The Shadow of a Swan

Part 5

     The sun's rays began to penetrate the room, gradually lighting up the morning. Regina hadn't closed her eyes that night... She carefully got out of bed, freeing herself from Robin's embrace. He was sleeping so peacefully... She smiled, looking at this sight... calm breathing and heaving chest... his facial features not yet disturbed by anxiety gave her soul peace, and his always tousled chestnut hair, which reminded her of the perky boy who always lives in the heart of her beloved man. But again her thoughts darted in another direction and the smile disappeared from her face. Sadness and melancholy filled her soul and she walked towards the kitchen to make herself a cup of coffee and cheer up a little after a sleepless night... She stood by the window, looking at the gray sky, enjoying her hot drink. Each sip burned her throat, giving her the opportunity to feel at least something real, to make the pain she felt became physical... The liquid flowed further, warming her body from the inside, but it was not the warmth she craved. Her limbs still could not warm up, and she clasped both hands around the mug in the hope of somehow bringing her icy fingers back to life.
     Suddenly, someone came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing his hot body against her back. She let herself melt into this embrace and threw her head back, resting it on his shoulder.

- "Can't sleep?"

- "No, I'm sorry I woke you up... I just can't get the thoughts out of my head..."

-"It's okay, everything's fine..." he said and hugged her tighter. "You're all frozen... let's go to bed and you can tell me what's going on in that beautiful, smart head of yours and maybe then you'll feel a little better?"

- "Mmm... sounds amazing, dear..." - Regina wiggled a little more in his arms, as if trying to drown in them and forget herself... - "But as wonderful as it sounds, it's time for me to do something and it's much more important than my mental state..." - she put the empty mug on the table, turned to meet him face to face and kissed him tenderly on the lips - "But thank you for your concern, I will definitely take you up on your offer when all this is over..." - she smiled and stroked his cheek with her palm.

-"I will always be glad to please my queen," he grinned in response. "But, as I understand it, a big person means a big responsibility..."

- "Exactly! But that's not so important here... Emma is my friend... she saved me, who knows what would have happened to me if the darkness had swallowed me... I need to find her, Robin, I have to!"

- "I'm proud of you!" - was all he said in response, wrapping her tender face puting his palms on her cheeks and glancing right in her eyes, to which Regina's eyes welled up with tears. She leaned her head against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, holding him tightly in her arms...

     Two hours later, all of Emma's family members had already gathered in Regina's office, where they were heatedly discussing a new plan of finding her and freeing from the power of the Darkness...

- "Use Zelena's powers to transport us with the wand to the Enchanted Forest?" - Mary Margaret said. - "It's very dangerous, I hope you know and understand what you're getting into!" - her worried face expressed anxiety.

- "Yes, I am well aware of the seriousness and danger of the situation, but the risk is worth it... we have already wasted a lot of time... she is there alone... and there is no one to help her... what if by the time we are looking for a safe option, it will be too late? Where are the guarantees in this case?"

- "I've been trying to explain this to you for a long time... I'm glad that you've finally gotten distracted from the caresses and warm embraces of your tame robber..." - Hook began.