DENVER -- In the final episode of "The Bachelorette," the last man standing was not the man who many people had expected.

Instead of choosing the man whom she had an instant sexual attraction to -- Charlie -- Trista Rehn chose Ryan, the soft-spoken Vail firefighter who slowly and quietly ignited the flames in her heart.

If you're stunned by this decision, you're not alone.

THE BACHELORETTE SLIDESHOWS: Trista Selects Her Man And Then There Were Two Trista Does The Picking 15 Men, Three Dates Forum: Let's Talk About Trista Survey: Surprised By Trista's Choice?

Charismatic Charlie, who was very confident that he would be chosen, said, "Talk about getting thrown in front of a bus," after he was rejected.

And why wouldn't he be confident? Episode after episode Trista has told Charlie that she knew he was "the one" the moment she first saw him. He had everything she was looking for -- looks, charm, personality -- and he even lives near her in Southern California.

Even in this last episode, after Charlie charmed her St. Louis family with his easygoing, extroverted nature, she told him, "You have my full heart."

Even when she was dumping him, Trista said, "When you stepped out of the limo, a tiny little voice inside of my head told me that you were the one. Every moment that we've shared since then has allowed me to believe in that little voice. (Very long pause) ... Unfortunately, my heart has led me another way." (Wham! Where did that bus come from?!)

Now compare her openness with Charlie with her attitude toward Ryan. The quiet hunk was so shy and nervous in this last episode that it was almost painful to watch him interact with her family, who had to "tone down" their energy and conversation just to match his personality.

Ryan kept asking Trista to give him a hint about her feelings toward him, but she stayed mum. Ryan said it was difficult to continually expose his feelings and yet get nothing in return. (You could just see the anguish and torture on his face too, poor guy.)

But it was his earnest feelings -- his attitude of letting it all hang out, even if it led to heartbreak -- that moved Trista to choose Ryan and not Charlie.

"I know that Charlie had very strong emotions towards me, but I don't think he was in love. And comparing him with Ryan and the feelings I'm having for Ryan, there's no comparison," Trista said.

Ryan was so serious about this reality-TV relationship and so deeply and openly in love with Trista that he even asked her father for his permission to marry her.

Dad, who was really impressed with Charlie because he seemed like such a natural fit with their talkative family, was equally impressed with Ryan's decency and forthrightness. (Stepmom was impressed with the Renaissance Man's talents.)

In the end, Trista said she found the man of her dreams in Ryan.

"Since I was a little girl, I've had visions of a man whom I can see my future with, but someone whose face was always blurred, until now. Now, I not only see his face but I see a future of dreams come true. I see smiles and laughter. I see babies and grandbabies. I see comfort and safety. I see a white dress and I see it with you," Trista said. "My walls have finally crumbled and I can now tell you without reservation that I'm in love with you."

Ryan, taken aback a bit, responded, "I started down this road hoping for love and I think I was only able to make it to the end because I found it. Trista, I love you with every ounce of who I am and offer you my hand, my heart, my soul, forever, if you'll have it."

He then got down on one knee, pulled out a lovely diamond ring and said,"Trista Nicole Rhen, will you marry me?"

And once again, the Rocky Mountain poet made Trista weep.

Happily Ever After?

On "Good Morning America," the last episode was called "the TV upset of the season" because Trista picked the guy no one had expected -- the romantic instead of the realist.

Ryan said that his friends and family had been consoling him non-stop because they were so positive that he had lost.

"I could actually sit them down and say, 'Listen, I didn't lose. I won.' And they would be like, 'Yeah, whatever. It's OK. I understand. You're going to be alright,'" Ryan said. "It was an easy secret to keep because no one would believe me."

Trista and Ryan watched the last episode together, alone in a New York hotel room.

"I gave her a few dirty looks," Ryan jokingly said, referring to certain scenes with Trista and Charlie. But he also felt so guilty about what Charlie was going through that he didn't have the appetite to eat dinner.

Trista admitted that it was difficult to keep her feelings hidden.

"I was thinking of Ryan ever since the hometown dates when we went to Vail. From that moment on, I thought it was him. But because of what happened to me on the first 'Bachelor,' and how Alex changed his mind at the end, I really didn't want to lead anyone on," she said.

Ryan said that when it came to the proposal he was so nervous about putting the ring on her finger that he missed her finger, so the camera crew had to shoot the scene twice. (Speaking of editing, didn't the producers do a really good job of steering us in the wrong direction?)

Well, with Aaron and Helen and Alex and Amanda in Splitsville, many people are skeptical that Trista and Ryan's long-distance romance can last.

Trista said that they were both open to moving and that "this is the real thing." Ryan said he is committed to his job as a firefighter and would like to remain in Vail.

Trista's mother told 7NEWS that if Trista was to write out a list of what she wanted in a man Charlie met all of the requirements on the list, but Ryan filled holes and needs that she didn't even know she had.

Well, sorry Charlie. Perhaps you can be next season's bachelor?

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