My story begins with a twist...

[Gardener]

Here is hoping; we still have a ways to go.

She still can't bring herself to say "I love you" when I say it to her. And regardless of these breakthroughs, I still want to do joint MC with her.

Great progress. Just remember that you are still in the DBing phase and do have a ways to go in the M to keep things on track.

And since you are still in the DBing phase, maybe you should refrain from saying "I love you," like DBing suggests.