It happens the day after the first heavy snow hits Storybrooke. Henry is in the front garden building a stockpile of snowballs in preparation for the annual Swan-Mills Annual Fight Extravaganza, and Emma is in the back garden doing the same.
Regina stands in the kitchen watching Emma's every move. It is something she finds herself doing more and more these days, just watching, no matter how her brain tells her body to act her eyes always betray her. So it is not by chance that Regina catches Emma throwing practice shots at the side of the house, warming herself up in for the big fight. And it so it is not by chance that Regina witnesses Emma's poor throw that crashes right through the dining room window. She watches as Emma flies up the garden after the rogue snowball in some attempt to beat Regina to the scene of the incident. In hindsight Regina will be grateful Emma reacted so speedily as when Regina storms out the back door her scolding remark dies on her lips as she slips on a patch of ice at the top of the back steps. She lands soundly in Emma's arms avoiding a nice meeting between the back of her head and the cement steps.
'Regina I'm so sorry, I'll have the window fixed as soon as possible, I'm so sorry, I don't know what happened I guess my aim just isn't what it used to be I..' Emma manages to get out in one breath before setting Regina gently back on her feet. ' I expect you will fix the window by tomorrow morning?' Regina questions, 'Yes, of course Regina, you know how fast I can work when required' Emma smirks back. 'Well good, I would hate to have to call the Sheriff and have you arrested for property damage' Regina replies, a wry smile tugging at her lips, 'I think I could probably talk myself out of arresting myself Regina but thank you for your discretion' Emma responds as she presses a brief kiss to Regina's lips before releasing her and running around the side of the house calling 'C'mon Kid we gotta go to the hardware store for..ARGHH' Emma begins to call to Henry as almost simultaneously he launches a viscous attack on her and she is pelted with snow balls.
Regina smirks as she listens to the ensuing struggle between the two people who have changed her life so dramatically. She returns to the house, she can't help her smile as she realises just then that what she has been trying to avoid all this time has happened and there is no going back, she has fallen harder for Emma Swan than she ever thought possible and she wouldn't trade her life now for an alternative anyone could offer her.