Caregiving Without The Label

I've been in this relationship with my partner, let's call her Sarah, for about five years now. We met online and hit it off instantly, we had similar interests, a shared sense of humor, and it seemed like there was an immediate connection. As our friendship grew, so did the dynamic. I started taking on more of a caregiving role almost unconsciously; checking in regularly to make sure she wasn't stressing too much about work or her personal life. This wasn't just emotional support, when we first moved in together, I found myself managing all sorts of practical things: grocery shopping, meal planning, paying bills, even deciding what clothes would look best on her for different occasions. It was like a second nature by that point. Sarah never really called me 'Daddy' or anything; she seemed to be comfortable with the relationship as it was, appreciative but not needy in an overt way. I've always seen myself more of a protector and provider rather than some sort of domineering figure from her childhood fantasies. But over time, the dynamics shifted subtly, I started to feel like my role was becoming increasingly defined by this caregiving, almost parental stance. Sarah never resisted or pushed back against it; she seemed to accept and enjoy my involvement. The thing that's bugging me now is how one-sided it feels. I worry sometimes that I'm imposing a dynamic on her that isn't really wanted, maybe she sees the care as romantic but doesn't want the label or any explicit role-play aspects associated with DDLG relationships. Or perhaps, I might be projecting my own comfort and familiarity onto our relationship, making assumptions about what we are based solely on how I feel inside. I've toyed with bringing it up to her; maybe get some clarity on whether she's okay with me continuing in this role or if she'd prefer more equality. But every time I think about opening the conversation, my heart starts racing and I start wondering if I'm just overthinking everything. So here's my confession: I've been in a long-term relationship where I took up a caregiving role without any formal labels or boundaries set by us both. While she appears comfortable with it, there’s this nagging suspicion that maybe I’m doing something for her without knowing exactly what she wants. It’s like navigating uncharted territory with someone who might not fully understand the map either.