Entertainment

Katie & Chris Got Real About Their Long Distance Relationship Post-'BiP'

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Spoilers for the Bachelor in Paradise finale ahead. Despite Chris not being sure of his relationship with Katie before the Fantasy Suites, he somewhat surprisingly proposed to her during the Bachelor in Paradise Season 6 finale. But are Katie and Chris still engaged after the Paradise reunion? Katie showed up to the aftershow without her ring, hinting that their relationship after filming hasn't been all rosy.

Chris was initially reluctant to go into the Fantasy Suite date, but Katie helped Chris follow his feelings for her. Taking that step proved to be pivotal for them. The next day, Chris was far more certain that he wanted a future with Katie and they ended up getting engaged right then and there. Yet, as every Bachelor Nation fan knows all too well, just because the cameras stop rolling doesn't mean all of the relationship issues go away.

As Chris Harrison pointed out, it has taken Chris Bukowski quite a few tries with the franchise to find love. And while he told the cameras he wasn't sure whether or not he was going to ask Katie to marry him, Chris' proposal showed how strong his feelings for her genuinely are.

"I can't imagine a second without you. I see you in my tomorrow. I see you in my forever. And tomorrow isn't guaranteed, so I want to make this the best moment of our life," he said before getting on one knee and proposing. Katie happily accepted, so after their sweet and touching engagement, it makes the fact that she was shown in previews crying during the reunion special all the more heart-wrenching.

ABC

At the reunion show, which was filmed in late August, Katie got in the hot seat without her engagement ring. She told Chris Harrison that she and Chris are still engaged, but she said her fiancé isn't putting in enough effort into their relationship. "I love him so much, but I put in so much that my tank empties. And if I'm not getting it filled, I break down," she said. And just like Chris didn't know if he was going to propose to Katie, she still doesn't really know where he stands, saying, "I fell in love with potential that may never come to fruition, but I'm just praying it does."

Yet, that doesn't mean she's ready to say goodbye. When Harrison asked if she would break up with him, she replied, "I don't want to end things. I'm just conflicted. I want it to get better, but I want him to want it to be better." When Chris joined her on the couch, she repeated that she doesn't feel like her efforts are being reciprocated and how his actions have made her feel insecure. Harrison helped facilitate Chris opening up to say how he does love Katie and wants to "be in it" with her. And even though Chris didn't make a big profession of his feelings, Katie asked for her engagement ring back.

Chris and Katie's conversation in the hot seat gave fans the chance to see a real couple working out a problem, but that wasn't the end of the drama. Chris asked Katie outside to share how he didn't appreciate her "blindsiding" him on national television. Their relationship still seemed to be in peril, but updates on social media should put fans of this couple at ease.

Chris and Katie's current Instagram Stories show that they were both at the Knickerbocker Hotel in New York City for the airing of the aftershow. As he shared on Twitter and Instagram, Chris even fed Katie some well-deserved pizza in bed. Chris wrote in his post, "Love is tough. Love is beautiful. Most importantly love is patient. Sometimes you need a shock to the system to put a fire under your ass. What I felt then I feel even more now. I love you @hellokatiemo and can't wait to feed you pizza for rest of our lives." So, yes, breathe a sigh of relief, because this pair has confirmed they haven't given up on each other.

While they may not have had the nice, clear-cut ending on the reunion that Dylan and Hannah and Demi and Kristian had, Chris and Katie might just go down in Bachelor history as one of the realest couples to grace our TVs. Here's hoping they'll keep working on their relationship away from the cameras.