So, it only seemed fitting that little Ricki rushed around the corner following Jef's proposal to her mother and joined the pair, walking down the street hand in hand into the distance.

But, the episode was far from smooth sailing.

Although Jef and runner-up Arie Luyendyk Jr. were both well received when meeting Emily's parents, the Bachelorette's date with Jef in which she let the suitor meet Ricki for the first time sealed the deal. 

In a teary conversation injected into the middle of the show, Emily disclosed to host Chris Harrison that she had already made her decision.  No final date was necessary with Arie, and she was going to spare him the embarrassment of proposing by sending him home a day early.

"It's just not fair to him," Emily said choking up.  "As much as I love him, I've fallen in love with someone else just a little bit more."