A/N: I don't know what inspired me to turn this 2002 JLo film into a SQ fanfic, but here I am, writing yet another love story for all of you to enjoy. :) I am working on chapter 2 as we speak as well as other updates that will be posted tonight. Stay tuned and as always, I thank you for your patience. Much love! -Emmasyellowbug.


"Henry, come on! You're going to be late for school!" Emma called out, smearing strawberry jam with a butter knife along the bread before pressing it together and cutting it diagonally. She packed an apple, followed by a bag of chips into her son's lunch bag. Motherhood was a twenty-four, seven hour job, but Emma wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. "Henry! I'm not going to tell you again!"

"Mom!" Ten-year-old Henry walks into the small kitchen of their two bedroom apartment. A red turtleneck sweater hanging by his tight grip. "This sweater is stupid."

"Wha-" Emma whips around as she takes in her son's half dressed state. "What are you doing? You're already going to be late!" She snatches the sweater from her son's hand. "Here, give me that."

Henry groans as he sees his mother's hands stretch out the neck of the sweater, "It won't fit mom. My head is too big."

"I'll be the judge of that." Emma pulls the sweater down, setting it along her son's tiny body.

"I'll look like a flamingo!" Henry whines.

"Flamingos are pink." Said Emma, knowing perfectly well Henry hated wearing turtleneck sweaters. She rotates her son's body and shoves him lightly along his back. "There. Perfect. Now, go put on some shoes, we're already late and if I'm late for work one more time I am so fired and we can't afford that."

With a roll of his eyes, and throwing his head back in annoyance, Henry marches into his room, placing on his shoes one foot at a time. Seconds later, he takes his backpack from his mother's hand.

"Your lunch is in there. Please don't squish it like you did last time." Emma warned, wrapping her long red trench coat along her body before reaching for her keys along the hook by the door.

"That wasn't my fault!" Henry races a few feet before her as they exit their apartment.

This was Emma's life. Always in a hurry.

Their daily routine would consist of taking the subway until they reached their stop and Emma dropped Henry off to school. Then, Emma would rush over to work, mounting the subway again to the much fancier part of the city where she would work at the Hampton's Inn and Suites.

"Okay, do you have everything?" Emma asks, standing with her son in front of the school building.

"Yes." Said Henry.

"Homework?"

"In my backpack." Henry assured her, rolling his eyes as Emma turned him around to zip open his backpack and check for herself. "Mom, I have it." He rotates back to face her.

"Okay, okay." Emma comes a few bangs out of Henry's eyes. "You need a haircut, kid."

"Mo-om!" Henry brushes away his mother's hands, his cheeks turning pink as he sees a few eyes of other kids turning his way.

"Now, remember, your dad is picking you up today after school to take you camping for the weekend. You tell him-"

"To drive me home so I can pick up my camping supplies and plenty of clothes for the weekend." Henry nods, already knowing his mother's speech by heart.

"And-"

"Take plenty of bug spray. I got it, mom." Said Henry.

"Smart ass," Emma chuckles, shaking her head. She leans in to place a wet kiss along her son's cheek.

"Mo-om…" Henry quickly wipes his cheek.

"Oh, what?" Emma straightens her son's jacket, shielding him from the chill in the air. "Hey, you should be so lucky you have a cool mom who loves you and isn't afraid to show it. And remember when you come back on Sunday, you go straight to Mrs. Peterson's apartment until I arrive home from work, okay?"

"I will." Henry waves at his mother, hurrying inside the building.


Emma rushed into the Hampton's Inn and Suites, casually rushing through the employee entrance.

"You're here!" An older man with a beard standing behind his small office greets Emma with relief in his eyes.

"Marco! Did you clock me in? Please, say you clocked me in. Please." Emma is breathless at this point.

"I clocked you in." Marco nods. "But, don't let it become a habit. Now, hurry up or they will realize you're late and if they catch you, they catch me."

"Thank you!" Emma breathes, hurrying through another entrance that leads her into a long stretch hallway. Turning right, Emma enters a locker room where she quickly changes into her sky blue and white apron maid's uniform.

"There you are!" A brunette rushes toward Emma, moving behind her and helping her tie up her apron along her waist. "Where the hell have you been? Gold has called us all for an important announcement."

"What important announcement?" Emma's brow furrows.

"That's what we're about to find out. Now, come on, hurry!" She takes Emma by the hand and drags her along to another room, where all the staff to the hotel is gathered around. Emma keeps hidden in the back of the crowded room. Not that anyone would notice her. No one ever did. She has been working here for three years now and her bosses couldn't even learn her name yet. Not Gold anyway. He always referred to her as 'you' or some other title that didn't even come close to him learning her name anytime soon.

Emma was far more breathless than what she had been once arriving. Her hair, which had been placed in a neat ponytail, had a couple of golden strands along her face.

"Oh, here, let me-" Ruby licked her thumb and before Emma could brush her hand back, she smeared a strand of golden hair that was determined to stick up along her slick hair.

"Ms. Swan, better late than never." An older man in a suite and tie made Emma and Ruby flinch as he appeared behind them. He was head of the cleaning staff. His hair had that salt and pepper look to it. His face could morph into either a kind look or an angry look in a matter of minutes.

"Oh, Mr. Glass," Ruby quickly chirps in, keeping her voice low and between the three. "Emma just spilled something on her apron so I lended her an extra of mine. That's all."

"Is that so?" Sidney Glass' brow slightly lifted. A clear sign that he didn't buy an ounce of that story. His eyes were narrowed as he studied Emma closely. "Be sure to take your apron to dry cleaning later, Ms. Swan."

"Yes, sir, Mr. Glass. Of course." Emma smiles nervously, thanking her lucky stars that Mr. Glass simply decided to walk away then, instead of questioning further into Ruby's made up story. Still, that didn't prevent Emma from giving Ruby a glaring look.

"Hey, he bought it!" Ruby whispered.

It wasn't until the clearing of a throat capturing everyone's attention that the room fell silent. Robert Gold, none other than the head of the Hampton's Inn and Suites entered the room. His hands and weight supported by his slick, black cane as he smiled a little.

"Good morning," he greets with a slight head nod. His eyes looked around the room at all of the employee's faces. "Before we get started with our daily duties, I wanted to let every one of you know that the position for manager will be becoming available. Any one of you may apply for the job, but in order to be considered you have to give your hundred and ten percent. I expect nothing less." His bitty eyes glare along the room that grows even more silent.

Ruby nudges Emma in encouragement and Emma simply rolls her eyes.

"Now that that is covered, I wanted to make an important announcement." Gold's cane clicked along the concrete floor as he adjusted his weight. A proud grin to him as he announced, "I have just received the delightful news that Regina Mills, future Mayor of this city will be staying with us during her election…"

Emma and Ruby share a knowing look. Everyone knew who Regina Mills was. In a matter of days she had become the biggest political figure in the entire city. And it didn't help that Emma's son Henry idolized the woman, and aspired to be just like her when he grew up.

"You," Robert Gold points his long, slim finger directly to Ruby, followed by- "And you!" Emma- "I will need you two to prepare the main suite. Get everything ready for Ms. Mills. I hear she likes champagne as her drink of choice. Sidney-" he turns to Mr. Glass, "a bottle of Bollinger Grande Annee Rose, please, '99."

Sidney nods, "Right away, Mr. Gold." He leaves the room.

"Now," Gold taps his cane along the floor, gathering everyone's attention twice as hard. "You two…" His eyes narrow, trying to remember Emma and Ruby's names. It's not until a tall blonde, dressed in a navy blue power suit leans in and whispers into his ear. "Ah, yes-" Gold stands upright. "Ms. Lucas, Ms. Swan- as I was saying, I want that suite to be spotless before Ms. Mills' arrival."

"We'll get right on it, Mr. Gold." Ruby nods, grinning proudly.

"As a matter of fact, that will be your floor from now on. Attend to any guests that show up, and be at Ms. Mills disposal at all times." Said Gold.

"Yes, sir." Ruby and Emma said and nodded in unison.

"I shall send Sidney up to inspect your work after you are done with the suite, which he will report back to Ms. Ingrid and myself." He grins. "That'll be all. Let's get to work! We have a lot to do and so little time to get it done, people."

At Gold's command, every employee in that room scatters about to perform their daily duties.


Emma swiped a key card along the lock of the door to the suite numbered 21B, entering straight away, prepared to leave the place spotless for Regina Mills' arrival.

"Holy shit!" Ruby exclaimed, staring wide-eyed along the suite as they stood in the middle of what was the living room. "You know, I have never been here before. The other rooms don't compare to this."

"Come help me make the bed." Emma marches directly into the bedroom with freshly washed sheets cradled in her arms.

Ruby marches right behind Emma, standing on the other side of the queen size bed. "Hey, so-" she grabs onto the corner of the bed sheet and tucks it along the mattress. "What do you think our future Mayor is like in person? Do you think her pictures do her justice?" She moves to do the other corner.

Emma shrugs one shoulder, grabbing the second sheet, letting it fall open. "I haven't really seen much of her to say."

"Oh, please," Ruby rolls her eyes. "With Henry living under the same roof with you. I know you look at pictures."

"Her pictures are everywhere, Ruby. It's hard not to run into an advertisement that has her face on it." Emma states matter-of-factly, tucking the bed sheet underneath the mattress with a low grunt.

"Okay, so it's a simple question-" Ruby catches one of the pillow covers one handed as Emma tosses it to her. "Do you think her pictures do her justice or not?"

"I guess we'll see, won't we?" The corner of Emma's lip tilts into a small smirk.

"You know, news has been going around about her sexuality." Ruby stands up-right, placing her hands on her hips. "She has been seen arm in arm with nothing but girls lately. Younger than she is, even."

That was a new one. Emma hadn't heard about that new-piece of information on Regina Mills. Henry hasn't mentioned anything on the subject either, and he was one smart kid. Emma couldn't get anything past him even if she tried.

"How about you go clean the bathrooms instead of gossiping?" Said Emma.

Ruby scrunches up her nose, because cleaning the bathrooms was her least favorite part of the job. "Oh, come on, Em. I believe it's your turn to do the bathrooms."

"Less talking, more working, Ruby." Emma glares.

"Geez, alright-" Ruby marches straight into the bathrooms, but not before grabbing the necessary supplies from her basket. "You know with that attitude, maybe you should consider applying for that management position." She said.

"Yeah, right. Me, manager? That'll be the day." Said Emma, taking care of the rest of the bed herself.

After the room was spotless, to finish on her duties, Emma placed a bowl of potpourri (cinnamon scented) right in the middle of the living room coffee table. Just a self-added touch that she thought would be greatly appreciated. After all, Emma was always one who loved doing the job right.

"Incoming- Glass is coming our way!" Ruby whispered, rushing back into the suite. Emma quickly moved about the room, standing off to the side with Ruby.

Sidney entered a second later. He would never say anything. He would just walk about the room and inspect room for room that everything was spick and span. Spotless, in other words. Occasionally, Sidney would run an index finger along the furniture of his choosing to check for one speck of dust. Which, lucky for Ruby and Emma- he didn't find a single gram of it. Emma always knew she did a spectacular job, but that didn't mean she liked tooting her own horn. Not until he gained Mr. Glass' approval.

And just as Sidney walks back into the living room, he inhales sharply through his nostrils, noticing something different. Emma and Ruby watch him silently, fear running through their veins like blood, pumping through, waiting for his reaction. Sidney dips down as he stands before the coffee table, sniffing out the potpourri before standing upright. His eyes on Emma. "Who thought of this?" He asks.

Ruby automatically points quietly to Emma.

"I did, sir." Emma replies, given no choice.

Sidney's eyes narrow. As he bends down again and takes one more whiff of the scent. He stands, his eyes on Emma again, "Is that cinnamon?" He asks.

Emma blinks, "Yes, sir, it is."

"Hm," Sidney hums, his hands along his sides. "Good job, Ms. Swan." There's a small smile to the corner of his lip that brings back every breath to Emma's lungs. "You may go now."

"Thank you, sir." Emma smiles, happily exiting the suite along with Ruby.

"Sir," another staff member walks into the suite with a pink bottle of champagne.

"Let's place the champagne just here, please." Sidney remains behind, supervising that everything else is done to perfection.

Emma walks alongside Ruby, "Gee, thanks for tossing me under the bus like that with Mr. Glass back there." She glares.

"What? He liked the potpourri gesture. What are you worried about?" Ruby shrugs.

Emma feels her cellphone buzz inside of her apron pocket, and quickly fishes out for her phone, seeing Neal's name flash across the screen. "Shit," she murmurs, grabbing Ruby by the arm and dragging her to an empty spot along the hallway, behind a wall. "Keep a lookout, Ruby. It's Neal. This can't be good."

Ruby doesn't have to be told twice. She was always the lookout.

"Neal?" Emma whispers, keeping her voice low.

"Hey, Em. I'm sorry, but-"

"Oh, no. You can't do this. Not again." Said Emma.

"You don't even know what I'm about to say."

"Sure I do, because every time you start with 'I'm sorry,' and 'but' together in the same sentence, that usually means that you are a minute away from letting Henry down yet again." Emma shakes her head.

"Em, listen, it's not like I mean for this to happen-"

"No, you listen!" Emma hisses, covering her mouth and the mouthpiece of her phone with a single hand. "You always do this, Neal. Henry was counting on this camping trip with you."

"I know. But you have to understand, Em. These things happen. Work has my hands tied, forbidding me to go anywhere for the rest of this year. They need me to travel to Seattle again. I'm actually at the airport as we speak. I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing to me like I'm the one you promised this camping trip to, Neal. Apologize to Henry. He's the one who is going to be crushed when I tell him." Said Emma, speaking a little louder than before.

"I already called Henry. He said he understood."

Emma rolls her eyes, "Of course he says that! He's a kid- he isn't going to admit having his feelings hurt."

"Look, I'll make it up to him when I get back from my work trip, okay? I have to board now. I'll bring him back something. Bye."

Once the line goes dead, Emma sighs, tucking her phone back inside her pocket. "He's standing him up again, huh?" Ruby asks.

"This is the third time he does this to Henry. He is going to be so crushed." Emma shakes her head, her lips thinned out into a grim line.