It was a stormy evening. Little did he know, Mirra was very interested in peering up at the sunset with the lightning out there in the violet hued vibrant sky.

He sat at his wheel spinning, listening to Mirra tinkering away standing on top of the wobbly unsafe ladder of his.

"Ugh, come on!" He turned around looking at the frustrated woman cursing the top of the thick curtain as she tried to pull it away. He finally got up and ventured over to her. She looked down with a guilty look seeing him staring back at her, laughing.

"What are you doing to my curtain Dearie?" She then rolled her eyes and went back to her activity.

"I…well," she lost all thought keeping her concentration on the task. He closed his arms, tapping his foot.

"Tsk, Tsk, Tsk, come on now Dearie…" She took a moment to speak.

"Well, I just wanted, oh, it's so silly actually." Mirra went back to fighting the large thick piece of fabric.

"Come on Damnit!" His eyes nearly popped out at her sudden outburst.

"Um, why so cloak and dagger about it, my lovely?"

She still struggled for a moment. Finally she succeeded ripping the curtain off the rod, followed by a rip and jingle.

"Oh, that's not what I wanted," she said feeling guilty. They both looked at each other in shock while the curtain fell down. In an instant, Mirra went from shock to panic as the weight of the curtain tugged at her foot, dragging her off the ladder.

He opened up his arms, attempting to catch her. As she plummeted, she threw her body around, landing on all fours like a cat, grunting as she landed.

She got up smiling, straightening out her skirts, pulling up her bodice. The Dark One simply stood there mind boggled.

She still smiled at him with an amused expression.

"Mirra my dear…you could have broken your neck! I was trying to catch you Dearie!"

"Oh, now, don't get into such a hissy," she said as she closed in on him, softly cupping her hands around his jaw, followed by a quick kiss on his mouth. She continued on.

"I am a peasant girl you know, not a defenseless princess. I am accustomed to jumping off of heights. I don't have the privilege of having guards and knights coming to rescue me at the drop of a hat! You should know by now I can fend for myself you silly man!" She laughed as he smiled before he spoke.

"See Dearie, it's different now for you. I am now here to rescue you at any moment of need. Come to think of it-" he smiled looking so crazy into the air, as if he had a brilliant idea, then looked back at her.

"We are higher than the queen, thanks to my power! In a way, you are a woman of Quality, with my association of course! So, don't worry about being tough!" He finished with a playful poke in her shoulders.

Raising a brow, she spoke and she grabbed his finger. He could never get used to her quick, above average reflexes and strength for a woman.

"I can take any man down…even you Rumpelstiltskin!" He fought to pull his finger out of her grasp.

"Nehahah! I'd like to see you try my little fighter!" Realizing she was too distracted, he yanked his finger out and ran away. She dodged after him, her laughter uncontrollable. She felt very silly playing a childish game as a grown woman.

She chased him twice around the long dining table. He ran off into another direction, as she skittered after him.

After many attempts, she corned him, just as about to grab him, he disappeared into thin air followed by a giggle.

"Oh, come on my love! That's not fair! You have magic!" She stood there annoyed with her hands resting on her hips.

Suddenly, she nearly jumped out of her skin as she heard his victorious giggle in her ear, followed by clawed fingers tickling her waist so aggressively.

She turned around now facing him, wagging her finger in his face. All he could do was laugh.

"Rumpelstiltskin, you naughty man!" He whirled her around, and then enveloped his arms around her, lifting her off the ground twirling her quickly, the two of them moving in circles.

As they twirled about, she somewhat demanded him to put her down; in reality, she loved being held off the ground in his hold, he kissed her neck, and then whispered.

"Oh Dearie, I will show you what naughty is…" She giggled as he put her down.

He stood there looking at her with his classic mischievous smile.

She reached for him, tugging him roughly at the wrist. She laughed as he fell to the ground. He could not believe what she just done. She sat on top of him, looking down into his shocked expression.

"I told you I can take any man down…including you," she exclaimed proudly pushing the tip of his nose. He reached for her, pulling her down over him.

She simply held her face so close to his, looking intensely into his eyes. Closing her eyes for a moment, she enjoyed the soothing touch of his hand moving into her hair.

"Wow…I never realized it fully until now…"

"What's the dearie?"

"Your…your eyes are so beautiful. It's funny, that's what I always looked at when I meet others for the first time. How could have I not noticed it until now? There just so…effervescent." She lost all thoughts as she leant down to kiss him.

She hovered her head back up, tucking herself into his neck.

"I love you my dark prince," she whispered.

"I love you my sweet angel," He flipped her on her back, she could never get to his quick reflexes either.

He bent his neck down, laying a sweet long kiss upon her lips. He grabbed her tighter while simply looking at her.

He then let out a startled gasp once he found himself flung off of her. She quickly got up standing over him as she spoke.

"You know Rumpelstiltskin, I would have loved to stay on that ground and kiss you till your heart's content, but, you didn't play fair earlier, so why should I?"

"What?" She smiled down at the confused man.

"You used magic to disappear, normal humans cannot disappear, that is an advantage you used over me. I can't let you have everything you want. Now, I am going to have some tea." She turned on her heel and headed to the table. She snickered as Rumpelstiltskin grumbled.

He jumped up after her, trailing behind.

"You're a sly little lass, aren't you?" Mirra laughed.

"I guess you could say that my love. See, all my life, due to the complication of not being able to speak, all I could do was contemplate and strategize. While people were running of their mouths, I was running my mind."

The couple walked over to the small love seat tucked away by the fireplace. The Imp smiled knowing the other side of that small sofa was now used by another person…her.

Before enjoying their tea, they got comfortable. He put his arm around her, using the other to hold his cup.

"So Dearie, what were you looking at anyway up there?"

"Oh, spider," she replied. He moved his face towards her, looking very interested.

"A spider? Didn't think a creature would have enough bravery to come onto my grounds, let alone in my home!"

"Well, you have a guest, a fuzzy guest with eight legs. He's a lovely little thing."

"Do you like spiders Dearie?" She took a second to think.

"Yes, I do. I have a fascination with them. There so amusing, they can spin beautiful webs, looking so intricate, nearly a masterpiece really! And, in a way, they are so scary and beautiful at the same time. And all those different designs and shapes! Goodness! Those little creatures have such personality as well; some will actually come after you, and others will shy away."

Mirra got up with her now empty cup as she gestured him to follow her. She quickly ascended the ladder. The Dark One looked up at her stunned while she softly flicked the tiny brown spider into her cup then climbed back down the ladder.

She stood in front of him so proud.

"See, look at him, isn't he beautiful?" He did his best to agree seeing he was too distracted by his love's odd interest.

"oh, my," she exclaimed as the spider crawled and hopped out of the cup, trying to scurry away. He grinned before laughing.

"Neahahahah! I shall smash him!" Mirra pushed him out of the way as she ran off to save the poor terrified creature.

"No, please don't, the little thing is only frightened." After a few paces, Mirra managed to flick the spider back into her tea cup, making her way back up the ladder as quick as she could to return it to it's web.

After climbing the ladder and returning her new pet to its home, she walked back over to the sofa, he followed as well. As he sat down, she spoke.

"Now, you don't hurt a creature like that, unless it's hurt you first," she said before giving him a light peck on the cheek. He grumbled.

"Now, how could you pick on a tiny adorable creature?" He looked at her with amusment.

"Oh Dearie, just when I think I understand your odd ways, you get even odder…" Mirra giggled as she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"I, I wanted to ask you something my love," she asked.

"Yes Dearie?"

"I saw clothes upstairs. Well, small clothes, as for a boy? Did you ever have a son?" He quickly licked his lips before saying anything. He wasn't ready for her sudden question. This was always a sore subject for him, but she only wanted to know.

"Yes, there was a son. His name was Bae. I lost him."

"So, things were very different for you so long ago?"

"Yes. It wasn't always like this." Still leaning on his shoulder, she moved her hand up his chest into his hair. He closed his eyes.

"So, what was your life like before all of this?" He opened his eyes staring into no particular direction.

"I was a spinner, along with my son. My wife left us when he was a baby. We were very poor and miserable, but I had what money couldn't buy…my son. My darling son."

"Why would your wife leave you? Your so…great."

"Because I ran from the war. I felt like it was my only choice. I was the only one who survived. There was 40 of us, and 100 of them…the ogres. I never saw so much bloodshed in my life."

"She left you because you came home from a battle you had no chance in hell of survival?"

"Yes, once you put it that way."

"And, she left he son behind as well? Did…did she even love you?" Rumpelstiltskin looked down pondering, trying to find the words.

"Yes, she did leave him and I behind without hesitation. I never heard from her since. No, she didn't love me. I loved her though, heck, I went to a war to impress her. But, sometimes we take more than we can handle, right Dearie?" He held onto her tighter.

"I, I just can't wrap myself around the idea that a woman would leave you. Everyone deserves a chance at love." He lightly cupped her face, softly bringing her to face him as he leaned in close. Her dark eyes got lost into his golden ones.

"Dearie, you certainly have been right. I feel like I had to go through heartbreak to find you. You healed my heart. You are my chance, and I hope I am certainly yours." He locked his lips with hers for a few seconds, and then leaned back smiling.

"You restored my hope when it comes to mankind, my love," she replied.

"I have been going years, nearly 15 years without being shown one ounce of kindness or love from another. I have lost a loved one to. My life was a little better than it was years ago.

"Who did you lose Dearie?"

"My Father. He, he was murdered. Slaughtered actually by an ogre."

"How did he come across one? When did he pass on, do you remember?

"Actually, he was my savior, he knew how much I loved Gardenias. He went to the depths of the forest to where they grew. We were poor, but, I thought showing him a picture of the flower I wanted, for a flower would be alright considering it didn't cost a penny, and he…insisted that I get what I wanted. But-" she took a deep breath, pushing back the wave of sadness and her tears. He caressed her hair trying to comfort her.

"I thought it was a harmless request. I was very wrong. That same day, on my 7th birthday, he came home carried by 9 men in the village, his body nearly ripped to pieces, blood soaking his shirt, but somehow, the flower was tucked safely onto his belt. Eversince then, I have been my familys burden, always ridiculed and cursed at for my Papa's death. I really don't know what to think. He used to always be there for me, he was a patient man, he never raised his voice to me. He understood my…struggle. My family didn't, when they took advantage of my problem, my Father always intervened. My mother was the worst out of all of them. She never really cared for me it seemed. She took more pride in my siblings. My brother because he was the head of the family, and my sister because they are apparently very beautiful and they can speak."

"Honestly, I think your far more beautiful then all of those hags I seen in your old home that day…" She smiled nearly chocking a sob.

"Oh, thank you, your too kind," she replied. He leaned into her ear, kissing her hairline.

"Even if you weren't, your kindness and purity would shine through. Beauty withers away, but what you have inside of yourself doesn't Dearie."

She grabbed his face and kissed him deeply.

"It's easy to maintain those traits when I have you around, Rumpelstiltskin. You seem to tempt be to bring out the best I have."

"By the way Dearie, why so curious of my son?"

"Well, if we keep showing each other how we feel…you may have another. We should be a little careful," she warned as she blushed, which made him smile.

"I wouldn't be…unhappy." She laughed at his odd reply.

"Really now?" After her question, she gave him a intrigued look.

"Well, the castle is big, lots of spare bedrooms…"

Before she could say anything, he locked his lips with hers, bringing her down on her back against the armrest.

"Like I said Dearie, I wouldn't be…unhappy."

Please review. I way paranoid my Mirra OC was venturing Mary Sue territory, so I gave her something alot of chics dont have...a love for creepy creatures and guilt. hahah. Review please, I could use some inspiration nuggets. :)