Storybrooke had been the number one place that she'd enjoyed, truly, especially since she'd met someone who happened to be the love of her life. She hadn't expected such a person to come into her life, it had happened without her realization. She'd fallen so fast for this woman, and before she'd known it; she was gone. She didn't really know where she'd gone, nor how to find her, but Regina went off in search of her. Her travels landed her in Boston, but when it did, she seemingly didn't have any recollection of her memories or why she'd even gone out of her safe place to begin with. The only memories she had were of her name, age and somewhat of her past life. With a confused mind, she traveled her way through the city of Boston. After finding an apartment building that had a for rent sign, she found her a place to live.

When she moved in, she slowly began to decorate her apartment. She might've only been living there for a week or two before she met her neighbor across the hallway. She introduced herself and grinned at the woman that she had met. "I'm Regina, and you are?" She asked. Emma, the neighbor across the hallway, who happened to be Regina's long lost love, had given her a smile. "Emma, Emma Swan. Are you new here?" Emma asked, Regina nodded softly and took in a deep breath, chewing on her lip. "I just moved in, about two weeks ago." She explained, Emma nodded softly. "Well, would you like to come in for some coffee?" She offered, to which Regina quickly agreed. She followed Emma right in her apartment, settling down at the counter, she watched Emma working her way around the kitchen. Once a mug of coffee was placed in front of her, she took it into her hands and blew on it to cool it down, before slowly sipping on it. Humming at the warmth from the coffee, it was very caramel-y, which she enjoyed. "So," after licking her lips, she continued on her question, "what do you do for a living, Emma?" She asked, a light, raspy tone escaped her from the hot coffee flowing down her throat. Emma smiled, hearing that tone made her feel some type of way, a way she wouldn't have been able to pick out from any other at this very moment. "I'm actually a detective, but I'm a little bit different from most you've probably seen," she chuckled, "my detective style is unique, if you will." She finished off, sipping on her own cup of coffee as the two women stared at one another, not much else to say. Since Regina had moved, she didn't know if asking about what she did for work was the best thing to ask.

Regina eyed the detective up and down as she finished off her coffee. Carefully, she stood up and moved to place her cup down in the sink, turning swiftly to meet the detective's eyes when she'd felt them subconsciously grazing down her back. A smile appeared on crimson colored lips and she tilted her head, "Well, I must be getting back home across the hall now. I've got tons of unpacking to still do and job searching. It was very nice to meet you, and I hope to speak to you again. You are always welcome to come knock on my door if you'd like to hang out with me," she murmured with a gentle grin, holding out her hand to shake Emma's. Emma eyed the hand held out towards her and she slowly took it into her own, shaking the woman's hand as she nodded. "I'd like that very much, actually. I'll keep that in mind, it was very nice to meet you, too, Regina. Good night." She murmured and waved goodbye to the lady she'd just met, and she showed her out. Once Regina had made it to her apartment, and the door was closed, she locked it before heading to clean up and head off to bed. She had work early that morning, but somehow, she knew they'd see one another again very soon.

Once Regina had gone back into her apartment, she locked the door behind her and went straight to her bedroom, laying down, she curled into bed with her phone, looking for job opportunities. Since having met up with Emma and gotten to know a little bit about her, Regina felt some type of way about her. She knew there was something about Emma that somehow drew her closer to her, making her want to get to know her better. At around 2 am, Regina soon found herself falling asleep, curled under her blankets. Around 7:45 am, she woke up, wide awake, ready to start her day. Although, if only she knew that her day was just about to become the craziest day of her life. Through the morning and beginning of the afternoon, everything went well, Regina had unpacked most of her things and decorated her apartment, mainly to the extent that she felt comfortable with. Around 3 pm, some loud knocking sounds were coming from across the hallway. Confused, Regina walked towards her door and peeked out the peephole. Upon not seeing Emma, she moved to open the door to her apartment to confront the man who happened to be banging on Emma's door, whom she assumed wasn't home. She was a detective, right? Surely she worked until 4 or 5 in the afternoon most days.

"Um, excuse me sir, may I help you?" She asked, only to regret opening her door in the first place when the man whipped around quickly, and pressed a gun to her head. His musty, alcohol infused scent made her gag slightly. He leaned his head towards her, getting close to her ear. "You can. By shutting up and telling me everything you know about Detective Swan." He growled into her ear, fear coursing through her entire body, not knowing who this man was, or why he wanted to know anything about Emma. Startled by the still cold barrel of the gun being pressed tightly against her temple, she gulped and closed her eyes, hoping she didn't say anything wrong to upset the man. Though, before she spoke a word, she soon heard Emma's voice piping up in the distance, "Hey asshole, let her go! I'm the one you're looking for, you ass-wipe." How had she known? Was she on a case, or was she coming home? She didn't know, all she hoped for was that this guy left them both alone. When the barrel was removed from her temple, she slowly opened her eyes and looked up, although, she soon regretted doing so, when she seen Emma lunging towards the guy to get him away from her, she quickly happened to shut her eyes. Two shots were fired, although, one was fatal, the other was only an injury. When she opened her eyes once more, blood was splattered all over the hallway's walls, and when she looked over towards the staircase, she seen the man's body laid lifeless on the floor. A sigh of relief left her lips, only to register where the other shot had gone.

Quickly, she moved over to Emma and she bent down next to her. Thankfully, it'd only been Emma's shoulder, but it still made the brunette worry over the blonde. "Emma! Are you okay?" She asked, quickly reaching for her phone as she dialed 911, hoping to get through to a dispatcher before Emma bled out. "Please.. say something, tell me you're okay.." she murmured out to the blonde, whom happened to be in an immense amount of pain. When the brunette's voice registered, Emma slowly tried to sit up, although, she'd been quickly forced back down by Regina. Emma looked up, confused. "What happened? Why am I in pain?" She'd asked, to which Regina responded, trying not to allow her cracking voice to take over. "You've been shot, Emma. In the shoulder, but it's there. You're bleeding... please, just lay still, the ambulance is on its way." She murmured to her, ripping off a piece of her sleeve on her shirt to apply pressure to Emma's wound. She hoped that the ambulance had made it to their rescue before anything else decided to take place.

After the ambulance had arrived, Emma was quickly transported to Boston General Hospital, and Regina happened to ask to go with her. She wanted to be sure that Emma was okay. After Emma had gone through surgery to remove the bullet and repair the damage in her shoulder, Regina had been allowed back in Emma's hospital room. She watched over her, making sure that everything was going okay with Emma's vitals. Four hours later, Emma soon began to awaken from the anesthesia. She was quite groggy, and when she seen Regina, she looked at her confused, tilting her head to the side, she slowly tried to lift up, to which, when she did, she whimpered, and Regina quickly moved and pushed her back down in the bed. "No. Stay laid down. You just went through surgery." She happened to be quite bossy, but only for Emma's safety. Emma eyed Regina up and down and she softly sighed, closing her eyes. "What're you doing here? We barely know each other..." she murmured, confused. Why had Regina come to the hospital with her? They weren't friends, or a couple, or family — why did Regina care so much about her well-being? Regina reached over and softly sighed, running her fingers through Emma's hair. "We're neighbors, Emma. I don't care if I'd known you 20 years or 20 seconds.. I'm going to care when you've shown me nothing but hospitality." She admitted, shaking her head softly. "Besides... someone's going to have to take you home when they release you... and who better than the woman who called them and kept you safe?" She questioned and sighed softly. Emma listened and nodded, a smile appearing on her lips. "About that.. thank you. I'm so sorry you had to be involved in that... he had been after me since this case we'd started five years ago.. and apparently, today was his very last day of his search and his life.." she admitted and closed her eyes. "When do I get to go home exactly?" She asked, curiously. Regina soon replied, "From what I've heard from the doctors and nurses, with how fast you've seemingly begun recovering, they're expecting to send you back home by tomorrow afternoon. Although, they also said you can't work while you recover..." she told her, swallowing thickly, hating to give bad news to someone she barely knew. Emma frowned and sighed, "Damn it."

Two days had passed, and after Emma had been discharged and settled back in at home, Regina made sure to always come over to make Emma food and take care of her. Even though they'd only met four days prior, it didn't matter, Regina cared despite that. Around lunchtime, Regina had gone out and gotten them some Chinese food, and she settled on Emma's bed, next to Emma. Carefully, she held the box so that Emma could eat with her one good arm, and she settled her own plate in her lap so she could eat as well. She could feel the two of them becoming closer, she just didn't know how to mention that, although, she also didn't want to quite yet ruin any budding friendship they must've been starting. Once they'd finished eating, she'd cleaned up, and then she laid down next to Emma, making sure she was warm. A soft smile appeared upon Regina's lips as she watched the detective slowly doze off to a gentle slumber in front of her. The brunette soon followed, to which had them curled up against one another, without Regina's realization. A few hours later, around 4 o'clock in the afternoon, Regina soon woke up, only to find Emma staring at her. A smile appeared upon her lips and she tilted her head softly to the side. "Might I help you?" She asked, jokingly. Emma chuckled and shook her head. "Just admiring a true sleeping beauty, you know?" Regina felt her cheeks instantly turning red and she quickly sat up. "Oh, Emma. There's no way that's true.." she never believed she was beautiful, to which Emma used her good hand to cup Regina's cheek. "Oh believe me, it is." She promised and chuckled, before releasing Regina's cheek.

Upon feeling Emma's hand upon her cheek, before feeling it being removed, Regina felt her cheeks becoming much warmer with a crimson colored blush than before. Clearing her throat, she slowly moved to get up, "I uh... I should be going now. I'll send someone here with food for you, but I'll um.. I'll see you later." Before Emma could respond, Regina had bolted, afraid of what she felt was happening quicker than she'd been use to. Once she was back in the safety of her own apartment, she did her best not to hyperventilate. 'Oh my god.. does Emma.. does Emma have feelings for me too? Oh my god..', needless to say, Regina was freaking out, because she could feel herself falling for Emma, more so than she'd ever fallen for anyone, and she was absolutely terrified.

She had no idea what to do.. should she go back over and make her move, or should she keep quiet, while trying to take care of Emma until she's back on her feet for work? She had no idea which way was the best decision for her particular ailment, due to how amazing Emma happened to be with her, at all times.