recently found that my girlfriend is some long distant relative

Whoa I've been there - it depends. Where are you from if I might ask? I'm African - and where I come from ain't no way you can marry a relative - its taboo. So you'd need to put it into a cultural context hey before you rock up to your folks and create a furore. I recall a time when i fell for someone who turned out to be my uncle - the ENTIRE clan was mobilised I tell you and we were strictly forbidden to even look at each other. Years later he married someone else. We rarely meet nowadays and when we do it's tense.

you have no reason to get worried .....

Let both of you report the matter (that you love each other) to your respective parents and then it becomes ARRANGED LOVE MARRIAGE.

I think it is not a problem if she is a long distant relative. Even your parents should not have a problem as she is relative. Speak to ur parents.

if it is long then what is stopping you? go ahead tell your parents.. its ok.. Allah Knows Best...