he couldn't get over the fact Robby was still in the picture and just didn't have complete confidence JoJo was going to pick him at the end of this journey.

JoJo admitted she was very disappointed because she thought earning her father's blessing meant a lot to both of them. JoJo questioned whether Jordan was therefore ready for marriage at all. Jordan argued he was "absolutely ready" to get engaged but he couldn't manage to have that special conversation with her dad without knowing how JoJo felt about him in return. Jordan was hoping there was some way JoJo could have acknowledged how she felt about him in return.

JoJo was confused because Jordan had said he was ready to propose. If he was ready, why wouldn't he be ready to ask Joe for his daughter's hand in marriage? Just when JoJo thought all of her doubts about Jordan were gone, they returned full force. That night, JoJo expressed her sadness to Jordan over the proposal issue. In fact, she was devastated because Jordan could never get that moment with her father back.

Jordan assured JoJo that her parents were well aware of his intentions to marry her. He then realized that he loved her enough to take "a leap of faith" and propose without being certain of her choice in future groom. JoJo still wondered, however, whether he was being 100% honest with himself simply because he wanted to continue dating her and didn't want to lose her.

Jordan then repeated to JoJo how he'd be getting down on one knee at the Final Rose Ceremony. He wanted to prove how much he loved her and how he was prepared to spend the rest of his life with her.

"I'm going to do it. I promise, just to make sure you will never have those doubts," Jordan said to JoJo, later adding that it upset him terribly to see her sad and he hated letting her down.

The morning of the Rose Ceremony, Jordan decided there was something he had to do, and that was call Joe and Soraya to officially ask for their blessing to propose.

Before JoJo learned of this news, she had apparently made up her mind.

"It pains me more than I ever thought it would," JoJo said of having to let Robby or Jordan go that day.

"I've been struggling with this decision. I've been torn and I've been conflicted, but waking up this morning, I had that moment of clarity that I have been praying for, where I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I have found that greatest love that I have been looking for. I have found that person and I can't wait to start my life with him. And I think, at this point, my feelings probably won't change."

She might've been wrong, because JoJo then received a letter from both Jordan and Robby, expressing their love and devotion to her. And in one of the letters, Jordan revealed her parents were thrilled to give him permission to propose.

JoJo said she had to stop going back and forth. She was bawling and on the verge of a panic attack.

"Today is the day I get to propose to the love of my life," Jordan said.

"Today is the day I get to propose to the woman of my dreams," Robby noted.

It then became time for the Final Rose Ceremony, and both men were convinced they would be the one chosen. JoJo feared saying goodbye to love and wondered if she'd be able to let go when hugging the runner-up for the last time. She didn't want him to feel an ounce of pain.

The first man to step out of a limo and arrive at the beautiful beachside spot in Thailand was Robby.

"This is crazy. It's a good crazy. It's the kind of crazy that kept me searching for this forever love without giving up, that I found in you. Jo, my family adores you and my future longs for you and my heart yearns for you, and I undoubtedly and whole-heartedly am in love with you. I am crazy about you," Robby said.

"It's love that's so deep, it makes me weak in the knees, it's a love that you only hear about in fairy tales and stories. I want to be with you forever. I will love you forever, and I will protect and care for you for forever, and you know I'll keep you safe. You're not just my partner in crime, you're my best friend, and I promise I'll love you until the day I die."

JoJo then asked Robby to wait and hold on, saying she couldn't let him get down on one knee because she didn't want to rob him of that moment. She woke up in the morning wanting it to be Robby, and she hoped every day it would be Robby, but it was clearly Jordan all along. Robby's face appeared stunned and expressionless.

"I fell in love with you, but for some reason, my heart is somewhere else. You have made me feel the type of love I've always dreamt of feeling, the type of love I honestly didn't believe existed," JoJo said.

"Then, what's missing?" Robby asked.

JoJo replied, "I don't know, it wasn't the love."

Robby repeated, "Why, why, why?" She wanted it to be Robby so badly, and he said that all he wanted for her was to be happy. JoJo's heart broke for having to devastate Robby.

After JoJo composed herself, she got ready to accept a marriage proposal from Jordan. She just knew it wouldn't have been right to accept a proposal from Robby.

"The only thing that is getting me through this moment is just the thought of seeing Jordan. Because I am crazy in love with him, and I am so ready! I am ready to say 'yes,' I am ready to be engaged and I am ready to spend the rest of my life with Jordan!" JoJo told the cameras.

Jordan then took the long walk to JoJo, saying she changed him as a man and made him look at love differently. He had found the girl he was waiting for his whole life, and if she said "no," it would be the biggest letdown of his life. JoJo smiled as he approached her.

After Jordan proposed, the newly-engaged couple hugged and kissed, and JoJo reiterated how she loved both the ring and Jordan. She then handed him the final rose, which he was thrilled to accept. They were so happy to start their lives together.

On the After the Final Rose special, Robby acknowledged how disappointed he was, as well as confused -- not so much angry or frustrated. Robby was so confident in what they had that he was wondering if JoJo sent Jordan home earlier in Thailand.

Robby, however, respects Jordan, who is one of his great friends, but JoJo had said things that made him feel like it should've been the two of them in the end. Robby had no clarity on why things didn't work out.

When JoJo was welcomed onstage, Robby told her that he was glad she at least expressed her love because he had been waiting to hear that. JoJo told Robby that she could just never envision saying goodbye to Jordan and she was madly in love with him. Her heart was with Jordan the whole time and she was missing the friendship angle with Robby that she had developed with Jordan in terms of compatible personalities.

JoJo told Chris Harrison that she wants the next The Bachelor star to be Luke Pell or Chase McNary. Chad Johnson yelled out that he deserves to be the next Bachelor because he's been through a lot and made a lot of mistakes.

JoJo said times have been "difficult" since she got engaged because of the rumors and tabloids out there. She hoped for overwhelming support during this amazing time in her life but it's been the exact opposite. However, they've made it through the last couple of months and she has hope they will last. JoJo and Jordan didn't want to have to prove their love for one another.

When Jordan joined the conversation, he admitted things had been tough but they've communicated and supported each other wonderfully. When Chris asked if there were rocky moments, JoJo didn't sugarcoat things and said times were "difficult" but Jordan has been nothing but honest with her. However, they never came close to breaking up.

Jordan also announced the couple bought a house in Dallas together and they'll be moving in shortly. JoJo and Jordan have also thrown around wedding dates, like next year potentially. As a little gift, JoJo and Jordan were given a free vacation back to Nemacolin, PA, where they began to fall in love.

And last but not least, Jordan had nothing to say about his older brother Aaron Rodgers and their estrangement. The mere subject appeared to piss the happy couple off.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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