Episode 1 Air Date: 09/22/2004 The newest Bachelor starts with a twist — there are two bachelors this time, and the ladies will choose who will become the sole Bachelor. We meet them for the first time as they meet for the first time: Byron, a bass fisherman from Nevada, and Jay, an entreprenuer from New York. The men sit down and watch videos about themselves. After learning a bit more about each other, they're told that they will need to impress upon the 25 bachelorettes why they should be chosen as the Bachelor. The 25 women arrive together at the Bachelorette's mansion, and begin to socialize — the whole time being secretly watched by Byron and Jay. Chris surprises the sun-bathing women by telling them they are meeting the Bachelor right now — and then brings out Jay. After the women respond positively, Byron walks out — and the ladies are introduced to Byron and told there are two bachelors to choose from — the ladies will be choosing who the Bachelor will be. Jay and Byron start off by introducing themselves to all of the women individually, and they then split off into groups. The women are very torn by Jay and Byron, as they are exact opposites. After all of the ladies get their time with Byron and Jay, Chris collects the men to get ready for that night's Ladies' Choice Rose Ceremony. The women get ready while they mull their difficult decision, most of them undecided as the ceremony draws near. Some of the ladies try to convince the undecided ladies whom to vote for, but it is unclear who will become The Bachelor. The ladies line up outside, and Byron and Jay arrive. Before they start, each man is given the chance to address the ladies. Jay tells them that he's there to find the love of his life with them, and he hopes they will find the love of their life with him. Byron tells them they are beautiful, he's looking for someone to share the rest of his life with, and he hopes to remain with them. After thanking them, Chris has the men turn around so they cannot see how the ladies vote. Each lady approaches one at a time and choose a colored rose — yellow for Jay, white for Byron — to place in a box. After everyone has gone, Chris tallies the roses, and the bachelor with the most roses wins. Byron wins the competition with eighteen roses to Jay's seven. Jay leaves, sorry to have lost the opportunity to have met such wonderful women. Byron thanks the women, excited to have been chosen. The next morning, most of the women are excited at the chance to get to know Byron, although the women who voted for Jay are a little nervous that Byron may hold it against them. The claws begin to come out as some of the ladies talk bad about Kristie, and Krysta grows confident that she will get a rose. That evening at the cocktail party, the women are thrilled when Byron arrives. Byron toasts the women, and tells the women that didn't vote for him not to worry — he's only going to base his decision on what happens that evening, not the night before. Krysta takes Byron aside, and even though she voted for Jay, she tells him that she wants to stay on this journey with him. Byron is flattered by her aggressiveness, but admits he's overwhelmed by it. Leina presents Byron with a gift of a special lei, and Byron isn't sure about Jayne's shyness. Andrea is overwhelmed by the stress of the situation, as she has become taken with Byron and can't handle him spending time with the other ladies. Before the rose ceremony, Byron manages to squeeze in one-on-one time with Cheresse, which he enjoys. Some of the ladies begin to respond negatively to Krysta's trash-talking. When they try to take her down a notch, Krysta is surprised at the perceived back-stabbing. Andrea finally gets her one-on-one time with Byron, in which Byron takes his jacket off and puts it on her to keep her warm. Andrea lays it on the line and tells him that after hearing him talk about his convictions, her heart has opened to him. Byron then gets to spend some time with Tanya, and he tells her she's made a great impression on him already. Chris interrupts the party and takes Byron away to deliberate. Byron knows he has a tough decision ahead of him, and he's not sure what he's going to do. Byron returns, and tells the ladies he can appreciate the position they are all now in. He also asks them to think of these roses as an investment in his life, and if anyone has reservations, to please not accept the rose and give someone else a chance. Byron then gives roses to Cheresse, Wende, Tanya, Leina, Kelly, Jayne, Natalie, Elizabeth, Krysta, Amanda, Kristie, Susie, Cindy, Ashley, and Andrea. The ladies Byron did not choose say their goodbyes, and Byron toasts the remaining ladies. Episode 2 Air Date: 09/29/2004 Chris meets the ladies in the living room to tell them things are about to get more interesting, and then introduces the bachelorettes to their new house guests — Byron and his dog Sabrina, who are moving in. Chris tells them there are no rules with Byron living in the mansion — anything goes — but he tells them to be careful about how they spend their time, as Byron himself will be deciding who he goes on one-on-one dates with. The ladies are all happy with Byron's presence, the aggressive women seeing the opportunity to spend more time with him, and the passive women grateful for the chance to get to know him away from the pressure of a date. Kelly is the first to spend some private time with Byron at the house, which bothers Kristie, who knows Kelly voted for Jay over Byron in the Ladies' Choice Rose Ceremony. Later that night, Byron leaves an invitation for the first one-on-one date by the pool, and Krysta anxiously collects it. The ladies gather around and open the invitation, which is for Cheresse. Krysta is disappointed that she did not get the first date, and decides it's time to break out her A-game. Byron and Cheresse jump in a limo and head to a club, where they are treated to a private performance from Brandy. On the way there, Byron admitted he felt very comfortable with his date. They then sit down to have a few drinks and get to know each other a little more. At the end of the date, Byron gives Cheresse a very courteous kiss goodnight, pleased with how things went. Back at the mansion, Krysta strips naked and bakes cookies, wearing only an apron. Kristie decides to leave a note and three roses for Byron at his door. Krysta later decides she, too, wants to leave a note for Byron, but upon seeing the three roses, goes and collects two handfuls of roses to leave with her note. When Byron arrives back and finds the notes, he becomes very interested to see how things go at the mansion. The next morning, Krysta confronts Kristie about her note, trying to explain that she didn't steal Kristie's idea. Meanwhile, Leina realizes that she is in love with her best friend, and doesn't want to pursue Byron. Another invitation has been left by Byron, this time for Jayne. Jayne knows the date is important, as she needs to overcome her shyness and open up to Byron. Byron takes Jayne fishing at a lake, where they sip wine and he teaches her how to fish. Jayne was thrilled to see Byron in his environment, and understood why he was so passionate about fishing. Byron was happy to see Jayne catch her first fish, especially when she kisses the fish before tossing it back. They go out in a little row boat, and Jayne realizes that she has forgotten to be nervous. Byron describes the date as incapable of "being any better." They later sit by the lake, where Jayne tells him of her shyness, hoping to prevent him from misinterpereting her silence. They then move to a swing, where Byron tells her he was thrilled to have a date with her, and gives her a kiss on the cheek. At the mansion, Leina tearfully announces to the ladies that she is in love with someone else, and will be leaving the process. The women all console her, but deep down are glad to see one less person competing for Byron's heart. She then packs her bag and leaves, without saying goodbye to Byron. She does, though, leave him a note on his bed. When Byron finds the note, he wishes her well. Chris and Byron talk before the Rose Ceremony, where Byron learns there will be no party before the roses are offered. Chris then tells the ladies there will be no party, but tells them three of them have been chosen by Byron for a last-chance talk. Byron meets with Natalie first, hoping to find out what she thinks of everything. Natalie tells him she has some concerns about the fact that Byron was previously married, and he thanks her for taking the process as seriously as he is. Byron next meets with Jayne, hoping to find out what she's thinking, as he doesn't want her shyness to get in their way. Jayne tells him she needs the other person to make the first move. Kristie is the last to get a chance to speak to Byron, and she tells him that she wants to get to know him better. She tells him that she used to fish as a kid, and that she's been wanting to ride a Harley (which Byron has), but Byron feels like she's selling herself on the things in his life she can relate to. After the talks, Byron is brought before the women to offer roses to the ten he wants to continue dating. Byron thanks the ladies for welcoming him and Sabrina into the house, and then offers roses to Tanya, Amanda, Elizabeth, Cheresse, Andrea, Susie, Jayne, Kristie, Krysta and Cyndi. Episode 3 Air Date: 10/06/2004 Byron is convinced the person he will spend the rest of his life with is in the group of ten remaining women. The next date envelope arrives, and it's for Andrea, who admits that she has very strong feelings for Byron. Jayne gets frustrated with Byron's selection of someone different from her, as she can't figure out what Byron is looking for, so she goes to ask him what he wants. She tells him that it's hard, and Byron agrees with her, and asks her not to give up on this. He also tells her that he's "way" into her, and they cuddle on his bed for a bit, him kissing her softly on her forehead and hands. That night, Byron takes Andrea to an airport for a flight to an exotic dinner. On the way, she tells him that she can see Byron as her husband, which pleases Byron. They arrive at the airport, where they put on flight-suits and take off in a World War II bomber. After they land, they have a romantic dinner in one of the hangars. Andrea admits she's falling in love with Byron, and Byron thinks she's amazing. Byron and Andrea kiss while they feed each other cheesecake. Back at the house, the ladies all decide to take openly about how they feel going into the next Rose Ceremony. Jayne seems confident that she'll be getting a rose, which annoys Krysta. The girls also talk about how different Andrea is from them, and they're not sure what Byron is looking for. The next day, Cynthia really wants a date with Byron, as she hasn't had a chance to get to know him very well. Krysta admits she's on edge, and tells some of the others that she's going to get time with Byron before the next Rose Ceremony. Byron then walks by, and Chris calls everyone into the living room. Chris breaks the news that the next date is a mystery date — and none of the remaining women will be on it. Chris gives Byron an envelope that will give him a clue about his mystery date, and the women are told that they will be getting video of the mystery date later that night. Byron gets ready and heads out, the women nervous about the mystery date. Byron follows the clue Chris gave him to an address in Los Angeles, where he finds a strange building, which leads him up to a bar. Byron sits down on a couch, and his mystery date arrives — Heather from Texas, from the second edition of The Bachelor AND Mary from the fourth season of The Bachelor. Having never watched the show, Byron has no idea who these women are. Byron sits down, and Heather and Mary tell them about themselves. Byron wants to make sure everyone gets a fair shot. Byron has an immediate connection with Mary, who makes him feel very comfortable. The tape arrives at the house, and Krysta anxiously brings it in for everyone to watch. There, they see the mystery dates are Heather and Mary. Krysta immediately starts bad-mouthing the newcomers, and the other ladies are upset at the expanded competition. They decide this is the worst thing that could have happened. Byron brings the ladies back to the house, where Krysta, Cyndi and some of the other ladies had waited up to meet them. Heather and Mary immediately feel uncomfortable, and after the initial greetings, go up to the room they will share. Heather immediately grabs Mary, so they can spy on the other ladies and see if they are being mocked. Of course, Krysta is in the living room with the others, mocking Heather's accent and behavior. The next morning, Heather and Mary admit they don't feel comfortable with the other women, and spend their time apart from the others. The ladies, meanwhile, sit at the pool and continue to bad-mouth Heather and Mary, mentioning their surprise that they haven't found love yet, and that they think Heather acted like a "slut." Byron joins the original ladies by the pool, hoping to find out how they reacted to the newcomers, as their reaction to Heather and Mary will be an important factor is his decision making. That night is the Rose Ceremony, and Byron again gets the chance to have Last Chance talks with Susie, Heather and Cheresse. Susie goes first, and she tells Byron that she's feeling uncertain about his feelings for her. Byron acknowledges that they haven't had much time together, and she asks him not to read her reservations about him as a lack of interest. With Heather, she tells him to follow his heart. Byron thinks she's in this for all of the right reasons. With Cheresse, Byron admits that they had great connection, but that it has begun to fade. Byron tells her that he's not sure, as he hasn't seen her at all in the house. After her talk with Byron, Cheresse goes into the bathroom, and does not come out again until the Rose Ceremony. Byron steps before the women and tells them that they are all looking for the same thing, but if he offers a rose to someone who doesn't feel strongly about him, to please not accept it. He then offers roses to Andrea, Jayne, Elizabeth, Cheresse, Tanya, Mary, Cyndi and Krysta. Heather admits it was very hard to come back and try this again, but it just didn't work out. Amanda reveals the hardest part for her was not letting herself care about him. Susie is glad that he let her go, as she wants to find her soul-mate to, and Kristie regrets that it didn't work out, but she just wasn't what he was looking for. Episode 4 Air Date: 10/20/2004 Byron starts off by spending some time with Cyndi at the mansion, sipping Sangria. Cyndi believes this time with Byron is critical, as they haven't really had the chance to know each other yet. Cyndi tells Byron that she thinks some of the women are forcing their relationship with Byron, and she thinks things should just come naturally. Byron drops off the next date invitation, and Tanya is the luck recipient. As she gets ready for the date, she is feeling nervous about the date and hopes that Byron will see her for who she really is. Byron takes Tanya to Newport Beach, where he grew up, and tells her they're going to cruise around the bay where he learned to fish. They jump in a gorgeous sports car, which Byron drives straight into the bay — and the car turns into a boat! They cruise around in the amphibious car, enjoying the setting sun. After buzzing around, they dock the car and go to a romantic dinner overlooking the bay. Byron asks her what her type is, and she says she has none — she doesn't like to judge, and believes in finding a connection. After dinner they go inside where they sit on a couch and kiss. Byron tells her he's having a great time with her, and Tanya starts to be able to see herself with Byron. Byron holds Tanya the whole limo ride back to the mansion. While Byron and Tanya are on their date, the other women are all gathered in the living room, talking about their feelings. When Andrea is asked if she's falling in love with Byron, she says she thinks she is. Some of the others wonder how Andrea can be so emotional so fast. Byron and Tanya arrive back, and as Byron kisses Tanya goodnight, all of the others can hear them. Byron walks through the living room to head to his cottage, and sees the other ladies. Everyone is uncomfortable, as they all know what just happened by the door, and Byron does his best to get out of there as fast as possible. The next morning, Byron takes Mary to get massages out in the backyard. As they get their treatments, Mary tells Byron that she is attracted to him, but doesn't know him. They spend the time talking and getting to know each other, and by the end of the date, they feel very comfortable with each other. Mary finally lets her defenses down, and they kiss for a bit. Byron confesses that with so many wonderful women, he's very confused. Byron cleans up, and then meets the women by the pool, where he tells Elizabeth that he's taking her on a date — and the date starts "now." A helicopter then lands, and whisks them off to an aquarium, where they have dinner under the water, surrounded by fish. Elizabeth has a lot of questions for Byron, trying to learn about his values and thought processes. After the date, Byron surprises all of the women with a bag of pajamas, and the news that he's hosting a pajama party. As the women get ready, Krysta is the first down, and Byron sprays her with silly string. They clean up quickly, and when the rest of the women finally arrive, the two of them ambush them with the string. After they have a full-on silly string war, they settle down for a game of Truth or Dare. Andrea is dared to give Byron a strip-tease style dance, and Byron was a little intimidated by having that happen in front of the others. The party then loosens up a bit, as the ladies dance around and party. Byron notices that Mary doesn't seem to happy, and takes her outside to find out what's wrong. When Byron takes her out, the others feel like the excitement and energy has been removed, and the party has become a downer. Byron asks Mary what's wrong, and she tells him that she's experiencing deja-vu, and doesn't want to be hurt again like she was before. Byron asks her to give it time if she thinks he may be the one, and to not look for coincidences from the past. Byron's words put Mary at ease, as she feels Byron has shown that he really wants her there. Meanwhile, Jayne is really upset that Byron left, and when he returns, even curses at him for ruining the party and making them wait. Jayne and Byron step aside, and Jayne explains that all of the women are feeling like they're on a roller-coaster, and they all are shedding tears, and Byron needs to be aware of that and not run off with the more emotional women. After the party, Jayne catches Krysta going to Byron's bungalow with two glasses of champagne. Jayne runs over to catch Krysta, and invites Byron to the hot tub. Once Byron joins Jayne and some of the others, Jayne brings up Byron's going off with Mary again. Byron confesses he's confused by Jayne's actions. The next morning, some of the women are hoping that Byron will see that Jayne is acting unreasonably. That night at the Rose ceremony, Byron compliments the women, and tells them he is looking for his soul-mate. He thanks them for being there, and sharing this moment with him. He then offers roses to Mary, Tanya, Andrea, Cyndi, Cheresse and Jayne. Krysta and Elizabeth say their goodbyes, and Elizabeth most regrets not getting to know Byron better. Krysta is surprised that Byron didn't feel the same way about her as she did about him. She admits it will be difficult to get over Byron. Byron is happy this particular Rose Ceremony is behind him. He believes his soul-mate could easily be one of the remaining six women. Episode 5 Air Date: 10/27/2004 Jayne is picking up on a vibe that the other ladies aren't pleased with her, and she's not sure why. Jayne tells the others that she was frustrated with Byron, and not any of them. Byron wants to spend time with Cheresse, as he had a great time with her when they first went out, and wants to reconnect with her. They head to a large recliner under an umbrella out in the hills, where Cheresse expresses how upset she was with Jayne's behavior at the slumber party. She goes on to say she thought Byron was a gentleman for the way he handled Mary. They kiss, as Byron realizes that Cheresse has wisdom and would make a great life partner. Byron then takes Cyndi out on a date, Cyndi hoping to demonstrate that she is smart and sweet, and has a big soul. They go to a picnic lunch on a cliff, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Byron tells her that she impressed him on the day they arrived, when she was the only one to question his motives for coming on the show. After lunch, they sit on a bench and kiss, watching dolphins frolic off the shore. When Cyndi and Byron arrive, Andrea waits for them, believing Cyndi is not a threat. While Byron and Cyndi kiss in the limo, Andrea watches through the front door. Once she's with the other ladies, Cyndi is gushing with excitement about Byron — which makes Jayne a little jealous. Another date envelope waits for the ladies, this time accompanied with two boxes. The invitation is for Mary, and the boxes contain shoes and a dress for her to wear that night. As she gets dressed with the help of the others, Jayne gets more jealous and furious that she was not chosen for the next date. Byron meets Mary at the base of the steps, and takes her to a romantic dinner in a private suite at a luxury hotel. They toast each other with apple martinis, and talk about Byron's first marriage. Byron explains that he is a hopeless romantic and eternally optimistic — which are traits Mary think she shares with Byron. Mary is beginning to feel more and more relaxed with Byron, and is coming to believe that he is worth the risk. At Mary's suggestion, they change into bathing suits and head to a hot tub. They cuddle and kiss in the water, and Byron admits that there are sparks between them. Byron later expresses some concern about how fast things are moving between him and Mary, and that she almost seems to good to be true. The next day, another date invitation awaits the ladies, this time for Jayne. None of the other women are happy that Jayne got the invitation, as they feel Byron doesn't really see the true Jayne. As Jayne gets ready, the other women talk about how unhappy they are that Jayne was chosen, when Jayne enters the room, surprising the ladies. Byron picks Jayne up on horseback, and rides her into the sunset for their date, curious to learn more about her after seeing a darker side of her at the slumber party. Byron takes Jayne to a picnic dinner in the hills, where they talk about where they are at with their relationship. Byron and Jayne then walk to a barn, where he gives her a little kitten. They sit in the hay, and Jayne tells Byron that she is attracted to him. Pleased that she is showing some effort, Byron and Jayne kiss. After returning from her date, Jayne notices that the mood with the others is subdued. Jayne remains quiet about her date, lying in bed and not gushing about how things went, and Cyndi makes an off-hand comment about Jayne not being very excited. As the others sit quietly, Jayne at first covers her head with a blanket, and then jumps out of her bed, and asks if they are going to start in on her. Jayne begins to yell at Cyndi, telling her she didn't ask about Cyndi's date, and that her date with Byron had nothing to do with Cyndi. Cyndi tries to explain that she felt bad for Jayne, because Jayne was so quiet, and Jayne storms out of the room — and out of the house. Jayne needs to get away from the girls, and heads to Byron's bungalow. Not knowing where she went, and scared about where Jayne has gone off to, the others get dressed and start looking for her. They search the house, and then head outside, calling for Jayne. Worried about what Jayne might do, and hearing the howls of coyotes in the hills, the women call for Jayne in the direction of Byron's bungalow, and hearing no response, head in another direction. Meanwhile, Jayne is lying down with Byron on his bed, talking about how frustrated she is with the other bachelorettes' response to her. Byron is confused by Jayne, and Jayne tells him that she needs to get out of the house. They kiss a little, Byron hoping to calm her down, and she eventually heads back to the mansion. Byron explains that he is resolute in not having a sleepover with any of the ladies, as he needs to stay focused in his search for a soul-mate. The search party gives up on Jayne, frustrated that they can't find her. Andrea finds herself waiting for Jayne to return, and is relieved when Jayne shows up on the patio. Andrea gives Jayne a pep talk about not worrying about what the other ladies might say. Andrea and Jayne return upstairs, and Mary tells Jayne that it was "un-cool" of her to just leave, as they were worried about her. Jayne tells Mary she doesn't need to hear what she has to say, and Jayne is immediately on the defensive. Mary tells Jayne she doesn't understand why Jayne left, and asks what it was all about. Jayne explains that she didn't feel like taking comments from Cyndi just because she wasn't gushing, and that she's "over it." Mary tries to explain that she cares about Jayne, but Jayne says she just doesn't see it. Cyndi apologizes for what she said, and Jayne explains that she can only handle so much. The conflict unresolved, Jayne goes to sleep. The next night, Byron deliberates in his room, when Chris enters and offers Byron the chance to talk to three of the ladies again. Byron chooses to spend time with Tanya, Cyndi and Jayne. Chris tells the ladies who Byron would like to speak to, and brings Jayne to Byron first. Byron is confused by Jayne's behavior, and wants to see where she's at. Byron tells her he will not form any opinion of her through anyone else's eyes. Cyndi is next, who feels like going to see Byron is like walking the plank. Byron asks her how she's doing, and she tells him that she's dealing with things she hasn't had to handle since high school or junior high. She asks Byron if he wants to know more, and he says he doesn't. She tells him that she had a great time on her date with Byron. Tanya goes last, and tells him that she wants to spend time with him, because it's been a while. She tells him the interests are still there, but feels that Byron may have had a bit of a poker face on. Byron and Chris join the ladies on the patio for the Rose Ceremony. Chris explains that traditionally, this Rose Ceremony determines which four women will receive hometown dates, but this time, the four women will receive fantasy overnight dates instead. Byron tells the women that this the hardest decision he's had to make so far. He then offers roses to Cyndi, Mary, Tanya and Cheresse. Andrea and Jayne say their goodbyes to the others. Andrea believed she may have found love, but it wasn't. She's disappointed, because he was everything she was looking for. Jayne feels betrayed, because Byron expressed an interest that she now doesn't think he meant. When Byron hugs her, he tells her "another time, another place," to which Jayne tells him — "you lied." Byron says he didn't lie, but Jayne says it's "OK." Jayne later says that he led her on. Byron confesses that her words hurt. He had hopes and dreams for them, but was surprised at how much she unraveled. Now down to four women, Byron feels lucky to get to spend time with each of them, as they each possess the qualities he's always been looking for. Episode 6 Air Date: 11/03/2004 Byron is thrilled to get to go on overnight dates with each of the remaining four ladies. As limos wait, Chris and Byron come out to say good-bye to the ladies, but before they can leave, Chris presents the four fantasy suite invitations to the fantasy suites to the ladies, giving them the power to invite Byron. All four then head off in their own direction. First Overnight Date Whistler, Canada with Mary Byron meets Mary in the mountains, hoping to see if they can open up to each other. Mary is thrilled to see Byron, and they hang out for a while on a platform overlooking a waterfall. Byron and Mary spend the day doing extreme zip-lining. Byron is excited to push Mary to the limits, gliding on zip-lines over a raging river, but is surprised when Mary takes to the action — by zip lining upside down! After a while, they enjoy a lunch in the trees, and Mary tells him she thinks they make a good couple. They talk for a bit about their dream wedding, and Mary confesses that her walls are starting to come down. They toast each other and kiss. That night, they meet for a romantic dinner in an elegant restaurant. Byron acknowledges that while he is excited about their date, he is aware that Mary has been hurt by the fantasy suite before, and may not invite him to spend the night with her. At the table, Byron tells her that the day they spent is one he will never forget. Byron asks her how she sees things working out, and she tells him that she doesn't want to get off on the wrong foot. She goes on to say that since he still has three dates with three amazing women, she can't go to a place with him in their relationship if he's going to also go there with any of the others. Mary confesses that if he is intimate with any of the other women, then he can't be with her. Byron listens to what Mary has to say, and then tells her he didn't get into this to see how many women he could be intimate with. Mary asks him to promise not to give her a rose if he doesn't feel strongly about her. Byron tells her has nothing but the best of intentions towards her. Mary tells him he wants him to believe in her, and then presents the fantasy suite invitation. Byron accepts the invitation, and Mary tells him she's getting lost in him. Once they are in the suite, Byron tells her he thinks they made the right decision. Second Overnight Date Vancouver, Canada with Tanya Byron can see himself in the future with Tanya, but wonders if sometimes thing can be too good to be true. Byron meets Tanya down by a harbor, and they ride Segways around for a bit before having a picnic in a park. Later that evening, they meet on top of their hotel for a romantic sunset dinner. They talk about the possible future, as Byron asks where they would live. Once they settle in, Tanya shares a secret to Byron — that on the day they met, she voted for Jay. She tells him she's sharing this, because she wanted him to hear it from her, not see it on television. Byron assures her that he will not consider that vote at all, which only makes him more attractive to Tanya. After dinner, Byron takes Tanya to a private club that has been reserved just for them, where they are serenaded by a singer. After the performance, Tanya gives Byron the fantasy suite invitation, and they head off to the suite. Once they arrive, they sip champagne and eat chocolate in front of the fireplace, occasionally kissing. Byron feels like they have an amazing connection, and the night ends when they retire to the bedroom. Third Overnight Date Sausalito, California with Cheresse Byron thinks this is an important trip, as he and Cheresse grew close quickly, and he wants to see if they still have that spark. They meet near the Bay, and take a charter cruise out for a sale. Byron tells her that he wants to focus on their time together, and not worry about anything else. The two sail around the bay enjoying the day, and Cheresse tells Byron she is lucky to be on such a wonderful date. They later dock and return to the hotel, where they have dinner after freshening up. As they sit down for dinner, Cheresse feels like things are going so well, she may be the one to get Byron's final rose. Cheresse tells him that she thinks their having fun feels very natural, and wants to make sure Byron has no reservations. Cheresse tells him that she likes the fact that he was married previously, as it demonstrates that he is willing to commit to those he loves. Cheresse takes out the Fantasy Suite invitation, but before offering it to Byron, asks him if he's "used" one yet. Byron asks what she means, and she asks if he's gone to the fantasy suite with anyone else. Byron tells her the truth — that he has. Cheresse tells him that she's worried about how it will look to her family if she goes to a suite with him. She explains that in the real world, this would only be their fourth or fifth date, and she wouldn't be going back with him to his home at this point, as she's not that type of girl. Byron explains that he doesn't see the fantasy suites as anything more than an opportunity for more time together. She says she needs to be who she will be, and Byron tells her that's the key to the whole thing — to just "be yourself." Cheresse's ability to remain true to herself intrigues Byron even more. He walks her back to her room, where they kiss, and he later confesses that not going to the suite will have no impact on his decision. Fourth Overnight Date Sonoma, California with Cyndi Byron and Cyndi meet at a hotel, where she brings him a gift of candied swedish fish and nightcrawlers. They have lunch, then go to the pool for water massages. They play around for a bit afterwards, and Cyndi gives Byron the choice of what type of look he wants her to have. He chooses a sexy look, and that night, she is stunning. They jump in a limo, and head to a winery for dinner in a wine cave. At dinner, Cyndi tells Byron that she feels like she has a bigger connection than she's ever had, and Byron tells her he hasn't felt this way in a long time. Feeling the vibe, Cyndi offers the Fantasy Suite invitation to Byron, who accepts. After dinner, they get in the limo to head to the suite. On the ride back, as they kiss, Cyndi tells Byron that she's seen a picture of his ex-wife. Byron asks why this is a subject all of a sudden, and she tells him it's because she's feeling insecure. Byron tells her that he's not insecure about her ex-boyfriend, and she shouldn't be about his ex-wife. Byron gets very defensive, as he doesn't want the past to intrude upon the present; Cyndi just won't let it go, though, and asks if he's over his ex. Frustrated, Byron answers with a resounding yes, explaining that it was a ling time ago, and it should not be an issue. Cyndi later confesses that she wanted to see if he had any feelings for his ex-, and he made it clear he doesn't. Cyndi tells him it's over, it's done, and that she's been having the best time with him. By the time they get to the fantasy suite, they've clearly recovered from their first fight, which Cyndi thinks is a sign of their compatibility. They end up eating chocolate, and eventually kick the cameras out. Rose Ceremony Byron is not looking forward to the night's ceremony, as he thinks so highly of all four women. Once they arrive from their separate locations, Byron joins them, and the ceremony begins. Byron tells the ladies that he's faced with a difficult task of saying goodbye to someone he's grown close to. He then offers roses to Tanya, Mary and Cyndi. Cheresse says goodbye to the other women, and then Byron walks her out to her limousine. Byron confesses that Cheresse is a fabulous woman, but the park between them started to wane. He insists that her not inviting him to the fantasy suite has had no impact on his decision, as he respected her tremendously for her choice. They sit on the bench by the cars, where Byron explains that he was very excited about what could have been, and it's hard to say goodbye. She wishes him good luck and gives him a hug. In the limo, Cheresse expresses that had he kept her, he would have gotten to see more of her. She finds it difficult to believe that he could have possibly had more fun with any of the other women than he did with her on their date, but she guesses he must have. Episode 7 Air Date: 11/10/2004 Byron leaves the mansion to visit the hometowns of the remaining three women. Byron jumps on a private jet, and heads to the first location, looking forward to seeing their friends and homes. First Hometown Date Plano, Texas with Tanya Byron feels Tanya has been holding back, and not putting herself into their relationship 100%. He hopes that changes, as he's been trying to put himself in all the way. Byron meets Tanya and her four best girlfriends — Mandy, Becky, Allison and Kathleen — in a country bar, where they joyfully reunite. Tanya's friends begin to grill Byron about where he's from and what he does for a living. They all take a turn on a mechanical bull, and Tanya's friends notice the connection between them. After spending time with all of them, Byron leaves the ladies alone to talk to Tanya, and her friends give their approval. Tanya rejoins Byron outside the bar, and they head off to Tanya's home. They prepare dinner together, and kiss while their meal cooks. Over dinner, Tanya tells Byron that if he offers her a rose, she will bring her mother and sister to meet him — her father will not be coming. After dinner, they move to the couch, and Byron asks Tanya if she could see him living in Plano with her (she says she can). They kiss, and before they know it, it's time for Byron to leave. Byron confesses he can see a future with her. Second Hometown Date Tampa, Florida with Mary Byron meets Mary on a softball field, where Mary is thrilled to see Byron again. Byron is hoping to see if they can move to the next level with Mary. They spend some time hitting softballs, and then move into a dug-out, where Mary tells Byron what the plan for the day is. Mary tells Byron that he'll be meeting her friends Lisa and Marc, and their kids. When Byron asks how she knows Lisa and Mark, Mary tells him that she once dated Marc. Byron thinks it's a little awkward, meeting an ex-boyfriend, but he wants to do his best to not let it bother him. They drive out Lisa and Marc's house, where the interrogation begins. Marc asks Mary why she's doing this again, after the first go-round, and Mary tells Byron that while she struggled with her decision to go on the show again, she had to see what this other opportunity might bring her, as she feels everything happens for a reason. Lisa takes Mary aside to tell her that she wants Mary to be careful, as she wouldn't want her to be hurt again. Meanwhile, Marc asks Byron why he's right for Mary, and finds Byron to be very sincere. After a short visit, Mary collects Byron, and they head towards Mary's home. Once in her house, they sit in the living room, where Mary asks Byron how he would feel about not meeting her parents, should he offer her a rose. Byron points out that Bob got to meet her parents, and wants to know why he should pay the price for Bob. Mary tells him that as careful as she is with her own heart, she's even more cautious with her parents'. Byron tells her she knows her parents, and it's her decision. Mary confesses that she wants to move forward, but feels herself pulling back. Byron later confesses that he had hoped to see her move forward, but could feel her retreating, and that's something he has to consider before he makes his final decision. Third Hometown Date Hermosa Beach, California with Cyndi On his way to meet Cyndi, Byron acknowledges that he has a great connection with Cyndi, and wants to see if she's his soul-mate. Byron arrives at the beach, where he and Cyndi sit down on some beach chairs. It's not long before Cyndi spots two dolphins playing in the water, and they run down to watch. As the two laugh in the water while watching the porpoises, Byron admits that the energy he has with Cyndi is completely different from the other two ladies — they are always laughing and smiling, and really enjoy each other's company. They go back to sit in the sand, where Tanya's friends Tamara and Bill join them. The group sits in the sand and engages in a deep conversation, all four enjoying their time together. Bill — who is very protective of Cyndi — then takes Byron aside, to really grill Byron. He asks Byron if he's really serious about Cyndi, and tells Byron that she's got a great heart. As Byron and Bill talk, Cyndi admits to Tamara that she's very nervous, because of the other women. Tamara asks her if she can see herself with Byron, and Cyndi says she can. Cyndi even admits that she's a little love-sick. That night, they go for a walk, and Cyndi takes Byron to a new restaurant that she is an investor in. They sit at a small table, where Byron tells her that he's very proud of her for her investment. Cyndi then starts asking hard questions that she needs to know the answers to. She asks him if he is going to propose to whoever gets the last rose, and he tells her if that's where the emotions have gone too, then he will. She tells him that her life has changed since he entered her life. She goes on to tell him that the feelings she had with her first love have returned, and she has truly been happy with him in her life. She then asks Byron not to give her a rose if he doesn't see a future with her. Cyndi expresses her concerns, and Byron tries to calm her down without talking about the other women, but Cyndi eventually tells Byron not to pick her to be the runner-up. After dinner, Cyndi takes Byron to the beach, where the listen to the waves, watch the stars, and kiss. She tells Byron that she's happy to be at home with him, and this is the best she's ever felt. She later tearfully confesses her fear of being hurt, as her feelings for him are true. Byron later admits that there's a lot of chemistry between them, and she's an exceptional woman. Rose Ceremony Byron is sad that he is going to have to say goodbye to someone that he is feeling so strongly about. He's looking forward to the last-chance talks, as he has a lot of questions that he's looking for answers to. The women arrive, all feeling nervous about the night's ceremony. Chris informs the ladies that Byron will be meeting with all of them before the ceremony, beginning with Mary. The last-chance conversation with Mary is important for Byron, as he knows she's still holding back. They sit down, and Byron tells her that he wants to know what's going on with her. Mary tells him that meeting her parents is very important to her, and Byron explains that he respects her feelings on the issue. However, he does feel like he is paying the price for something he wasn't a part of. Mary tells him that she's been thinking about it a lot, and she is now at the point where she's not sure whether or not she wil bring her parents to meet him. She tells him she hopes that decision doesn't make him think she doesn't want to be with him. Cyndi has been worried about things outside of their time together, and Byron wants to tell her that this is their time together, and not to worry about what's happening with things they can't control. As soon as they sit down, Cyndi apologizes to Byron for coming down on him so hard about the other women, because she was having so much fun and tends to forget that there are other women involved. Byron tells her that he knows she's asking questions of him because she's as emotionally involved as he is. She tells him that she's in deeper than she ever thought she would be, and Byron tells her he feels the same way. Byron then tells her he was surprised when she told him to essentially cut her loose if he couldn't decide 100% at this next ceremony. Cyndi tells him that she was searching for answers that she doesn't have, and that was wrong of her to do that. She tells him that she feels like a schoolgirl around him, and she doesn't want that to end just yet. She reassures him that she's in 100%. Byron has enjoyed his fleeting moments with Tanya, but he wants to see her get more emotional. When he asks, Tanya agrees that she is holding back, but not intentionally. She tells him that she's feeling strongly for him, he just might not be able to see it. He asks if she's invested in him, and she says she is. Byron and the ladies line up for the ceremony. Byron tells the ladies that this is very difficult for him. He's found in all of them a great combination of beauty, heart, compassion and kindness, and he can't imagine having to say goodbye to someone at this point. He thanks them for sharing their lives with him. He then offers roses to Mary and Tanya. Cyndi hugs Mary and Tanya goodbye. Byron takes her out to the driveway, confessing that as much as they had a connection, he couldn't see them developing a relationship that could last a lifetime. They sit down, and he tells her he doesn't know where to start. She tells him that she's disappointed, because her intuition was so wrong. Byron tells her she deserves nothing but the best, and to not ever settle for anything less. They hug, and he tells her he'll miss her. In the limo, she admits that she's shell-shocked that she's going home, and supposes he just wanted someone a little more grounded than her. She thought all of the signs were there, but obviously, she's not the right girl for him. Episode 8 Air Date: 11/24/2004 Meeting the Parents Byron's divorced parents come together to visit the mansion and meet the ladies. Byron's Mom suggests he's ready to settle down. Byron is unsure if Mary will bring her parents because they were hurt during her previous appearance on The Bachelor. In a huge leap of faith, she does bring them to the mansion. Byron believes that she's completely invested herself in the relationship. Byron and Mary's dad, who was a fisherman in Cuba, hit it off. Byron tells him is intention is to find a soul mate. At dinner, Mary says she fell for him almost immediately. Byron, touched that she's sharing, says he was completely enamored of her. Mary pulls Byron's mom aside and tells her that she's falling in love and wants to be his wife. Back at the table, Byron's dad is fully approving of her. At the end of the night, Byron's mom says she's impressed but needs a basis of comparison. The next night, Tonya's mom visits. She's skeptical that anyone could develop true feelings in such a short time. Byron tells his parents that Tonya is as beautiful inside as outside. She tells his parents that she secure enough to deal with his lifestyle and long absences. Tonya answers the father's question of why aren't you married by saying she will be soon. At dinner, Byron's dad asks Tonya why she originally picked Jay. She laughs it off and says she didn't have enough information at the time. Her mom notices how much they have in common. Byron's mom speaks privately with Tonya, asks her how she feels about engagement. Tonya says that she's falling in love with him. Byron's mom thinks she's the real deal. After the two nights, Byron's mom still doesn't have a read on the situation. His parents are impressed with both but want Byron to make his own decision. Hometown Dates In Byron's hometown of Lake Mead, Tonya is comfortable with his friends Jason, Carrie, Mike and Monica. She declares that she's the better choice. Tonya again says she doesn't mind Byron's lifestyle. She also says she'd marry him. Monica believes she's low maintenance but Carrie suggests that maybe they're too comfortable. Byron and Tonya canoodle when they go out on the lake together. Mary arrives the next day and says his time with Tonya weighed on her. Several of Byron's friends are dubious because they remember her from a previous Bachelor but she dispels their fears, promising that she's not in love with the idea of marriage and isn't interested in Byron simply to win. She tells everyone that she would have bolted this show but Byron convinced her to stay. Mike finally believes Mary is the better choice. Mary and Byron take a helicopter ride over the Lake Mead and the Grand Canyon. The Final Rose Ceremony Byron purchases an engagement ring. He says he's fallen in love with someone that he wants to spend the rest of his life with but it will be difficult to let the other one go. Tonya says she had difficulty sleeping. Mary hopes for the fairytale ending. They prepare. Tonya arrives. Byron says she's beautiful inside and out. He remembers their good times and feelings, he says, but he hasn't fallen in love with her. She's crushed. He says he cherishes her and apologizes to her and thanks her for inspiring him. She says she's speechless for a lot of reasons; that she feels like a fool who's been lied to. She says he broke her heart. He escorts her to the car. He feels terrible but vows to stay focused and moved forward. He tells us that he would do this a million times to get to Mary. In the car, Tonya is utterly crestfallen. A nervous Mary arrives. He tells her that he's blessed, he's in love with her and that she's everything he wants. He says that he can't see something happening tonight … and that is, he can't see himself spending another minute without her as his wife. He kneels and proposes to her in Spanish. He slips the ring on her finger as she accepts. They kiss passionately and he gives her the final rose.