There were compromises made, no question. They were meant to be together. Cooper/Audrey's romantic chemistry sizzles (and I'm not going to lie - as a teenager I was obsessed with Sherilyn Fenn).

A rambling tangent: Given how many professionally offended, morality police commentators now consider age gaps inappropriate, I daresay this plotline today might ruffle a few feathers. But I know plenty of people in successful big age gap relationships (including my own brother). They are sick and tired of such opinions (as am I). As long as the people concerned are both consenting adults, it is none of any one else's business. My views on the matter are akin to Argumentative Penguin's (here, if you're interested).

Rambling tangent over. :)