The In-between Years

Author's Note: I know you guys want longer chapters, but the purpose of this fic is to give you guys a regular DS fix while I take my time to update my other fics. Each chapter ranges from 500-1000 words. This one is not as smutty as the last two, but there is plenty more M-rated chapters headed your way.

Chapter 3: The Talk

"Dan this car will never be able to handle this trip?" Serena said as she stared at Rufus's old bug. Dan was intent on driving that thing down to Florida. She understood that he had an unusual attachment to the vehicle since it was a big part of her childhood. "But, it's a classic"

"It's old and it's going to die on us in the middle of the road. Be reasonable," she said as she caressed his face. He looked up at her sadly and sighed. "I guess you're right."

"We can rent one that looks just like it, okay. When we get back we can send it off to a good mechanic and we'll use it for our next trip," Serena said. She hated to see the look on his face, but for a practical person he could make some seriously impractical decisions especially if it collided with his romantic nature. There were things about him she was learning everyday despite having known him for years. For the first time in years, Serena felt comfortable in her own skin. They spent lazy Sunday afternoons lounging in their apartment as Dan rubbed her feet and they worked on the New York Times crossword puzzle. Serena had one more year left to finish her degree while Dan was working away at his latest novel. She was still trying to get him to go back and finish his degrees, but he insisted that he didn't need it.

A little over an hour later, they were on the road in a comfortable four-door sedan that Serena had talked him into renting. She fiddled with the radio as Dan hummed an unfamiliar tune under his breath. She finally found a station that suited them both. Serena laid back and watched him as he drove. His hair was getting long again and a series curl were getting in his face. "You really should get your hair cut."

"I like it long,"he said matterfactly.

She smiled at him mildly, "just think about hun."

Dan ran a hand through his hair. "Does it really bother you?"

"I love your curls, but a cut can't hurt."

He tapped on the steering wheel and said, "Okay."

"Okay?"

"I'll cut it,"he said.

Serena smiled and leaned over and kissed him briefly.

Dan turned on to a side street as Serena stirred. They'd been on the road for almost a day. He pulled into a small bed and breakfast that was facing the Atlantic Ocean. She stretched her arms and said, "Where are we?"

"Just outside of Charleston, "he replied. Serena yawned and pulled her hair back in a ponytail as Dan took their bags out of the trunk and brought them inside. She met up with him at reception where they were greeted by a woman in her mid-fifties. "Welcome, I have hope you have a lovely stay."

"Thanks, but we'll probably only be here for the night."

"Not according to the reservation that your husband made."

Serena smiled at the lady and said, "Oh we're not married."

"Oh I see. We get so many honeymooners around these parts that I just assumed. You make a lovely couple though."

"Thank you," Serena said as she took the key from the older woman. Once they were inside their suite, Serena laid back on the cushions and pressed her legs up to her chest. Marriage was the one topic that they had managed to avoid. They'd been back together for nearly two years and they'd been living together for most of that time. She hadn't really thought about it. The last thing she wanted to do was turn out like her mother with a series of failed marriages. "Dan?"

"Yeah babe."

"How come we're not married?"

"Where's this coming from?"he said as he joined her on the bed. "It's just that lady downstairs thought we were married."

"I guess I've just been enjoying being with you. I want to marry you if that's what you want. Are we really having this talk?"

She nodded and he turned to face her. "So, let's talk. Do you want to get married?"

"I don't know maybe some day. It's just my mom got married 7 times. Twice to my dad and twice to Bart. I just I don't want be like her."

Dan held her hand in his. "I know. I mean I guess I've always thought of getting married down the line, but we're so young and I don't want to be like my dad. But, I just know that I love you and want to be with you two we're so old."

"So, someday."

Dan smiled brightly and said, "Someday."