If you just watched the season finale of The Bachelorette,  you are probably pondering these questions like the rest of us: How is Ben feeling now? What does Ben think about Ashley Hebert now? Are JP and Ashley still engaged? Is Ashley finally happy? Is there a wedding in the works? Is Ashley’s sister still hell bent against JP? Who is the next Bachelor?

After the Final Rose aired August 1, 2011 and answered all but the last of those questions which we needed answered.  The show started with Ben coming out to a raucous studio audience and Chris Harrison throwing a dagger immediately at Ben saying, “It’s like a construction site here with all the catcalls!” Chris, you realize that Ben lost the girl to a construction site manager, right? Ouch.


READ MORE: FULL SHOW RECAP OF SEASON FINALE


Even though it’s been at least two months since Ben’s heart break, he still seems shocked, confused and bitter at first. About the day he got dumped, he said getting back up after being on one knee and proposing was the hardest part for him that day. He said the flight home was very long with many stops and layovers as he left Fiji for his best friend’s wedding. God, could things have been any worse for this poor guy? Ben also said he is now a more complete person because of Ashley and the journey he went on.

Ashley then came out with longer, darker and straighter hair than we last saw her on the final rose episode. Ben immediately told her, “Nice ring… I’m kidding.” He asked her when she made the decision but Ashley wasn’t exactly pinpoint clear in her answer. She said there was a time she thought Ben was the one but at the end it got to a point that she had to follow her heart and that is what she did.

She said the day she got engaged was also very gut wrenching for her because she also had to say goodbye to Ben. Ash said she was surprised to see so much anger out of Ben when she rejected him. Ben said he left with a little bit of dignity that day but thanked her for the experience of opening him up and letting him fall in love.

Ben asked her if he could have done anything differently to change the outcome and she said no. The two said they will be friends for life.

Ben then left and Ashley showed off her engagement ring and said JP is a really great kisser! JP then reunited with Ashley publicly and the two embraced, and kissed, and kissed some more.

JP said the separation has been hard on him and he’s been living a double life since the show because he could not tell anyone about his engagement. He said Ashley is the best thing that has ever happened to him. Ash said JP is always there for her and picking her up in low moments. She says the two of them are a team and this is “it” for her and this is the strongest relationship she’s ever been in. Considering she called her showmance with Bentley a ‘relationship,’ this is not saying much yet. Time will only tell.

JP said it broke his heart for Ashley to be judged during as the show aired and he felt helpless that he could not be of comfort to her. Ashley said JP makes her feel complete.

They showed the proposal to Ashley and JP and we saw a shot of Ashley’s mom in the audience who was crying next to her step dad. Chrystie, Ashley’s evil sister was also in the audience and JP said he was scared her sister hated him and he could not understand because ‘what is there not to love?’ Chrystie did not look amused.

The Kat Von D look-alike., aka Ash’s sis, joined them on the stage and said she and her sister are ‘ridiculously close’ and she wanted to protect her sister from getting caught up in the process. “JP, it had less to do with you than me trying to protect Ashley.” She also said Ben looked like the lifestyle that Ash wanted. But after watching the season, it became clear to Chrystie that JP is the one for Ashley and she apologized to him.  JP said that perhaps Chrystie went about it the wrong way, but she did the right thing to try to protect Ash and the two hugged it out. Chrystie said she can’t wait to introduce JP to her kids and have him over for Thanksgiving dinner.

Ashley said she is finishing up dental school and moving to New York in a month to get a place to live with JP. The two have talked about a wedding but nothing is set in stone yet. Ashley said she just wants a humble simple life and feels like the two have already been through the hardest part of media scrutiny. As a parting gift, the duo are being sent back to Fiji where they fell in love and got engaged.

There was no mention yet as to who will be the next Bachelor! Who do you think the next Bachelor should be?