I do not own Once Upon a Time.

So Bernadette is going to meet someone and maybe go back to her old self. I honestly missed the bounty hunter.

Bernadette woke up the next morning with an odd taste in her mouth. Her hand flew to the bedside table for a glass of water. Instead she was met with a small balm container. She bolted up and carefully sniffed it. Her head came back quickly, she knew that drug, the kiss of death that she had used on occasion.

Wait, did that explain the odd taste in her mouth right now and the lack of dreams last night? He drugged her, Baelfire had drugged her. But why?

Her question was answered when she noticed note on edge of the bed.

'Bernadette, please forgive me. I know you would have tried to stop me by any means needed. I have to find out if there is a way to save my father. I know you believe that dead is dead and that him sacrificing himself for us was the most noble thing a person can do, but after three hundred years, I want my family back together. Belle is coming with me. Look for my return. I love you so much.'

Bernadette held her emotions steady. He sounded so hopeful at finding a way but she knew it was to put on a happy face. To bring back a life, a life must be given up. The laws of nature are hard to argue with, even if you have good intentions.

Baelfire did it for his father, he had gone through a portal alone to save her. He had all the makings of a hero. If only she had been able to teach him for to be a little selfish. To just think of himself and her and their future together.

She would hope for the best, but prepare for the worse.

Belle arrived at the house the following day, and she was alone. Bernadette had paced and done everything possible to keep her mind from thinking the worse. There was no one to talk to around, and well she didn't want to worry anyone anyway.

"What happened? Where's Baelfire?" Bernadette tried not to yell, yelling wouldn't make things better. She could see the woman was shaken and led her inside to tell the tale.

Belle sat down at the table. "Baelfire and I went to Rumple's manor and found candelabra named Lumiere. He showed us a book with a hidden key for a vault that would revive the Dark One. We then travelled to the vault but found out we were tricked and someone else wants Rumple alive…"

Bernadette stopped her. "Who else is there?"

"The Wicked Witch."

"The Wicked Witch, like from Oz, with green skin and flying monkeys?" Bernadette almost couldn't believe those tales were true.

"We did see flying monkeys when we came back, remember." Belle reminded her then went back to her story. "I warned Baelfire of the consequences of bringing Rumple back, but he did it anyway. And there was a price, Baelfire's own life. But at the last moment, Rumple somehow absorbed his son into his own body. The witch then ordered Rumple to kill me. He told me to run and I did."

Bernadette took a shaky breath; it was almost too much for her to bear. Was Baelfire safe inside of Rumple's body? And great, just great. They had just defeated Pan and now there was another villain. Was this to be her life now, one villain after another?

"I already informed Snow White and David about the events…" Belle told her.

"Good idea. They always have plans to save the day. Where is the witch holding them, him?"

"Rumple's castle, why?"

Bernadette stood up and began gathering daggers. It was going to be like the good old days. "Because I'm going to pay this witch a visit."

"Be careful, she's dangerous." Belle warned her.

"I'm always careful and I'm just as dangerous."

Bernadette remembered the last time she was in the Dark One's castle, it was right before the curse and she was looking for the memory tonic. A lot of good that did. Her fingers touched the bracelet. She missed Derek so much and thought about him every day.

Suddenly the bracelet flew off her wrist and through the air. It was exactly like last time; it would find the thing she wanted the most. She ran down the hall following it. It stopped and draped itself on a doorknob. Bernadette threw the door open and almost gasped at the sight before her.

It was a large cage with a single person inside. Rumplestiltskin.

Bernadette ran to it, not bothering to check for flying monkeys.

"Baelfire!" She dropped to her knees but Rumple stared back at her, confused. She was on the verge of tears. He understood and before her eyes, transformed into Baelfire.

"You shouldn't have come, it's too dangerous." Baelfire grabbed her hands tight.

"You think I was going to leave you? We are going to find a way to save the both of you." Bernadette told him, leaning her forehead against his through the bars. "I love you too much to just abandon you."

"Well, isn't this just sweet." Came a new voice from behind Bernadette. She saw Baelfire's eyes widen in horror. Bernadette just pressed her lips together. She could switch back to her charming bounty hunter self when pushed.

Bernadette stood up and turned around to face the Wicked Witch. She had red hair, pretty enough if she didn't have green skin. And she was dressed all in black. Her actual presence made Bernadette sick to her stomach. What villain was able to do that to her?

"I don't know about you, but boys shouldn't be around for girl talk." The witch said then she waved her hand and the cage disappeared.

Bernadette held back a cry of loss. She could do this; she was not weak.

"If I didn't know any better, we could be family. The resemble is striking." The witch took a step forward but stopped when she noticed Bernadette's hand going to her waist for a dagger. "Where are my manners? I'm Zelena."

"I didn't ask for your name. And I seriously doubt we are family. Let them go." Bernadette demanded.

"But darling, he's part of my plan." Zelena told her, actually laughing.

Silence then fell on the room.

Bernadette broke it. "This is the part where you tell me every detail of your plan to take over the world and I, as a good guy, find a way to stop you."

"You think you're a good guy? Darling, have you looked in the mirror lately? You're selfish and dwell far much on the past, and you delight in witty cruel comments. You have never actually defeated a villain; you only helped if it was good for you." Zelena took a step forward then stopped. She sized Bernadette up and the look on the witch's face said everything. Bernadette felt exposed and vulnerable. She hated that feeling more than anything in the world.

Zelena must have seen the one thing everyone missed. The Blue Fairy never saw it, neither did Regina or Cora. Bernadette thought Rumple had an inkling but thankfully he was never able to test his theory. Besides, she couldn't answer him anyway. Why could Zelena see what no one else could? "So the rumors are true. I know all about you, it's all written in the Book of Records. There is so much untapped potential in here."

Wicked Witch indeed. "Don't touch me." Bernadette grabbed Zelena's wrist. "Trust me darling, you don't want to be around when I tap into it. My potential that is."

"Looking forward to it. Well, I am not going to tell you my plan, where would the fun in that be?" Zelena giggled.

"What I wouldn't do for a glass of water right now?" Bernadette mused out loud.

"You think that can defeat me? Darling, you have so much to learn."

"I want to drink the water, then throw the glass at your head." Bernadette smiled at her.

"Are we done here? I'm running on a very tight schedule." Before Bernadette could answer, Zelena waved her hand and suddenly Bernadette was standing in the middle of the forest.

She braced herself for the usual reaction, but it was only a dull pain. Odd. But back to Zelena, Cora had the same annoying trick.

Now Bernadette had to find out what Zelena planned to do, maybe Belle knew something. Then they had to stop her and put the family back together. No matter what it took.

Okay, Bernadette and Zelena are not related, but they both have red hair. I just wanted to throw that out there. And Zelena knows something. Anyone have an idea what Bernadette's secret is?

Reviews?