Here is a hypothesis: Distance is literally the time between objects.
As a syrup blooded Canadian, I refer to the distance between objects as the time it will take to travel between the given points. "The grocery store is 20 minutes away."
My theory is simply this: relativity and special relativity operate in a universe where the separation between all matter is time itself. There is no separation of dimensional space from time. Distances are just measurements of the amount of time between objects given an instantaneous travel time. Therefore empty space is still filled with time and maintains a distance value that is only relevant as a unit of time. High gravity space increases in perceived distance as time density increases. In actuality there is only time between all things. Distance is only our interpretation of the time between matter.
When you look over the horizon from your porch you are looking across time at the speed of light. You see the horizon as it was when light bounced off and traveled towards you. You see the hills between you and the horizon fractions of a moment earlier in time and the fence of your yard even closer to your time. All of this is described as one time but it isn't. You are seeing a small fraction of times relative to your own position in time.
For those whom only understand things as math:
T actual=T relative / c
and
Distance = T actual