Anguished Declaration of Love

""In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.""

- Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice

Love is a funny thing. Sometimes, we feel the strong need to keep our love secret from the object of our affection, for various reasons. They could still be attached, they may consider us a "best friend" and we don't want to endanger it, or maybe we just haven't come to terms with our feelings. The attempts that we have already made were all suddenly interrupted. When we finally confess, it's like pulling our own teeth.

These kinds of confessions and proposals have a low success rate. When they come halfway through a work, they must usually be repeated again at the climax so that they can be accepted. Thank God there are extraneous factors that force us to shout our love to the heavens after we've been pushed around. Otherwise, how would romance work?

Anguished Declarations Of Love are gender neutral in terms of occurrence but have a different flavour whether proponent is male or female: a male proponent will often be aggressive and reproachful in his confession, especially if his target of affection doesn't react the way he expects them to, in which case he may demand to be loved back. If the answer is positive, Manly Tears of Joy are never far. A female proponent is often much more subdued in her confession and will admit her feelings sheepishly but a lash out isn't unheard of. Expect said lash out to be rather teary, even heart-wrenching if done well.

Be warned: point of death confessions of undying love all too often turn out not to be. There is a very real possibility you will live to face the consequences of your confession. This may be a Good Thing or a Bad Thing. Depending on the work in question, might be a Crowning Moment of Heartwarming or possibly Funny if done correctly.

Beware! MANY spoilers, either marked or unmarked.

Anime and Manga
"Nanami: (to Touga) "Because I love you! BECAUSE I LOVE YOU BIG BROTHER!""
 * Revolutionary Girl Utena.

"Tohru: Okay?! Even with all that. No matter what happens I LOVE YOU KYO-KUN! WHY CAN'T YOU JUST ACCEPT THAT?!"
 * The ending of Love Hina Again! The amount of interference (including, but not limited to, rocket-launchers, exploding buildings, Functional Magic, Latex Perfection bodysuits, mecha-turtle invaders, and the immediate threat of losing Keitaro to his adopted sister who'll go to any length, legal or not, to get him) required to make Naru fess up about her true feelings, cannot fail to amaze...
 * Then again, it's the same thing as in that manga arc in.
 * After spending approximately fifteen episodes of Mai-HiME following Yuuichi around like a hawk, Shiho finally confesses that she really loves him. Of course, he's asleep at the time...and she's still angry at Mai because she thinks he likes her better...
 * Presumably done by Mai to Yuuichi as . I say presumably because at that point he is
 * Mazinger Z: At one of the last episodes Sayaka Then she
 * And in the second chapter of Shin Mazinger Zero she shortly before
 * At the end of the Ranma ½ manga,  Whether it was an internal declaration or a vocal proclamation is up to the reader,
 * There's a similar scene in Inuyasha as well, in which Inuyasha and Myouga see what they think are the departing souls of Kagome and Shippo (actually alive and well, just surrounded by protective foxfire), and Inuyasha blurts out more than he intended before he realizes that they're alive.
 * Kagome later gets to play it straight and cross it into Crowning Moment of Awesome and, as she deals her most direct one to Inyuasha
 * Happens frequently in Hinako Takanaga's Boys Love manga:
 * In one chapter of The Tyrant Falls in Love, Morinaga and Souichi get into an argument on whether Morinaga should continue staying at Souichi's place to keep a lookout for the stalker or move to another place for his safety. In exasperation, Souichi yells that he'd rather be hurt than have things precious to him be hurt. His declaration isn't explicit enough to completely resolve the "does he like him back or not" issue, but judging from Morinaga's stunned face and Souichi's "My God, what did I just blurt out?" expression, it's a tad more revealing than he intended.
 * In Little Butterfly, outcast Nakahara is surprised when cheerful classmate Kojima is friendly to him, but agrees to become friends. When his feelings of friendship deepen into love he makes an angsty declaration to Kojima, fearing rejection and saying that they probably shouldn't see each other any more. Kojima does accept his feelings, saying he thinks he might love him back, and says they can still be friends...but only on the grounds that Nakahara doesn't do anything "weird" until he's sure he loves him.
 * In Awkward Silence baseball ace Tamiya asks out the shy artist Toono, but becomes more and more distressed as he takes Toono's natural emotionless appearance as a sign his feelings are unrequited. This leads to Toono having to declare his love in turn to convince Tamiya that the relationship is truly wanted.
 * of G Gundam managed to turn one of these, addressed to  into the lead-in to a Finishing Move. And it was BLOODY AWESOME.
 * The finishing move, as it turns around into a combination attack that defeats the Devil Gundam.
 * Allenby herself does this, but only Rain gets to hear it during their Designated Girl Fight.
 * In Gravitation, even though Shuichi has already made it very clear that he's madly in love with Yuki, he spectatularly tops his previous assertions by screaming at the top of his lungs, "Yuki is mine!" In the middle of a concert. While surrounded by tons of fans. And with Yuki nearby, but accompanying his fiancee Ayaka. Yuki thinks he's a moron, but can't help but smile.
 * Katou does this several times, in dramatic fashion complete with tears, in the Boys Love series Haru wo Daiteita.
 * Several examples in Naruto:
 * When Sasuke sets out to betray the village, Sakura confesses her love for him and tells him that she is willing to leave with him and betray the village just so they can stay together. His response is "you're annoying", followed by a "thank you", followed by whacking her on the back of the neck and rendering her unconscious. Even today, years after this happened, people are still not entirely sure what he meant by that; it's an Ironic Echo of a conversation that moments before he denied remembering, and he later carries her to a park bench instead of just leaving her to lie on the ground. This suggests he wasn't being completely cruel to her, but was stopping her from taking his dark path. Back then.
 * In the series' Darkest Hour Hinata Takes the Bullet for Naruto, after a fashion, and leaps into a hopeless situation just to buy him time. When he asks her why, she confesses her love for him with this grand speech that starts with "Your smile saved me!" and goes from there. Then she gets stabbed in the neck before we can hear his response -- which is still forthcoming, 100 chapters later and counting.
 * Sai gives one of these to Sakura on Naruto's behalf. Sakura then rushes to Naruto to tell him that she loves him now. Except she doesn't really mean it, and she just wants him to stop suffering because of her. This results in an emotional train wreck of frightening proportions.
 * Rin to Kakashi near the end of Kakashi Gaiden. He responds that he doesn't deserve her for abandoning her, but he will protect her as Obito, who secretly loved her, would.
 * Maison Ikkoku. You can always count on wishy-washy Godai to to wait until the last minute to make his feelings known. As with Real Life, unless there's lots of alcohol involved.
 * This is the first climax of the main romantic plot in Fruits Basket. After both characters have accepted their own feelings towards the other but both fearing rejection, Kyo confesses to Tohru that he was He gives the choice to either forgive him or not and she takes the third option declaring:

"Saber: What are you doing?! It is impossible! Please stop! I do not need you to save me! Why... Why do you not understand that? No, if you die because of something like this, I- Shirou: SHUT UP! ....Just... be quiet for a second... You can rely on others... rely on... Saber: You're wrong. You're more important than me, your life is more important, so you should take care-" Shirou: I want you more than anything else! There's not one thing that can replace you. Sorry, I... I like you the most out of everything. So I'm not going to let a guy like him take you!"
 * Then straight after that
 * In Gantz, Kei Kishimoto confesses her love for Kato right . Anzu does this for Kato as well, also  . Yeesh, Kato isn't very lucky when it comes to love confessions, is he?
 * Is there anyone in Gantz who does have luck with this sort of thing? Kurono had
 * Genkaku from Deadman Wonderland confesses to Nagi during his  that he "loved him." Love confession gone very wrong.
 * Gauron from Full Metal Panic!, five seconds before trying to get his Humongous Mecha to self destruct and have a double suicide with Sousuke, yells out, "I LOVE YOU KASHIM!" Sousuke is not amused.
 * Tessa also directly confesses her love for Sousuke in The Second Raid OVA. He misunderstands it brilliantly, in typical Sousuke fashion.
 * Later on in the novels, Sousuke and Kaname finally get their chance to declare their love for each other as well -- while on an open radio frequency. Pretty much everybody that counts in both Mithril and Amalgam hears them -- including Leonard and Tessa. While (in the original Japanese) Kaname uses a slightly more temperate expression of love, Sousuke goes straight for the "aishiteru" formula -- the very same that Gauron had thrown at him during the above-mentioned suicide attempt, and actually the most serious one in Japanese language. Sousuke gets mercilessly teased by Kurz and Mao afterwards -- Kaname is still a prisoner of Leonard so she has it worse, as Leonard actually beats her up. Leonard is a very sore loser, unfortunately...
 * Spoofed in Full Metal Panic: Fumoffu. One of Kaname's classmate's is hit by Sousuke's booby trap and makes an anguished declaration of love to Kaname over his cell phone as he's "dying" (he was plastered to a tree with some kind of adhesive). As Kaname starts crying and begging him to live, the boy asks if she'd still consider going out with him, whereupon Kaname snaps, "Not on your life!" and hangs up. "Argh! You're so mean!"
 * Nanako to Rei/Saint-Juste in Oniisama e.... ("I... I love you! * sob* ")
 * Also subverted by, who gives one to  ... but it's a fake.
 * In Code Geass, Shirley Fenette had a "knack" for this. Earlier, after a long series of Moment Killers, she  Too bad It Got Worse...
 * It doesn't get much more anguished than
 * A classic example would be Harima from School Rumble. Too bad he confessed to the wrong girl.
 * Listing all the examples would take someone with way too much time on their hands. Let's just say there's a fair number of them. Hilarity Ensues when Harima accidentally confesses to their male teacher, who is completely nonplussed. Then, in the next episode, he does it AGAIN.
 * Fushigi Yuugi. Because it was raining, Tamahome just kicked a few asses, Miaka was starting to get sick, and because everyone was on an emotional roller coaster at the time.
 * In Fate Stay Night, Shirou manages one, after

"Re-l: What if it's true? No, it's impossible. FP bullets are harmless to humans. Maybe I should shoot his leg. Vincent Law. I think there is some connection between you and the Proxy. That's why I chased you here. You could probably say that i'm drawn to you. Somehow, I found myself thinking about you during our journey. Are you really a proxy? Even so, I need to- [Vincent grabs Re-l on the arm and throws her down on the bed] Vincent: I love you. I love you, Re-l. But for an immigrant... No, that's wrong. I mean, for a monster to love you... I thought that I wouldn't see you again. No matter how hard I tried to stop... No matter what, I still love you."
 * Saber refuses to admit to having any romantic feelings for Shirou, even after their intimate scene; however, her final words to him were: "Shirou... anata wo aishiteru." She uses the stronger and less ambiguous "aishiteru" (the most Serious Business version of "I love you") instead of the more common "suki" (the more informal version, and the one most likely to be used).
 * Midori Days. Twice in the same chapter.
 * In Macross, Misa finds out that Minmei was with Hikaru in his apartment after hearing her talking to him. Suspecting that she lost to her, and also learning that she was to captain the SDF-2 and leaving Earth for a while, she gives one of these to him before leaving, since she wanted to let him know her true feelings for him.
 * confesses her love for this way in Princess Tutu. As the object of her affection is sending himself to certain doom, the poor girl chases after him screaming and wailing in anguish at the top of her lungs: "I've loved you ever since I was a little girl! AND I'LL KEEP ON LOVING YOU FOREVER!"
 * from Prétear (anime version) confesses his love for this way--first indirectly as a "story" about a girl he "once knew", then as an anguished plea to her which ends with  Her response is to laugh and say "this is my answer!" as she shatters the windows in the area.
 * And later she confesses to In fact, her original confession to  was pretty anguished, too.
 * Seen in episode 19 of RahXephon, when
 * Simon, a childhood friend of Erza from Fairy Tail, finds the courage to confess his feelings to her... because he's afraid she likes their other friend Jellal. The only problem is, he's on a battle field in the middle of a rebelion she's leading to save Jellal. His lack of attention to his suroundings while trying to tell her lands him with a busted jaw and missing eye. He almost confesses to her years later, but dies before he can.
 * Ai Kora features this when
 * In the end of both the novel and anime versions of Welcome to The NHK!, Sato tries to with a speech that becomes increasingly impassioned, until he blurts out "I like you! I love you! !"  dismisses it as being hollow words to convince her not to jump, and even Sato himself doesn't realize the full weight and meaning to what he said until he's.
 * Ergo Proxy: Vincent gives Re-l one in Episode 12:

"Dita: I won't let that happen! (charges into the fray) Hibiki: Idiot, don't come!
 * In Yaiba,.
 * One of the most heart-wrenching examples occurs in series finale of Sonic X, of all places. After about a season of building up a relationship with her, Tails finally admits in the series finale he loves Cosmo
 * This happens in Magic Users Club when Nanaka confesses to Aburatsubo. He rejects her feelings in the kindest, sweetest way ever, doing what he can to not break her heart further. Note also that the frame doesn't change from a closeup on Nanaka's face while he gives her his reply; you can watch her emotional state shift from nervousness to surprise to sad realization to resignation.
 * All of Wolf Guy Wolfen Crest's chapter 97 is  (of all people)'s Anguished Declaration of Love towards
 * Happens in Vandread when a Not What It Looks Like moment between Hibiki and Misty causes Dita to get supremely depressed. The crew decides to resolve the issue by locking Hibiki and Dita together until they make up. Hibiki eventually starts an Anguished Declaration of Love but gets interrupted by the scramble alarm. Dita returns the favor in the final battle when Hibiki attempts a Heroic Sacrifice.

Dita: I finally understand... Dita's stupid so I can't understand the world... but I understand Mr. Alien very well! Right now Mr. Alien is trying to protect the lives of everyone so Dita will protect Mr. Alien instead! Because Dita loves Mr. Alien! That's why... that's why Dita's going to protect Hibiki!"


 * Angel Beats created a really heartrending scene between
 * In a late episode of Tokyo Mew Mew, Zakuro appears to be leaving the other Mews. Minto takes this badly and actually ends up outright fighting her, growing increasingly impassioned and upset until she screams "I loved you! I loved you!" It's never confirmed what kind of love she was talking about, and the whole thing is never mentioned again.
 * In the Chobits manga both Chitose and Freya force one out of Hideki for Chii. Even after he confesses his love for her Freya taunts him to make certain he's serious by telling him that Chii's actions and thoughts are only programming and she will never love him back. His response? "Her feelings live in me!"
 * In the anime version it's changed to a straight declaration of love because it's suggested that her advanced programming DOES give her emotions.
 * In Toradora! Ryuji gets hurt in the pool and nearly drowns. When Ami tries to take him to the nurse's office Taiga (who actually was the one who put him in danger, though in her defense she never intended for that to happen) cries and screams "Ryuji is mine!" in tears. Although she later recants that it was a love confession, everyone around them takes it as one. Things would have been easier for everyone and *specially* for her if she'd simply let it stand as a confession.
 * In Claudine,  gives one to
 * Yakuza Girl: Many times.

Comic Books
"MJ: Here is what I think... And if I pass out before I finish the sentence it's only because this is the hardest thing I've ever had to say out loud. I don't think he hit on me to hit on me. I don't think that was his master plan. I think he felt how much I love you... And he went for it. Peter: Oh. MJ: We didn't do anything. He tried, but I backed off. I knew-- I knew something was off. I knew it was ... too good to be true. Now, I would like to go away from you as I am out of embarrassing things to say. Peter: Mary... MJ: Peter, go find your girlfriend."
 * Cassidy declares his love with Tulip before and after and after  in Preacher (Comic Book).
 * Something of an unusual case (as they were already having sex) but it's not until he figures he's about to lose her that Mimic confesses his love to Blink in Exiles.
 * In Mouse Guard: Winter 1152,
 * In the Nintendo Comics System series based on The Legend of Zelda, Zelda makes one of these to try to save Link from being hopelessly corrupted by power in the storyline "The Price." Of course, once he's back to normal, she denies having ever said such a thing.
 * Teen Titans: Recently, while Raven was in a coma, Beast Boy confessed that he loved her and always would. Then he went to beat the ever living crap out of the one who put her in a coma.
 * In Ultimate Spider-Man, Mary Jane Watson stepped aside so that Peter Parker could pursue his romance with the resurrected Gwen Stacy, but in #15 of the second volume, her true feelings come out painfully when she and Peter discuss what had happened when the Chameleon hit on her while in Peter's shape.


 * In Elf Quest, Zhantee very emotionally declares his love for Leetah to Leetah's lifemate Cutter. In the elf culture, love is very free and sex is often shared between friends, and Cutter fails to understand why Zhantee never told them about his feelings. He explains to Zhantee that he'd have been welcome in their relationship all along. Through telepathy, Cutter connects himself and Zhantee to the faraway Leetah, and the three share a powerful romantic and sexual bonding for a few brief moments...

Fan Fiction
""Because I love you! You think I can't tell the difference?""
 * Asuka does this to Shinji in Evangelion R, though he remains unaware due to her speaking in German.
 * When arguing with your love interest about how you knew someone else was faking his affections for her, it's very easy to lose your cool.

"Ron: I'm so sorry. I didn't want you to get hurt. I didn't want anyone to get hurt, but you least of all..."
 * From Yu-Gi-Oh! fanfic 'Skin', Jonouchi's confession scene is considered by some to be so heartfelt that it manages to overshadow the first break in UST for one million four hundred thousand words.
 * In Trouble, Butch and Harkness had been tip toeing and snarking around just what their feelings for each other were.
 * In Hunting the Unicorn, Blaine doesn't actually say the magic words (yet), but he does make a huge speech to Kurt in chapter nine about getting old together, adopting lots of kids with him, and how having Kurt in his life makes him a better person. The anguished part is that Kurt still wants to go back to McKinley.
 * In Chapter 7 of Fallout Equestria Pink Eyes, Jammed Gun, a guardspony, gives one to a fellow guard Trigger Happy, pleading with her not to throw her life away on finding Puppysmiles. She tells him she's lesbian and departs anyway.
 * In Chapter 35 of Facing Danger, Hermione is still unable to . Everyone but Ron has tried, and failed, to be near her. Ron overhears Letha and Danger discussing, and gets rather upset, since nobody had talked about it to him. So when (he thinks) she's asleep, he sneaks into her room and starts talking to her. Leads, of course, to a Crowning Moment of Heartwarming.

"Takato (to Renamon): You can help me protect Rika, and that's the only thing I want… Renamon: Why? Takato: What? Renamon: Why do you want to protect Rika so badly? Takato: Well, that's…err…well…that's because…ahh…umm… Renamon: Why do you insist so much in taking care of her, when she only insulted you and humiliated you in the past? Why do you want to be her friend so badly? Why do you smile every time her name is mentioned? Why, Tamer? I don't understand… Takato: Dammit, Renamon, because I love her!"
 * In the Labyrinth fanfic, It's Not Fair!, Sarah gives one to Jareth after he has transformed into an Unseelie and about to be sentenced to death, in the hopes he will hear her and change back..
 * The Tamers Forever Series has an unusual example. Unusual in that Takato doesn't actually say it to the object of his affection:

""I love you so much... Spikey... Wikey..." (note that she was crying during this)"
 * Inner Demons: The narration reveals that Rarity does return Spike's feelings for her, but hasn't told him yet because she wants to take things slowly. Then, she ends up having to, and chokes out one of these once he's gone.

"Overdrive: Tornado... we have to make it through. So, please... stay strong, like you always did. Don’t change. That’s the kind of pegasus I always knew, admired... and liked so much. Tornado Swirl: Overdrive... what are you...? Overdrive: Tornado... I... I love you."
 * Rainbow Dash confesses her love to a near-catatonic Pinkie Pie as they're
 * Ace Combat: The Equestrian War: Overdrive confesses her feelings toward Tornado Swirl in chapter 17 during the, when he fears they might die in the battle.


 * Tornado.

Film
"Ronnie: Loretta, I love you. Not, not like they told you love is and I didn't know this either. But love don't make things nice, it ruins everything! It breaks your heart, it makes things a mess. We aren't here to make things perfect. Snowflakes are perfect, stars are perfect. Not us! Not US! We are here to ruin ourselves and... and to break our hearts and love the wrong people and... and DIE... I mean, I mean the storybooks are BULLSHIT. Now I want you to come upstairs with me and... and GET in my bed. Come on, come on, come on..."
 * Moonstruck

"Leia (blurts out): I love you! Han: I know."
 * The best thing Ben Affleck will ever do - the Love Speech In The Rain in the middle of Chasing Amy.
 * Speaking of Ben Affleck, he and his friend Matt Damon wrote the award-winning Good Will Hunting, which featured an emotional scene in which Will admits to being an abused kid of many foster homes to his girlfriend, Skylar. They get into a fierce row over him "not needing to be saved", and desperately, she sobs, "I love you." ...To which Will responds "I don't love you." Then he leaves. Ouch.
 * Bullshot (1983). Celibate Hero Hugh 'Bullshot' Crummond and The Ingenue Rosemary Fenton fall in Love At First Sight, but don't admit it until they're facing imminent death via being drowned whilst imprisoned in giant concrete eggcups.
 * Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow. Ace Pilot Joe Sullivan and Hot Scoop Polly Perkins are former lovers who split up when Joe accused Polly of sabotaging his airplane while Going for the Big Scoop. After becoming trapped in a cave full of dynamite that's about to explode, Joe looks her in the eyes and asks...if she really did cut his fuel line. Polly is understandably annoyed that he's going to spend their last moments on Earth discussing this point.
 * The titular character, Seibei, in The Twilight Samurai.
 * Star Wars! I mean, come on ...
 * The titular character, Seibei, in The Twilight Samurai.
 * Star Wars! I mean, come on ...
 * Star Wars! I mean, come on ...

"Andrews: I asked you a simple question! Do you love her? Peter: YES! But don't hold that against me, I'm a little screwy myself!"
 * In It Happened One Night, Peter is talking a mile a minute about how useless he finds the Spoiled Brat Ellie Andrews, that "any man who'd fall in love with [her] ought to have his head examined", that "a normal human being couldn't live under the same roof with her without going nutty," when her father begins to catch on to how he really feels:

"Charles: How about you, Fifi - you identified a future partner in life yet? Fiona: No need really. The deed is done. I've been in love with the same bloke for ages. Charles: Have you? Who's that? Fiona: (very casually) You, Charlie. Fiona: Doesn't matter. Nothing either of us can do on this one. Such is life. (awkward pause) "Friends" isn't bad, you know. "Friends" is quite something."
 * In Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, as their plane is falling out of the sky, Melman blurts out, "I love you, Gloria! I always have!" Unfortunately, when he looks at her, she's asleep. And the looks he gets from Alex and Marty are priceless.
 * A very understated, very British, but nonetheless extremely moving moment from Four Weddings and a Funeral: Sad an unhappy to see Carrie, the girl he is hopelessly in love with, marry rich Scotsman Hamish at the third of the titular weddings, Charles (Hugh Grant) turns to his pal Fiona (Kristin Scott Thomas) for comfort. After talking about his feelings for Carrie, the conversation takes an unexpected, shocking turn for him and the unsuspecting audience:

"Bruno: What I really want to tell you is...that...that I'm in love with you. I'm completely sick. I don't know how it happened. It happened to me. I couldn't control it."
 * A funny hilarious example: near the end of the climactic chase scene from The Blues Brothers, the head of the Illinois Nazis and his number 2 have run their car off an unfeasibly high drop and are plummeting to their doom. As they sit paralyzed by their rapidly-approaching fates, the number 2 manages to turn to his leader and say "I've always loved you."
 * In Bent, While Horst is nearing a complete mental break down from their rock duties, he confesses to Max that he loves him. Much to Max's frustration, as Max refuses to risk giving the guards any reason to make their lives more hellish.
 * Bruno's rooftop confession to Pablo in Plan B, especially when compared to his almost cavalier "I love you, man" declaration from back when he was still telling himself that he wasn't really gay for Pablo and how he so visibly struggles to find the right words to say to Pablo this time around:

Literature
""`Out of my thoughts! You are part of my existence, part of myself. You have been in every line I have ever read, since I first came here, the rough common boy whose poor heart you wounded even then. [...] You have been the embodiment of every graceful fancy that my mind has ever become acquainted with. The stones of which the strongest London buildings are made, are not more real, or more impossible to be displaced by your hands, than your presence and influence have been to me, there and everywhere, and will be., to the last hour of my life, you cannot choose but remain part of my character, pad of the little good in me, part of the evil. But, in this separation I associate you only with the good, and I will faithfully hold you to that always, for you must have done me far more good than harm, let me feel now what sharp distress I may. O God bless you, God forgive you!'"
 * In Erika Griffin's novel, The One Who Waited, has a good example of this trope. Upon being repeatedly assailed by the Boogeyman character, Alice finds out that
 * Sydney Carton gets one of these in Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities. Charles Darnay gets a much more subdued (read:dull) one later on. Considering how Chaz is the Designated Hero and Sid the Troubled but Cute Butt Monkey, it still is kind of a pain to see Lucy swoon over the milquetoast.
 * From C. Dickens' Great Expectations by an olderPip, to :

"Crowfeather:"
 * Dickens seems fond of these - but when David Copperfield tries it, it rather backfires, what with his paramour breaking down into sobs, David trying to calm her down, and her yippy dog barking his head off the entire time.
 * Mr. Darcy delivers a speech like this to Elizabeth Bennet halfway through Pride and Prejudice. This one might be trope-defining. Of course, Darcy's anguish over his distaste for Elizabeth's family injures her pride, so she rejects him.
 * Laurie's proposal to Jo in Little Women -- he doesn't fare any better than Mr. Darcy.
 * However, Jo herself does have a better return rate when she sobs out her confession to Fritz, who agrees wholeheartedly. Laurie and Amy, meanwhile, just sort of fall into a relationship without a lot of talking.
 * Captain Wentworth's declaration of love to Anne Elliot in Persuasion.
 * Gilbert Blythe's proposal to Anne in Anne of Green Gables -- she likes him more than anyone, but as a friend.
 * Well, the combination of an overactive imagination and reading too many romance novels could color one's view of love, so this one might be Justified.
 * Edward in Twilight makes one of these in the meadow scene. He confesses his love for Bella at the same time as he tells her how hard it is for him not to kill her.
 * The narrator of The Invention of Morel, after pursuing an obviously disinterested Faustine for days, finally throws himself at her feet and proclaims his love for her.
 * And then there's the ending.
 * Warrior Cats: Crowfeather to Leafpool, after.

"It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him: and that not because he's handsome, Nelly, but because he's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same; and Linton's is as different as a moonbeam from lightning, or frost from fire."
 * The Princess Bride starts out like this. Beautifully done due to William Goldman's trademark writing style: he makes two pages of buildup seem like half a book's worth.
 * Taran delivers an elegantly subtle one of these to amnesiac Princess Eilonwy in the third book of the Prydain Chronicles in an attempt to restore her memory.
 * In the Outlander series, Depraved Bisexual Captain John Randall, during his Villainous Breakdown, repeatedly confesses to Jamie that he loves him, all while sobbing uncontrollably and kissing him. Unfortunately for poor Jamie, he incurrs Randall's psychotic wrath when he refuses Randall's order to tell him that he loves him too.
 * Professor Radcliff Emerson realizing that he might very well die that night gives Amelia Peabody a long, passionate kiss - even at the risk of living to face the consequences, which turn out to be a long and happy marriage.
 * In Chronicles of Chaos, Victor, the resident Stoic makes a calm but still very anguished (they're surrounded by enemies and most everybody's wounded) declaration to Amelia that he does love her and wants to marry her, if they survive.
 * Played for Drama in a short story in Orson Scott Card's The Worthing Chronicle, when a movie star does it to a fellow actress. While the camera is rolling. After she wraps the shoot with some brilliant improv and gets her Human Popsicle vacation, she wakes up years later and finds out that he was dead serious.
 * In Lies, the third book of the Gone series, when
 * Jane Eyre delivers an epic one when she thinks she's to be separated from Rochester - but it's also calling him out on how he's been using her mercilessly, acting as if she has no feelings just because she is not a gentlewoman.
 * There are several occasions of this in the X Wing Series. Kell Tainer makes one to Tyria Sarkin early in Wraith Squadron. She rebuffs him, because she thinks he's Loving a Shadow. Later in the book, after getting to know her rather than judging by appearances and how good they would look together, he tries again, saying that he wants to win her heart - and she tackles him. She'd been attracted since the beginning, but had wanted him to see her for herself before making a move.
 * At the end of Piers Anthony's OutOfPhaze, Mach combines this with The Power of Love to save Fleta from her suicide attempt.
 * Catherine Earnshaw gets one of the best in literature in Wuthering Heights. Unfortunately she doesn't make it to Heathcliff.

"She said, "Then tell me that what you feel for me is an infatuation. That you object to being tied. That, like poor Jane Shore's lover, you find yourself more amorous of my body than curious of my soul? Then I should agree with you. That I should want to be spared." A trickle of wax, occasioned by the draught of her movement, ran like an escaping spirit down the stem of a candle and there stiffened, extinguished as an unwanted emotion. Lymond drew an uneven breath. "What is temptation, if not that?" "Then tell me," said. "And make me believe it." It was a moment before he replied. Then the shut mouth curled, in something not quite a smile. "Gould bydeth ever bright... It would be a pity to cloud it," he said. "That is one blasphemy I cannot bring myself to commit. I love you,, in every way known to man.""
 * An eavesdropping Heathcliff of course overhears only the part where it would degrade her to marry him; cue a Roaring Rampage of Revenge and decades of misery for everyone in the book.
 * In Checkmate, last book of the Lymond Chronicles:


 * In Jack Campbell's The Lost Fleet novel Invicible, Geary has to read a letter between two Star-Crossed Lovers. As he expects, it contains this: he declares that his feelings are incapable of changing and therefore they must not meet again. She on receiving it declares that she must not respond to i.

Live Action TV
"Howard: This is difficult for me, but I feel as though I should say it... I love you Vince. (Vince laughs) Howard: What are you doing? Vince: Nothing. Howard: Are you laughing? Vince: No. Howard: You better not be laughing. I'm telling you I love you, how dare you laugh at me? Vince: You're making me laugh. Howard: That is so humiliating. Vince: You just caught me off guard, it was out of the blue. Howard (distraught) I'm telling you I love you, and you're laughing! Vince: Well, I love you. Howard: No you don't. You're just saying it because I said it to you. It doesn't work that way, it doesn't mean anything. Vince: (sincere) No. I love you."
 * In As Time Goes By rugby enthusiast sputters out his confession of love for Sandy just before he is going to emigrate to Canada. Something he's been too tongue-tied to do up to that point. She accepts and the rest of the episode involves her rushing to pack so she can go with him that afternoon.
 * In The Mighty Boosh, episode Tundra, Howard unexpectedly admits his feelings for Vince after they are left for dead:

"Robin: You know what a romantic he is. He can't separate the physical from the emotional. He's all like-- Barney (totally sincere): I love you! Robin: Exactly! He's not like you. You know? And besides, we're friends, and I don't wanna screw that up by getting involved. Dating friends never works out. So, uh, you want to get a taco? Barney: ... A taco? Robin: You love them, remember?"
 * Coupling, "The Girl With One Heart." A series of misunderstandings leads Patrick's current girlfriend (who's bi) to flirt with Sally, who's in love with Patrick... only Sally doesn't know she's being flirted with. When everything comes out, Sally ends up shouting in frustration that she's not in love with the girlfriend, she's in love with Patrick.
 * This happens rather frequently to the characters on Coupling. See also Steve, in the middle of a truly impressive rant about how natural it is for men to want to watch porn, accidentally letting it slip out that he wants to spend the rest of his life with Susan.
 * In the episode "Heart of Stone" in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Kira extracts one of these from Odo. Or rather....
 * Star Trek: Voyager. Only their imminent death through oxygen deprivation gives B'Elanna Torres the courage to tell Tom Paris she loves him (next moment they're beamed to safety). Likewise the EMH blurts out his feelings for Seven of Nine (in front of half the senior officers) when he thinks his program is going to shut down forever. Unfortunately he's repaired a few seconds later, much to his embarrassment. Unfortunately for both him and the fans Seven ends up with Chakotay for no apparent reason.
 * Also, when the 37s are discovered, Fred Noonan (Amelia Earhart's navigator) gets shot in the chest and taken to sickbay. Thinking he will die, he confesses his love to Earhart. However, he is then healed by the Doctor and takes back his confession.
 * Frasier has two (and several near-misses) of Niles declaring his unending love for Daphne. The first occurred during an impressive tango dance at his country club where he blurted out how much he adored her and she reciprocated. Unfortunately his joy ended when he realized she had assumed they were putting on a show for his condescending friends. The second occurred on the night before her wedding to another man. Niles suddenly assured her he would divorce his wife and run away with Daphne if there was even the slightest chance Daphne had feelings for him.
 * Subverted on My So-Called Life, where Brian is portrayed as more of a stalker of Angela than a friend, and when he finally Spits it Out, it disgusts her more than anything.
 * She isn't disgusted. She chooses Jordan in the end, but she was more tender with him in that moment then she was with anyone else in the whole series.
 * In "Benefits", a season 4 episode of How I Met Your Mother, Robin and Ted start having casual sex again to take the friction out of rooming together. Barney, who has been in love with Robin since the end of the third season (and not dealing with it too well), is heartbroken by this and accidentally blurts out his secret three times, first to Ted and Marshall and twice to Robin... only the first two times, he covers awkwardly and is believed, and the third time, Robin is completely oblivious to the idea he could mean it like that. Robin explains why she and Ted stopped sleeping together:

"Emily: Naomi? No! You fucking... No! Stop right now. Don't you dare leave me in your bed again! Naomi: I-I got to go... Emily: I know you, Naomi! I know that you are lonely! I think that you need someone to want you! Well, I do want you! So... please be brave... and want me back!"
 * In The Nanny: "Well you're a...you walk like a...marry me!"
 * Get Smart. Max and 99 finally admit they love each other while trapped in a corridor with two KAOS agents trying to break down the doors. 99 then thinks up a Door Judo idea to get them out of the situation. Afterwards Max asks why she waited till after his declaration of love before suggesting this brilliant idea. 99 just smiles, and the two walk off arm in arm.
 * On The Office, after 2 seasons of not being brave enough to tell Pam how he feels, Jim finally comes clean with a supremely anguished declaration in "Casino Night". She doesn't take it well, setting up another full season of dancing around the subject. Eventually it all gets figured out.
 * Also occurs in the British version of The Office during the Season 2 finale, when Tim (presumably) admits love for and is rejected by Dawn.
 * In Torchwood's Children of Earth miniseries Right before he
 * When Owen is revived using the Resurrection Glove after being shot in the episode "Reset", Toshiko confesses her love to him, thinking it is their last goodbye. When a fluke with the Glove makes him permanently undead, she tries to explain and he says he knows she didn't mean it, ("You're losing something, and suddenly you desperately desire it.") even though she does. In "Exit Wounds", after both Tosh and Owen are both Killed Off for Real, Gwen, Jack and Ianto find a time-locked video from Tosh that again declares love to Owen. Obviously, when she recorded it, she didn't know Owen would be dead too.
 * In Babylon 5, Lennier declares his love for Delenn while they are aboard a crippled White Star that is apparently about to be attacked and destroyed. The attack is aborted at the last moment, and they are rescued.
 * Skins: Emily and Naomi have just spent their first night together. Emily is quite a bit more okay with being gay than Naomi, which is why Naomi tries to sneak away the morning after. It doesn't work.

"Blair: The worst thing you've ever done, the darkest thought you've ever had, I will stand by you through anything. Chuck: And why would you do that? Blair: Because I love you. Chuck: Well that's too bad."
 * Done again in reverse at the end of Series 4.
 * After spending half a season fighting over who should be the first to say those three words, eight letters, Gossip Girls Blair Waldorf finally says them to Chuck Bass but it doesn't go so well:

"Merlin: Why can't you just admit your feelings for Gwen? It's so obvious. A blind man could see it. Is it really that hard to admit you like her? Just say it. Arthur: I can't! How can I admit that I think about her all the time. Or that...I care about her more than anyone. How can I admit that...I don't know what I'll do if any harm comes to her? Merlin: Why can't you? Arthur: Because nothing can ever happen between us! To admit my feelings knowing that...hurts too much."
 * After Chuck later mocks her declaration of love Blair pretty much gives up on him for the next half of the season... Only to give him a second anguised declaration of love in the season finale. He doesn't say it back this time either (but does come around by the end of the episode).
 * The Mentalist's Rigsby makes one of these. . Also,.
 * This is how Rose finally confesses to the Doctor in Doctor Who. And the Doctor is cut off right before he gets to reciprocate with one himself.
 * Jack does this in SG-1 talking about Sam. "I care about her...a lot more than I'm supposed to."
 * Soaps opera have this, all the time. Love in the afternoon? More like heartbreak in the afternoon, with some grief sex.
 * In Guiding Light Olivia finally confessed her feelings for Natalia in an anguish cry, in a graveyard, before Natalia's wedding. If that wasn't heartbreaking enough Natalia almost got her own confession out but Olivia stopped her because she was afraid how their love could affect Natalia's chance for happiness.
 * iCarly: Carly does one of these as Freddie starts to believe that she only likes him because he saved her life. It doesn't work, and Freddie breaks up with her, despite Freddie having loved Carly since the day he met her.
 * In The Sarah Connor Chronicles after being reset to original programming Cameron makes one of these to John while trying to convince him not to remove her chip. This is a bit complicated, as while she's a Robot Girl saying it to manipulate him, the simulated emotion appears very real, and he's aware that she's more advanced than other Terminators, but not to what degree. And the second part of her claim "and you love me" probably hit a bit close.
 * In the episode "Lancelot and Guinevere" from Merlin, Merlin finally manages to get one out of Arthur:

"Santana: I wanted to thank you for performing that song with me in Glee-club. Because it made me do alot of thinking. And what I realized... is why I am such a bitch all the time. I'm a bitch because I am angry. I'm angry because I have all these feelings. Feelings for you... that I am afraid of dealing with. Because I am afraid of dealing with the consequences. I... I can't even go to a Indigo Girls concert, I just can't. Brittany: I understand that. Santana: ...Do you understand what I am trying to say here? Brittany: ...No, not really. Santana: I want to be with you. But... I am afraid of the talks, and the looks. I mean, you know what happened to Kurt at this school.
 * And just to rub salt in the wound, when Arthur finally finds Gwen, it turns out that Lancelot got there first...
 * Santana tearily confesses her love for her best friend Brittany on Glee. Doubly anguished since it also counts as the beginning of her Coming Out Story.

Brittany: But honey, if anyone was to ever make fun of you, you would either kick their ass or slash them with your vicious, vicious words.

Santana: [Starts to cry] I know... I'm just so afraid of what everyone would say behind my back. Still I have to accept... that I love you. I love you, and I don't want to be with Sam, or Finn or any of those other guys. I just want you. Please say you love me back! ... Please..."


 * I could never be truly mad at Brittany, but...
 * It took 100 episodes for Bones (the show, not the character) to get around to breaking the will they/won't they pattern, but not in they way we hoped.
 * In Community episode "Epidemiology" Troy does this to Abed right before Abed becomes infected, although whether to take it seriously is another matter.
 * In the Season 3 finale of Castle, Castle finally says "I love you" to Beckett just before she loses consciousness after being shot by a hit man. It is as yet unknown whether or not she will remember it.
 * In the first episode of Season 4, Beckett tells Castle that she can't remember the shooting. However,
 * In the finale of Season 4, there are two.
 * In the special The Muppets Go to the Movies, during the Japanese Monster Movie segment, the male lead gives one of these to the female lead when it looks like the giant rats invading the Earth are unstoppable, while the subtitles scroll by so fast the woman has trouble keeping up with them. It's also sappy enough that the rats give up on the schemes of conquering the Earth and go home.
 * At the end of season 4 of Doc Martin, Martin finally breaks down and admits how much Louisa really means to him. Because he's such an emotionally repressed, stuffed shirt normally this becomes both a crowning moment of awesome and a crowning moment of funny as he struggles to put aside his Stiff Upper Lip tendencies and speak from his heart.
 * Downton Abbey: Anna to Mr Bates. Which is then promptly interrupted - O HAI THAR HAYCART!!!
 * Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Spike is on the point of blurting this out in the Season 5 episode "Crush", when a shocked and disgusted Buffy stops him, well aware of what he's about to say despite being clueless as to his odd behaviour up to then -- Dawn had tipped Buffy off earlier that Spike was smitten, but Buffy refused to believe it. Buffy violently denies that Spike feels true love -- or that she has romantic feelings in return

Music

 * "Crown of Love" by Arcade Fire.

Video Games
"Valen: It's because I LOVE YOU, DAMMMIIIITTTT!!!!"
 * In Fantasia - Requiem of the Abyss, Valen's confession to Cain was like this.

""Loved you from the moment I first saw you. Thought you were a dream. Meant every word. Tried to play it off as a joke--wasn't funny.""
 * In one of the many parts cut due to Executive Meddling, Atton Rand in Knights of the Old Republic II was supposed to face Sion in the end in a player-controlled fight. If he lost, he would die in the Jedi Exile's arms, and if female he'd make one of these.

"This may be the last time I will have a chance to talk to you. I just want you to know that I... that I... I... I care for you. I do not know why. I do not know if anything will be possible, or if you even return what I feel, but I do know it is there. I am sorry if this upsets you. I am so sorry if I am wrong, but I cannot deny what it is that I feel."
 * Though the scene occurs before the declaration of love, Bastila's apology for being such a preachy jerk does sound (according to the player character) like she is "pulling teeth".
 * Juhani confessing her love of a female player character has more than an edge of desperation to it.


 * In order to romance  in Persona 4, the Protagonist has to perform this.
 * Quoted above: In her Happy Ending, Hikari Hinomoto of Tokimeki Memorial 2 delivers such a declaration on Graduation Day to the Protagonist, her beloved childhood friend she got suddenly separated from when they were 8, and got chance reunited seven years later as the Protagonist moved back to Hibikino for his High School time.
 * In Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side 1, Shiki Mihara's confession is like this, especially if the heroine tries to say she's not good enough for him.
 * In the Spyro the Dragon game Dawn Of the Dragon, as the world is litterally ending around them and the only chance to save it might very well require a Heroic Sacrifice,
 * Played with in Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World. Marta's love for Emil is well known, even as it changes from infatuation with an idea of him to truly falling for the real Emil. Even so, Marta

Webcomics / Web Original
"Gil: Ow! Why are you hitting me?! I love her and I want to help her! Zeetha: Now that, I'll pass along."
 * In Order of the Stick, Haley, who's suffering from aphasia, can only gibber meaninglessly as Nale tries to convince Elan that Haley's fallen for Nale, gone evil and is trying to sell out the party. Haley finally breaks through her aphasia to scream, "I THOUGHT HE WAS YOU! I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU, AND I THOUGHT I WAS KISSING YOU!"
 * Somewhat of a subversion, as this one was understood and stuck. Elan groks drama tropes.
 * Also in that Haley is the one who tries to backpedal afterwards. Elan stops her with a "Shut Up" Kiss.
 * Gilgamesh Wulfenbach, of Girl Genius, hasn't gotten to make one of these to Agatha yet but has twice declared his love for her to her best friend. First he was anguished because there was, but the second time he was only anguished because the best friend kept hitting him whenever he asked her to relay a message she considered stupid, like "I am anxious to speak to her so that we can overcome our mutual obstacles."

" Passionate plea!  Whisper of repetition... "
 * Tarvek gave one to Agatha, without actually going out and saying it.
 * Dept Heaven Apocrypha has this happen while Milanor is trying to talk a distraught and slightly-less-than-sane Nessiah down from losing it completely; Nessiah winds up confessing while trying to figure out what to say.
 * There is one of these in Fragile. When Severin (who is already in a relationship with Page), he tells Page he loves him. At first Page thinks that Severin is merely telling him something he already knows, but then
 * Mayonaka Densha: Hatsune, while trapped inside a bank that's being held up by a group of American bank robbers, notices Tom in the crowd outside and screams out the window that she loves him.
 * Lucy in Bittersweet Candy Bowl finally admits to
 * Parodied in A Trailer for Every Academy Award Winning Movie Ever.

"Sally: Um, Joey... I love you.
 * In the Neopets plot, the "Faeries Ruin", tries to tell  that she loves him, when it seems like, but she doesn't get to finish.
 * Gary from Ménage à 3 is on the receiving end from.
 * Goes a little sideways in Me and My Dick:

Joey: Thanks, friend, I love you too.

Sally: No, no, no... Joey, when I say "I love you", I wanna say something more. What I'm trying to say is... I like you!"

Western Animation
"Helga: I LOVE YOU! Who else do you think has been stalking you night and day? Building shrines to you in a closet; filling volumes of books with poems about you? I love you, Arnold! I've always loved you ever since I've laid eyes on your STUPID football head, and from that moment, and every moment sense I've lived and dreamed for you and dreamed of the moment where I can tell you my sacred feelings, I could grab you and kiss you and... OH COME HERE YA BIG LUG! [kisses Arnold]"
 * Leela's sudden admittance of love for Fry in the face of danger and possible death in the final scene of Futurama: Into The Wild Green Yonder, after ten years of not returning his feelings and at the worst possible time.
 * Camp Lazlo: Late into the series, Jane gets engaged to Pothole McPucker and throws a party. Lumpus sneaks in, dressed as a woman, and finally confesses his feelings. Since he's in a dress, everyone thinks it's a woman confessing her love to Pothole. Pothole's response? "Sorry, Jane, she's hot." It's all set up for a later episode where
 * Space Boyfriend: The Cliff Hanger has Ben finally confess his love to Veronica. We'll never know the answer.
 * Helga gives one to Arnold in Hey Arnold!: The Movie complete with a kiss.

"Stewie: I like you lot. I guess you could say I... really like you. I would... even dare to go a little further, perhaps. I... care a great deal about you. Very great deal. Maybe even... deeper than that. I... I... I love you. I mean, you know, not in like a, "Hey, let's, you know, let's have an underpants party," or whatever grownups do when they're in love, but I mean, I mean, I love you as one loves another person whom one simply cannot do without."
 * Done in Family Guy as a combination of both Crowning Moment of Heartwarming and Crowning Moment of Funny with Stewie and Brian:
 * Done in Family Guy as a combination of both Crowning Moment of Heartwarming and Crowning Moment of Funny with Stewie and Brian:

"Cindy: "Jimmy, I just wanted to tell you that... that I lo... lo..." Jimmy: "LOVE POTION! That's it! Thanks, Cindy!" *kisses her cheek and runs off* Cindy: "...I wasn't gonna say LOVE!""
 * Cindy gets one in Jimmy Neutron when she believes they're going to die... only that she never actually says it.

"Spike: "Rarity? I need to tell you something! Just in case we don't make it! I-I've always sort of had a crush-""
 * Spike the dragon from My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic carried a silient crush for Rarity the unicorn during 36 episodes. But at the climax of the episode "Secret of my Excess" both of them are plummeting from a mountain to their deaths, so Spike decides to finally break his silence:


 * Rarity interrupts him by placing her hoof in his mouth, then she gives him the tenderest of smiles and starts crying. She knew. She knew all along.
 * Home Movies - Brendon pushes himself on Cynthia a bit too much at a Battle Of The Bands competition - as she runs off, he runs onstage and, grabbing a microphone, declares in a highly embarrassing manner that he's "in LIKE" with her.

Real Life

 * One afternoon, the Reverend Arthur Nicholls declared out of the blue his passionate attachment to Charlotte Bronte, who wasn't interested at all - until her father drove Nicholls out of the parish. Whereupon the canny Reverend began to write Charlotte desperate and touching love letters... and persuaded her to meet him secretly... and the upshot was they got married!
 * The downshot is that she died soon after their wedding; while pregnant with her first child. But after the happiest year of her rather miserable life.