Yes i know they get married and all but it's not such a prerequisite and not so much pressure to do so. And these days you don't have to be married in law to live together and have the same legal resposiblilities and rights.
See I got married for religious reasons and my husband married so the kids had more of a legal protection under him. Making me his next of kin protects his children ...............if you know what I mean?
(Oh dear I think the mersyndol is beginning to set in, oh well at least i'm not in pain anymore
)