"I don't need the Prince Charming to have my own happy ending."

- Katy Perry

Danny Dare

"This is totally unnecessary you know," I said for probably the millionth time, sulking in the passenger seat.

"Do stop protesting Danny, it's too late for you now, you know" the driver of the car smirked. I just rolled my eyes and shook my head at him. Sometimes there was just no living with the Slender man.

The pavement had disappeared from under the Corvette about a mile ago, and I couldn't believe the dirt road we were on still seemed to have no end. Slender had told me we would have to go quite a ways back through the woods to reach our destination, but I hadn't realized any house could have a driveway this freaking long.

'I guess the builders where super serious about privacy', I thought to myself. I could also understand why the seclusion the woods offered appealed to Slender, and while I'm sure the estate was going to be beautiful, I still couldn't help but brood.

Buying me a car was bad enough after all – a whole house was just too much.

The winter had come and gone, and all along the drive native wild flowers were opening up to receive the new spring light. I stared out the window as we rode, enjoying the feel of Slender rubbing his thumb in circles over my wrist where we held hands, and trying to relax and keep an open mind about the whole thing.

"I really do think you're going to like it," Slender said, breaking the silence in the car. "Although, Trender had an absolute blast decorating the place, so if you want to lie and tell him it's awful, I'd pay to see the look on his face."

I laughed at that. "You're terrible," I informed him without a shred of sincerity.

"But you love me anyway, don't you Miss Dare?" he replied easily, shooting me that half smile that even after a year still made my knees feel like jelly.

I squeezed his hand playfully, and smile back at him. "You better hope I do, since you bought me a whole house."

"Speaking of which," Slender interjected as we rounded a bend in the drive way, and finally broke through the trees, "here we are." I stared ahead through the windshield wide-eyed, and not able to formulate words yet. A moment later, Slender was out of the car and opening the door on my side to help me out, and numbly I let him. "Welcome to your new home," he said proudly.

"Well they really mean it when they call it a 'dream home,' don't they," I muttered taking in the sight of the beautiful white beach house.

Slender chuckled and looped my arm through his as he led me towards the front door. "How does a tour sound?" he offered, and I nodded my head, still looking around in awe.

The house was simple, comfortable, and yet done so elegantly that I felt like I should have been wearing a cocktail dress and heels just walking through it. The living room, dining room, and main kitchen were all connected with an open floor plan and arranged under a three story high vaulted ceiling, and the master bedroom off to the side seemed to create its own little world. The tour then continued outback where overlooking the bay and the property's own personal boat dock was an outdoor kitchen and dining area. Above that, Slender explained was where his office would be.

I blinked at him when he said this, my brain freezing for an instant. "… Your office?" I inquired.

Slender smiled at me, but since he wore his human form today, I could also see a slight hint of uncertainty in his eyes. "You didn't think I'd make you live in this colossal estate by yourself now, did you?" he asked quietly. "So long as you don't mind sharing your new home, that is."

I couldn't believe it. "Are you asking me to move in with you?" I asked, wanting to clarify one-hundred percent before I got too excited.

"Well, technically I'll be moving in with you since this is to be your house," he smirked, teasing me.

Ignoring his teasing, I flung my arms around his waist and buried my face in his chest as I hugged him tight, and he brought his arms up around me in return. "Of course I don't mind sharing, you silly man," I answered giddily. "It's the only way I can justify letting you buy me a house, really," I admitted playfully.

The Slender man snorted in amusement. "You never have to justify anything when you're with me."

"I'm justifying it to myself, not to you," I explained, rolling my eyes with a smile.

Slender chuckled and shook his head, but didn't reply. Instead, he cocked his head at me thoughtfully. "You do realize this entails sharing a… bed as well, don't you?" he said carefully, watching for my reaction.

I smiled broadly at him, but still couldn't help the blush from creeping into my cheeks. Oh, I had thought about it alright. "I had rather hoped we would be, actually," I confessed, my face now flaming with embarrassment.

My boyfriend leaned down and kissed me then, and I could in his touch feel both his nervousness and his excitement at once, as well as a promise for things to come.

And I couldn't have been happier.

Things weren't always perfect, and they never would be – that was life. We had our ups and down like any couple, but we were managing to make it work. He was making an effort for me, and really that was all that mattered, wasn't it? If he could put his past behind him, and I could accept him despite his mood flares and atrocious background, then surely there was nothing we couldn't conquer. We both knew there would still be plenty we would need to work out as time went on and our relationship progressed, but there would be a time for that later. For now, we were just happy.

And after all, without happiness, then what is love?

A/N: Well, as I'm sure you all noticed by the title of this, this is indeed the end of dear Slen and Danny's story my friends... For now anyways ;)

I've had a wonderful time writing this story, and I couldn't be more thrilled to have such wonderful readers and have so much support throughout the whole process. You are all the reason I do this! You are what make all the writer's block-induced headaches and many late nights spent writing worth it! I do have many more adventures for Danny and Slen in the future, but for the time being, I'm going to leave it here :)

So this brings me to my last note: I need everyone's opinions. I would like to try my hand at a new fandom for my next fanfiction, and have several ideas in mind. Which one would you guys like to see first? I'm heavily considering doing a Zootopia Nick x Judy fanfic, but I also would like to do a Harry Potter Snape x Hermione (I know, that this ship doesn't sail for everyone, but I'm quite a Snager fan. They're totally perfect together in my opinion xD ), and/or a Labyrinth Jareth x Sarah fan fiction. I would also like to do a Kim Possible Drakken x Shego story eventually, but I think I'm going to wait a little while on that one. Tell me what you would like to read next!

Thanks for all the reviews and PMs I've received on this story, and I hope to see you all again on our next literary adventure.

Until next time my friends, stay awesome :)

- Erin