-Hymn For The Weekend by Coldplay featuring Beyonce-

Denise took in the beautiful view of the Teton Mountain Range. Mark's introversion tended to rub off on her every now and again. She had found respect and appreciation for solitude, especially when they decided to explore rural towns.

The two had just crossed the state line into Jackson, Wyoming, and were parked at the Welcome Center so Rex could use the bathroom.

They'd be staying at a dude ranch. Neither of them had ever ridden a horse before, so they were excited. Unlike Mark, Denise hadn't been fishing before either, so she was looking forward to trying that too.

On top of their adventure, they would celebrate their official year of traveling on the road together.

Waiting in the van, Mark sat in the driver's seat writing in his journal.

He had been smoking cigarettes way longer than Denise, so his withdrawal was much worse than hers. To keep his mind off what felt like an itch that he couldn't seem to scratch, he starting writing.

It proved to be therapeutic and enjoyable for him.

Taking a moment to think, he looks in the rearview mirror at Denise. How much he loved her was an understatement.

He often found himself in awe how much she'd grown.

Denise was still the same strongwilled woman that he met at that bar. But there was a soft, vulnerable side to her that she didn't feel the need to hide anymore.

There was now a reserved aspect to her still out-going and outspoken personality. She was still in your face, but not in an intimidating way.

Denise was toned down but still comfortably authentic about who she was. It's what drew and connected her to fans, especially women who always felt like they were too much. Whether it was because their parents told them that or others.

Denise's big personality, strong opinions, and directness turned certain people off and made it so some preferred Mark, who was more chill and laidback.

But Denise was so confident and secure in herself that it didn't bother her. She knew that she wasn't for everybody, accepted it but didn't dim her light in the process.

Mark loved her big personality and outgoingness, so he admired her for not letting other people change who she was. Even more so, she complimented his personality.

Denise brought him out of his shell. She pulled out the talkative and adventurous side that his introversion trampled at times.

Her extroversion definitely came in handy when his social meter died at their meet and greets.

Denise opens the passenger seat door, pulling Mark's attention away from his journal.

"Hey buddy," he greets Rex as Denise passes him over.

Just as she was about to get in the car, her phone rings. She pulls it out to see an incoming call.

"Who is it?" Mark asks, helping Rex stand up in the window.

"Ana," Denise smiles, "I'll be back." She closes the door and takes a few steps away from the van to answer.

Not too long after she and Mark started dating, she put in the effort to build a friendship with Ana. The two made sure to contact each other every other week, even if it was just through text.

Ana gave birth to a baby girl that she named Liliana.

Liliana is four months now and the chubbiest little thing in the world. Half of the pictures in Denise's phone were of her, considering she is Liliana's godmother.

Ana's life was also much better. With help from her mother, she's been putting herself through school to become a physician assistant. When she took a break from being a mother and a student, she was binge-watching Mark and Denise's videos.

Saying she was their biggest fan would be an understatement.

"Girlllll, I just finished watching the video of Mark doing your makeup. I know I'm like a week late, but I've been busy. He did so good! How did you get a man that can literally do anything for you? Do your hair, your makeup, I mean, is there anything he can't do?"

Denise laughs, hooking her thumb in her jean loop, "I'm afraid to even ask, honestly."

Of course, Ana was on board with their relationship. She thought Mark was perfect for Denise. The first time she saw him, she knew that she didn't have to worry about her friend anymore.

It didn't matter if they ended up together or not, Ana knew that Mark would take care of Denise. And he's done just that.

Ana loved that she knew that they were together while the whole world was desperate for confirmation.

"Not that I'm not happy to hear from you, but we talked a few days ago. Is everything okay?" Denise asks.

"Yeah, everything is fine. I was just watching you guys video, and I started thinking. I realized you haven't given me the dirty details of your sex life like - at all. And I know it's none of my business, but considering what your man looks like, you understand my curiosity, right?"

"Well, I haven't told you because I haven't slept with Mark . . . yet."

"Seriously?" Ana was surprised. "But you've been together for six months."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know there was a specific time to have sex," Denise scoffed.

"I mean, it's not, but I don't know. Normally at this point -"

"But this isn't a normal thing for me," Denise explains. "I was already abstinent before I got with Mark. And before him, I was a hit it and quit a type of girl. Completely detached. That's all changed. Now, I'm nervous. I don't know what to do or what I like."

"Well, is Mark complaining? I mean, you know how guys are."

"Mark's not like other guys, and he's been not having sex way longer than I have. Besides, were have intimacy in different ways. Spending time together and talking to one another is pretty fulfilling on its own. Not to say that sometimes I don't want to jump his ass when he's shirtless, or I don't need a cold shower after we make out. But we've built a relationship that is not centered around physicality. So I want it, but I don't feel like I'll die if I don't get it. You get me?"

"Yeah, I get it. That actually sounds kind of nice, having a relationship where sex is a plus, not the end all be all."

"Well, I have to sleep with him first, Ana," Denise let out a nervous sigh. "I know its gonna happen sooner or later, I just want it to be good, not awkward and anticlimatic like my first time as a teenager."

"Well, why don't you just talk to him about it?" Ana advised. "You guys talk about everything else already. When you actually think about it, it's probably smarter to discuss it. Everyone has their own perception of sex, and the last thing you want is to be in the middle of getting down, and he suddenly asks you to choke him."

Denise cringed, "that would be so horrible."

"Oh, trust me, it was," Ana sucked in a breath. "But we're not talking about my traumatic sex encounters. Just talk to him."

"I will," Denise appreciated Ana's advice.

If they did talk about it, set their expectations, dos and don't. They could avoid any awkwardness when it actually happened.

__________

The ranch was absolutely beautiful. It was peaceful, quiet, had a hospitable staff, and another grand view of the mountainous terrain. The horses grazing in the distance made the landscape all the more whimsical.

For their first night in Jackson, Wyoming, Denise and Mark explored the town before dinner.

They visited museums like the Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum. And landmarks like Jackson Town Square.

The cowboy culture was definitely alive in Jackson, so getting greeted with tipping Stetsons was fascinating for both of them.

Even though they were traveling America, visiting each state was like going to a different country.

There were time differences, different slang, styles, food, and norms.

It was fun to learn and experience new cultures, especially together.

They found a mini-golf place as they toured the town and did not hesitate to buy a game.

Mark won just by a few points, but Denise wasn't a sore loser. In fact, all that mattered was that they had fun.

After all the exploring they did, it was finally time to feed their hungry bellies.

They went to the Blue Lion, where they shared a rack of lamb and had tiramisu for dessert.

"Can you believe that it has been a year?" Mark asks as Denise ate the last bite of their tiramisu.

"No," she answered honestly after swallowing her food. "Sometimes, I feel like its been longer, and then other times, it feels like I was a completely different person yesterday."

Sensing she has something else to say, Mark, leans on the table, attentively.

"Sometimes, I think about how I used to be, and it's so odd because I'd never say or do those things now. I didn't think I could be, this," Denise gestures to herself. "Have a functional relationship, a YouTube channel, all the way across the country in a cowboy state."

She laughed in disbelief, "it's unbelievably insane."

For Denise, being on the road wasn't just about traveling and seeing the world. It was about how much she changed, and how far she's come from the person she used to be.

"I know I still have some ways to go," Denise said humbly. "No one's perfect, but it's still crazy that I've gotten this far, you know?"

"I'm proud of you," Mark reached his hand around the side of the table.

She grasps it with a smile, "thanks, babe."

Their waiter comers over and take their dishes away. While Mark is asking for the check, Denise's eyes land on a family sitting at a table nearby.

When the waiter is gone, Mark follows her gaze. He had never mentioned it to her but noticed that her attention often got dragged away when families were around.

He clears his throat, bringing her attention back to him.

"Sorry, did you say something?" she asked.

"No, but can I ask you something?"

"Of course," Denise shrugged a shoulder.

"Do you ever think about reaching out to your family?"

Her eyes shifted, and he could tell that she was triggered.

Denise stayed calm and reserved, but Mark knew a million thoughts were going through her head.

She had managed to heal and move on from the birth of her son and crappy ex-boyfriends. But there was one thing that she struggled to let go, and it was the lack of family she had.

Most of her life, she felt like an orphan. Not to mention she got sent away and abandoned like one.

She never voiced it, but there wasn't just a pained look in her eyes when she saw families. It was a questioning look.

Like why?

Why didn't she get the father that protected and care for his daughter? Or the mother that was nurturing and attentive?

It was as if there was a little girl inside of her that just couldn't comprehend why her family mistreated her.

And now that she was older, a family seemed impossible to obtain.

Yeah, she could make her own family, but what Denise really wanted was for her father to be the father she thought he should have been and the same for her mother.

And it was hard to let go of that wish and expectation, even though they hadn't talked in years.

"No, of course not," she scoffed a bit. "I mean, what would I say to them? Is there really anything to say?"

"Well, you could tell them how you feel. Say, you forgive them - if you do that is," Mark raised a questioning eyebrow. "I'm not judging if you haven't."

"I know," Denise gulped the tears that were threatening to spill.

More proof that her parents' wounds were still very fresh, despite her being an adult.

That was one of the things that she hated about healing. You get rid of one wound, and there's another, even bigger than the last that you have to face.

It was an ongoing cycle that she was tired yet willing to go through to be the best Denise.

Even if she dealt with the pass, life was still waiting to throw more crap at her in the future. She'd have to heal from those things too. It was just better to get the old stuff out of the way, so she wouldn't have hurt, on top of hurt, - and so on.

"I don't know, Mark," she answered honestly. "Sometimes I think I'm past it, and then other times, not so much. It's not like they can't find me or a way to contact me. I'm pretty known with YouTube and all. If they wanted to seem me, they'd reach out."

"Well, there's nothing wrong with you reaching out either. Somebody has to make the first move, eventually."

"And you know how I love being the bigger person," Denise rolled her eyes with a sigh. "What about you? Unlike me, you don't really have an issue with your family. You think about reaching out to them?"

Mark thought for a moment.

She was right. He didn't have any anger toward his family. They were in Colorado, he was in Massachusetts. Miles away, different time zones - staying in touch wasn't an easy thing.

Life went on, and he understood that.

He could have written them letters and taken their calls, but he didn't.

Mark simply let go, so he wouldn't be a burden to them anymore. If there was anything he should have been mad at - it was himself.

"I'd love to see them again," he gave a soft smile. "The whole thing just wrecks my nerves. The last time they saw me, I was practically still a kid. Average height, skinny, short hair, no tattoos, and now I'm -"

"The sexiest guy I've ever dated, hands down," Denise made him grin.

"That's not what I meant."

"I know," she smiled. "But, I'm sure you're family would love to see you. They sound like pretty nice people from what you've told me."

"Yeah, maybe," Mark shrugged thoughtfully.

"Aren't they in Colorado? We could make a detour and go down their instead of Nebraska. Only if you want, though. I'm open to it. Just because I don't want anything to do with my family, doesn't mean we can reunite you with yours."

"Thanks," Mark was appreciative. "I'll think about it. We'll be here for a few days, anyway."

Denise only nodded, happy that he was at least considering it.

It gave her hope for her feelings about her parents.