'The Bachelorette' Finale Part 1: Brendan Quits, Ben Returns and Tayshia Is In Love With Zac

As always, the episode ends with a promo of what's to come... but this time, it's all happening on Tuesday night's episode!

Tayshia is crying! She is kissing Ben (so that means he sticks around?), he is looking at a ring, something is going on with Zac, and we are worried about Ivan. Tayshia's parents are here, her dad is disapproving, and WE ARE IN THE HOME STRETCH! 

It's the "emotional ending you won't believe," Chris Harrison promises, and WE WANT TO WATCH IT RIGHT NOW. 

"Come here. Give me your hand," Ben says, reaching his arm out on the couch. 

Tayshia holds his hand, but then storms off. "I'm going to need a minute, OK?"

"What?" she asks a producer in another room. "I mean, I just want to cry. I don't know what to do. There's a rose ceremony. What do I do with that?!?!"

"Ben," Tayshia whispers, trying to process what she just heard. 

"I have been in love with you," he goes on, admitting he's "starting to get nervous." "I blew it by not telling you in the moment. I've never felt this feeling, so I was just terrified. But I am in love with you. Like, the life we could have together. The thought of that, it keeps me awake at night. And I'm not sure what to do right now, I'm not sure what I'm asking for. I don't even know what I'm doing. I just couldn't leave. But I just had to tell you. Like, I see a life with you."

Tayshia then asks Ben to "hold on a second," and buries her face in her hands. Ben asks if she's alright, and she tells him she isn't. "No, I'm not alright," she admits. 

Tayshia looks shocked, but allows Ben inside. 

"I know I'm supposed to be long gone, and I know you sent me home already, but the way that that ended, I was so completely caught off guard, I just didn't even know what to do or say. And I'm sorry for that," Ben says. 

"I know that was just -- that was horrible, and for two days after, all I've been saying is 'What the f**k just happened?' I didn't even see that coming," Ben continues. "And the feelings that I've had for you, I've been describing this entire time. I just didn't know what it was, but I'm in love with you."

Tayshia gets ready for the rose ceremony, but notes she doesn't really need one since she only has two men left. 

AND NOW BEN IS HERE. 

Ben... pays a visit to Chris Harrison to talk about his feelings. 

He says he's not sure what he even wants from Tayshia (then why are you here?) but he wants to resolve their "weird breakup." 

"I just need to talk to her," he tells Chris. 

"OK," Chris agrees -- because why not? More drama!

Brendan left without one of his baby turtlenecks, so Ivan is wearing it to the rose ceremony. 

Zac notes that he's not sure what happened to Brendan. (Why would producers separate you guys now, Zac? Use your brain!) 

"Anything can happen," he adds... and we know it can because BEN IS BACK. 

"It does suck," Tayshia tells Rachel, but admits she'd be more upset if Brendan realized he wasn't ready AFTER they ended the show together. 

She got the validation she needed from her other overnight dates, and Rachel brings up the possibility of thinking of the guys she sent home. 

"I liked Ben. Aside from the fact he was really hot, he was really sweet," Tayshia says. She brings up how Ben's military past has hardened him from showing any emotion... especially during their breakup. 

"I know there was something there, so it sucks," Tayshia adds. 

It's the next day, and we need to move on after Brendan's exit. If he's not ready, he's not ready and there's still drama ahead. 

"Brendan was someone I was falling for, someone I really saw myself bringing home to my parents. So, I have a lot on my mind that I'm trying to sort through," Tayshia tells the camera. 

So, Rachel Lindsay is here to talk to Tayshia and give some advice. "Basically I'm here to just be the big sister she never wanted," Rachel laughs. 

Tayshia melts down after Brendan drives off.

"Tayshia told me that she really could picture me as her husband at the end of this, she could picture a life with me," Brendan tells the camera. "That is really the first time she's expressed that to me, so it makes it that much harder."

"Me not being ready comes at a huge price, giving up the opportunity to have a future with Tayshia, and me ending something really special before it started," he says, wiping his tears away. "Seeing Tayshia that upset was devastating."

"I'm sad," Tayshia to the camera -- but weirdly, she's not as emotional as she was when she sent Blake home. She cries into Brendan's shoulder a little, but that's it. 

"Brendan is definitely someone I saw a future with, and I really thought I was going to be with him. I really thought I was going to end up with Brendan. He's been a person every single day that I've been like, 'It's Brendan.' Every single day," she says. "Since our first one-on-one, he's the one that made me put my walls down. I just felt like, safe with him."

Tayshia doesn't shed a tear as she processes Brendan's words, and tells him that while she might have been "really pissed off" at him in the past, she understands where he's coming from, "because we both have been married before." 

"And as much as I would love to be with you at the end of all this, if you're not ready, that's not something I'm going to push you to do. I've already fought for someone to try and love me once, I'm not going to do it again," she says. "I don't know what else to say. Can I walk you out?"

This is really ending. 

Brendan continues, expressing that he thought he was ready to take the next step. 

"I want a wife and kids and a family more than anything on the face of this earth. But then coming to the realization that there's a big part of me that's still broken," he says, alluding to his divorce. "There's a big part of me that still needs time to heal. There's a big part of me that needs time to grow, because I still think there are pieces of myself I need to pick up. And all I want is to give my whole heart, but as I sit here today, my heart isn't whole."

THIS IS HAPPENING. IT IS OVER.

"And it really breaks my heart, because you deserve a man that is complete and you deserve a man who is healed from his past. And unfortunately right now I'm not that man," Brendan adds. "So, I'm so sorry."
 

Tayshia tells Brendan that after their first one-on-one, she knew she could "totally see myself marrying him at the end of this." "That made me so excited, but I just feel like I've been lost... I don't know where you are," she shares.

"I completely agree with you as far as the moment you stepped in front of me and I laid eyes on you, this entire experience for me completely shifted," Brendan replies.

"But today definitely reinforced the gravity of that moment and giving someone that engagement ring is giving them eternity with you, in a certain sense, and this is a forever moment," he continues. "I don't take that lightly at all, and I'm not going to lie, this has been a challenging past couple days and weeks for me." 

Uh oh. 

Tayshia says she sees herself building a life with Brendan, but now there's something he's struggling with. 

They meet up for dinner, and she's still hopeful they can make things work. "I'm hoping tonight we can really see if we have something to grow on," she tells the camera. 

Brendan tells Tayshia he loved seeing Tayshia "blinged out." But then his face falls and we don't like where this is going.

Neil sits down with Tayshia and Brendan to chat about their journey, and Tayshia says there's a "light at the end of the tunnel." 

"It's my pleasure to be here... whatever path you take, I hope you find love," Neil toasts before sending them on their way. 

Tayshia can tell there's a "disconnect" with Brendan. "It's kind of a weird feeling," she says. "I hope that there isn't something wrong." 

Brendan admits to the camera that it's a "scary step" for him -- but he really didn't need to verbalize that. It's ALL OVER HIS FACE. 

"I've been here before, but when I propose to someone for the second time, that person is going to be my wife for the rest of my life," he says. "An engagement ring means you're going to be mine forever, and that means so much. But, am I ready to give Tayshia the commitment of forever? I don't know." 

Tayshia and Brendan meet up for their date, and she tells him they'll meet up with a friend who will show them "a little somethin' somethin'." 

"He's going to meet a guy he's going to want to be friends with," she teases -- before introducing Neil Lane. 

Tayshia notes how symbolic getting a Neil Lane ring is at the end of this process, and it's clear she's comfortable trying things on. 

Brendan looks like he's about to explode. 

Here we go, fantasy suite No. 3! 

Brendan admits he's anxious about taking the next step in life. "I'm hoping that today is going to allow me to take a big step forward to feel really confident... with the decision of proposing," he tells the camera. "Whatever our future holds, today is the most important day of this entire journey for me." 

Zac returns to the villa, and again we get an awkward conversation about how his overnight date went. 

Brendan is feeling THE PRESSURE. "This overnight would be one of the defining moments of my life," he says. 

The next morning, Tayshia and Zac are jumping on the bed, giddy over their overnight date. And yes, Zac is wearing Tayshia's little bitty robe. 

"I love you," he tells Tayshia again over breakfast. "I LOVE YOU." 

"This feeling that I have right now is just amazing. Like, he loves me," she gushes to the camera. "He's not just saying it just to say it." 

Tayshia raves about her relationship with Zac, telling the camera she feels like it's "all just a dream." 

"Everything's been like, so romantic. Tonight, I just want that validation that my heart is right, and that he's right," she says. "Zac loves me and I love Zac!"

AND WE LOVE THAT WE ARE DONE WITH FANTASY SUITE TRAILERS!

Tayshia gushes about the "sincerity" behind Zac's love confession. 

"The way he says it is so intentional and natural and organic, and it's been amazing," she says. 

With that, she gives Zac the invitation to the fantasy suite. "It's time to go," Tayshia smiles. 

"There is no doubt about how Zac Clark feels about Tayshia Adams. No. 1, I'm in love with this girl. And No. 2, how am I even worthy of this?" he asks the camera as he and Tayshia enter the fantasy suite -- which is an actual hotel room. THANK THE LORD. 
 

Tayshia says Zac looks stressed, and like he has something else to say. So, he just says it. 

"Tayshia, I know that I love you. I love your smile, your strength, how you treat other people. I just love the human being that you are. I see it, but I think it's important for you to know that," Zac says.

Tayshia buries her head in her hands.

"It's just wild, because I love you too," she says back -- breaking one of the Bachelor franchise's cardinal rules. "I have known that I love you. That's the thing, I don't think I've ever felt this way before."

"I'm trying to figure it out, and I'm trying to find things wrong," she continues. "I'm just so happy!"

Tayshia brings up how Zac told his family he didn't want kids -- but how he told her he was fine with the 5 kids that she wants. 

"I was telling myself a lie," Zac says. "What I realized is... I do want to be a dad, and I do want to have kids. And I know that I'll be a good dad, and that I'll be a good husband, and that I deserve all those things. And I think part of being in a partnership or marriage is having those conversations and working together. So, that doesn't scare me."

Instead of a fake dinner, Tayshia and Zac get a little cozy sofa and candles. Oh, there's a charcuterie board. That's probably best case scenario, actually. 

Zac and Tayshia sit down and talk about how comfortable they are with each other. 

"The first night we kissed, you said I was trouble, and that I was different," Zac reminds her -- and says that's when he knew he had a shot. "I'm different in the best ways." 

"Zac makes me feel like I'm the only person in the entire world," Tayshia says, covered in paint. "I can actually see a future for us together." 

Tayshia's dream future involves a several-mile run around Orange County, watching the sunset and eating sushi -- and Zac feels like she could be his wife. 

AND HE'S GOING TO TELL HER BEFORE THEY GET "INTIMATE."

Zac runs over to greet Tayshia, who is standing in a bush. 

"I thought we could get a little creative and see how we express ourselves," she teases, guiding them over to get changed. 

The "exploring" from the date card is actually about painting... body painting. "By the end of today's date, we will have created a beautiful canvas of our love," she gushes to the camera. 

This is kind of a repeat of the painting date they do all the time on Bachelor in Paradise, so we don't care that much about it, but Tayshia and Zac seem to be having fun rolling around and making out. 

Zac gets up to go on his date, and we are wondering how long it's been since Ivan's date. Is it really the next day? 

We know there's usually at least a day in between when they're traveling abroad, but this just seems... too soon. 

"This is the weirdest dynamic," Ivan observes. 

Ivan returns to the villa and tells Zac and Brendan he had a great time. 

"Did you guys get time in the morning together?" Brendan asks. 

Ivan says they saw the sunrise. 

"Oh shoot -- didn't get much sleep!" Brendan realizes. Oooooop.

Tayshia and Ivan emerge from the trailer to have breakfast outside -- and Ivan admits that they basically didn't spend anytime INSIDE of the airstream. They just sat on the bench and talked all night. 

Tayshia is wearing glasses and she looks so cute in her little PJs and Ivan affirms he's falling in love with her. 

"My first fantasy suite was incredible," she gushes to the camera. "Learning the little things about each other was really fun." 

Tayshia says they discussed religion and their future goals, and she feels like they could have a "beautiful life together." 

Tayshia and Ivan walk up to the most outrageous fantasy suite this show has ever had ... a trailer. Yes, we're serious. 

But that's not all we're getting. There's champagne and donuts! 

Ivan tells Tayshia his dad calling him out for being "a step away from falling in love" helped push him to the next level, and they cheers. 

Tayshia thinks they would have a "good life" together, and we agree. CAN THAT PLEASE MEAN SHE PICKS HIM? 

We get a tour of the inside of the trailer that we really didn't need to see. "We can make this work, right?" Tayshia asks and it's so sweet but also so sad. 

Bring back the fantasy suites!!! 

"He's everything," Tayshia gushes before saying goodbye to the cameras. "He's literally everything." 

Ivan apologizes for not saying it sooner, but Tayshia's thrilled anyway -- and says she's falling for him too. 

Then, Tayshia hands Ivan the invitation to their fantasy suite. "100 percent yes!" Ivan says, but then clarifies he just wants to "talk more" and get to know her better. 

Tayshia and Ivan sit down for dinner, and discuss how their icy kiss is a symbol of how they can "take on anything" in their relationship. 

Tayshia praises Ivan for being her "rock" throughout this experience. "I cried in front of you," she says. "I'm not like that, typically... I feel like I have something special with you, because it's not common." 

Ivan feels the same way and as much as we love these two together, we're getting the feeling Tayshia doesn't choose Ivan. 

He talks about how hard it is to show his feelings, and then admits he started falling in love "a couple weeks ago." 

"I can really see this working out," Ivan tells Tayshia. "I am undoubtedly falling in love with you right now." 

Back at the villa, Zac is COMPLETELY CONFIDENT Tayshia will find whatever clarity she needs to find her husband. 

The next date card arrives. "Zac, let's explore each other," it says -- and Brendan admits he's not sure he likes it. 

"It's a strange thing to wrap your head around knowing the woman your dating is having an experience with another man," Brendan says. 

Zac, however, couldn't be more thrilled. "Alright, alright, alright," he proudly says in his best Matthew McConaughey voice. 

So, it must not have been that cold, because Tayshia and Ivan kiss for 6 minutes and 35 seconds, over a minute past the record. 

It was stiff and did not look that enjoyable, but hey, they are record holders! 

"My body may be numb, but my lips will be burning hot!" Tayshia tells the camera before hopping in the ice bath with Ivan. 

Chris Harrison just said Paulie was born on a glacier or something and now Paulie said this ice bath could have a "devastating effect" on Ivan's performance in the fantasy suite. Why is Paulie not on every episode???? 

Tayshia and Ivan are still kissing and sync up their breathing. "It was really hot while being really cold," Tayshia says. Isn't that a sign of hypothermia? Getting really hot? Any doctors our there? Pls let us know. 

Tayshia's solution to all this heat is for her and Ivan to attempt to break the record for world's longest, coldest kiss. 

There are ice baths and Chris Harrison and we are again reminded of the romantic, elegant, extravagant, over-the-top dates we used to have. Yes, we know there's usually a world record breaking date every other season, but we're just not feeling it. 

To make this more exciting, Ivan talks about how this challenge is representative of a relationship -- and supporting each other through the hard times. Sure, sure. OK. 

Ivan wanted to go first, so he's excited to get this show on the road. "I am falling in love with Tayshia and I am ready to settle down and start a family... this could be the start of all that happening," he says. 

Ivan is wearing shorts for the date, but he's already sweaty, according to Tayshia. After those super sweaty hometown dates, she's ready to be done with Palm Springs. Let's wrap this up!

Zac notes Ivan's a good dude. "I would let my sister date him. I don't know about my girlfriend dating him," he quips. 

THIS IS SO AWKWARD. 

Still, Zac is feeling confident. "This week is not about Ivan and Tayshia or Brendan and Tayshia. It's about Tayshia, period," he tells the camera. 

Chris, meanwhile, visits the guys to give them the lowdown on fantasy suites -- and the first one goes to Ivan. 

"Getting the first fantasy suite night, that would just continue to validate my feelings," he says. 

The date card says "our love is timeless," and this is a riddle we cannot easily solve. Lucky for us, there's lots of awkward silence for us to keep trying. 

Ivan, Zac and Brendan talk about how awkward it is that they're still together during fantasy suite week, and we agree. Sorry, but there's nowhere else to go in the Bachelorette bubble! 

And now JoJo is back! She's here to give Tayshia some advice about tackling the week ahead, and Tayshia admits it's "hard to navigate" as she's falling in love with more than one person. 

"It's honestly such a good time to talk about things," JoJo says, encouraging Tayshia to bring up relocating, jobs, kids and more. "You will feel something, that will be a sign for you." 

It's time for FANTASY SUITES and Tayshia can't wait to get to know her guys better -- and get some alone time. 

Lucky for her, she's got three great guys (probably the best final 3 in recent history?) so she's confident.

Tayshia's finale IS HERE! Chris is warning Tayshia could lose her chance at love forever and we think that's just a little dramatic but HEY! It's The Bachelorette!