As the months past Mara found herself feeling happier than she ever expected. Rumpelstiltskin had provided her with a beautiful room, all the books she could possibly read, and the tasks he asked of her were not too difficult. She even enjoyed spending time with her "captor", he told outrageous stories and she loved to watch him spin. After six months of living in close quarters Mara realized her feelings towards Rumple were changing, she began to see that what she truly felt was love. Unfortunately, life had hurt and scorned Rumpelstiltskin so many times she knew he would never be able to believe that someone would actually love him. So she began her mission of love, doing little things every day to help his see that she loved him and all of his eccentricities.
At first she only brushed against him every chance she got, feeling him shudder when it happened. Once he became used to that contact, she began touching him whenever she served him food or tea, or when handed him straw for the spinning wheel. This was difficult for Rumple to handle, it had been so long since anyone had touched him with affection, he didn't know how to handle the feelings it stirred up within him. At first he thought all the brushes and soft touches were accidental, but then he noticed that she watched him whenever it happened, looking to see what his reaction would be. One day while he was sitting at the spinning wheel and Mara was in her usual spot on a stool at his feet he looked down at her and asked, "Dearie…why do you persist in touching me…what is it you want from me?
"Oh Rum, I don't want anything that you can't give…I just want to understand how I feel about you"
Leaning in very close to Mara's face, Rumple looked curiously at her…"and just how do you feel?"
Mara leaned up slightly and gently placed her lips on his and as she kissed him softly she said…"why you silly man…I love you of course"