Hello all you lovely people reading this, McLeod's Daughter's fans or not, and welcome to my touch and try
on a MD-fanfiction. I will be writing this along with my Narnia-fic, 'Goldenflower' (go check it out!) whenever I don't have school, homework, handball or other 'distractions' to deal with. I'm not going to make this author's note way too long, but I just want to say a deep thank you to my beta-reader and friend, exoskeleton for always being there, ready to give good advice and suggestions and for the many lovely conversations - thank you!

I would really like to hear you guys' view and opinion - it's always great, so please leave a review after reading.

Disclaimer goes for all chapters: I don't own McLeod's Daughters or anything associated with it (the music, lyrics etc.), only my own character(s). This fic is based upon the TV-series, so you will read and probably recognize lots of the events featured in the fic - but there's also lots of my own ideas put into the fic, so I really hope you'll enjoy it. All rights goes to the respectible owners.

Enjoy ;-).

The Charm of a Morgan

Prologue:

"I walked this land for all my life, so you would never cry.

Protect your dreams with all my heart – I'd swim the oceans wide.

Yes, I would do what can't be done, for you my precious one.

Yes, I would do what can't be done, for you my little one."

"Blasted dress," Emma groaned as she almost stepped on the tulle again. She watched her figure in the mirror – not that there was much to see because of all the tulle Jodi had insisted to be sewn onto the dress – 'or else it would have looked like any other evening dress', she had persisted. Emma had agreed on a few meters of tulle, but this was apparently 'just a few' for Jodi who had long ago become a woman. Even though she had a little baby girl now - a Jodi junior, though little Katie looked like her father with the dark hair and eyes - her teenaged self would still resurface every once in a while.

Nevertheless, Jodi had been right. Emma had picked out a simple wedding dress, which suited her and was comfortable for her to wear. She didn't need a fancy wedding dress like those on the big screen - she just wanted to marry the man she loved and to celebrate with the friends she considered to be her family. End of story.

Eyes narrowed critically, Emma looked around the bedroom. Thirteen years ago, when she had been a troubled and slightly difficult twelve year old, she had come to the small-town of Gungellan with her brothers Kane and Luke. So much had changed since then. And she herself had changed a lot too.

When she first came to Gungellan, she had some trouble bonding with people. But the country had done Emma good, mostly because of the people who had practically raised her until she had turned eighteen - but they hadn't stopped looking after or protecting her after that.

They hadn't stopped loving her either. And she hadn't stopped loving them – she never would. And she would never forget the people she had lost for several reasons.

A lump rose in her throat as she stroked the golden locket she wore around her neck. She rarely took it off. It had been a gift from Alex and Nick. She sighed sadly as she opened the locket, revealing a tiny photograph of herself and her now former guardians: the brothers Alex and Nick Ryan. Emma blinked away a lone tear. One she had lost years back while the other lived on the other side of the globe with his wife and daughter. When Kane had disappeared and Luke couldn't take care of her anymore, Alex and Nick had taken the responsibility of becoming her guardians. Emma was originally going to be placed in foster care again, but Alex, Nick and the rest of her friends had wanted her to stay.

Staying on the big property of Killarney had undoubtedly been the best choice Emma had made in her young life. Even though choosing the Ryans over her own blood had brought sorrow, Emma hadn't really once regretted it. She had had her doubts when life was particularly rough, but the people around her had always picked her up and looked after her.

A curtain fluttered. The gentle breeze brushed her face. Emma's lips curled upwards into a warm smile. The superstitious side of her told her that he was with her today, which was something he had always joked with her about. He would watch her walk down the aisle in a beautiful white dress and hear her say 'I do' and marry the man who would always go to the end of the world for her.

"I kept my promise, Riles," Emma whispered, eyes narrowing as she turned toward a row of framed photographs sitting on her nightstand. The first were of her, the Drover's girls, Marcus, Patrick and Ben. The second was of her and her husband-to-be. Then there was one of her and Matt and finally one of her and Riley (who had his arms around Emma), both grinning at the camera. Her gaze lingered at first on the photo of her and her groom before turning to the one of her and Riley.

She missed him terribly and would do anything to hear him telling her to get the hell off his bed and out of his room - simply because she had had the habit of waking him up early by jumping up and down in his bed. Emma chuckled softly at the memory. The twenty-five year old turned to watch herself in the mirror once again, almost tripping on the hem of the dress. Emma cursed quietly.

Laughter erupted behind her.

"Well, one thing certainly hasn't changed about you since I left, Emma Morgan."

Emma gasped, her breath hitched in her throat. Slowly, she turned around to see the person she had least expected to be standing in the doorway of her bedroom. He was wearing a tuxedo, still as handsome as ever with his blonde hair and blue-green eyes.

"Nick?" Emma's voice was barely a whisper.

The younger Ryan smiled lovingly at her, stepping into the room. "You look beautiful, Emmy."

"Oh God," Emma gasped, putting a hand up to mouth. "Nick!"

Nick laughed lightly as he caught the brunette in a bone-crushing hug. "You've become stronger, pumpkin."

"Keeping up the hard work and keeping the boys in line requires a bit of strength, Nick." Emma joked, her voice muffled against Nick's chest. Again, the blonde laughed, squeezing her tighter before holding her out in front of him.

"You look as if you've seen a ghost, sweetie." Nick remarked with a concerned smile.

"I didn't think you, Tess and little Claire could make it," Emma replied with a sheepish smile.

Nick cupped her cheek. "And miss your big day? It would give me nightmares for years if I missed my former partner in crime's wedding."

Both of them laughed.

"But, when did you guys get here? You don't look like someone with jetlag after a flight from Argentina to Australia."

"Well," Nick smiled. "We actually got here yesterday. We've stayed overnight on Drover's. That was why-."

"…why the girls insisted we held my hen night at Killarney." Emma finished while rolling her eyes at herself. She knew something was going on.

"Exactly. And we wanted it to be a surprise, and both Tess and Claire were tired when we landed in Sydney. I'm amazed though that none of the others spilled it or you saw through our little surprise," Nick chuckled.

Emma shrugged. "What can I say? I've been quite busy with figuring out how on earth to walk down the aisle in this dress without making a complete fool out of myself."

Nick laughed. "By the amount of tulle, I would say Jodi had a hand in planning your dress."

Emma giggled with a nod. "It's lovely, though. Like Jodi's little girl. Have you seen her? She resembles Matt."

Grinning, Nick shook his head, then his smile brightened. "So how long do you think it'll take before I get to meet the first Emma junior?" he joked.

Emma's eyes widened in disbelief. With a wide smile, she gently slapped Nick's arm. "Hold your horses, Nick Ryan. I'm not even married yet."

Nick smiled gently, taking her hands. "Are you nervous?"

"Are you supposed to be? Is that bad?" Emma asked nervously.

He smiled before placing a kiss on her forehead. "No, it's a good sign. I was surprised though, when Marcus said you hadn't chosen anyone to lead you down the aisle. You've always said that you wanted someone to give you away. At least he didn't think you had?"

Emma took a deep breath before smiling softly. This was it. "Can we sit down for a moment? We've still got a few minutes according to Kate's schedule."

Nick nodded once, smiling uncertainly. "Of course."

Emma sat down next to Nick, taking his hands in hers. "I don't quite know how to explain all of this without stepping over anyone's toes. The thing is, I've found it hard to pick and ask one to give me away, but I guess I've always known deep inside who I wanted to give me away. First of all, there's Kane and Luke, but not one of them answered the wedding invitation. I've known Patrick and Ben for a while and I like them both, but with them, I don't have the connection that I have with everyone else. Then there was Alex or Riley…." Emma gulped before continuing, "..but that's not possible. I've been honest with Matt and Marcus, that they would have been the second choice, and they said that they would have said no anyway if I had asked, because they felt that there were only four men worthy of this responsibility. Alex, Luke, Riley and….. you."

Nick looked baffled for a moment, then he seemed to understand.

"I wanted to ask you, Nick, if you'd be the one to give me away."

Emma suddenly felt lightheaded. She felt her heart beat hard against her ribcage - so hard that it hurt. Her breathing was loud to her ears.

Her eyes prickled as she bit her lip, watching Nick anxiously. Tears welled up in his eyes. He rose to his feet, gently pulling Emma up. Nick squeezed her hands gently, stroking her palms with his thumbs.

"Em…I."

"I completely understand if it's too much and that you only wish to give Claire away. I completely understand-."

"Em!"

Emma looked up at Nick's face as he interrupted her rambling. He tightened his grip on Emma's hands.

Nick chuckled. "It would be an honor to give you away, sweetheart. You're the little sister I never got. Of course I will!"

Emma shrieked joyfully as she hugged Nick, who hugged her back with a big grin.

"Now, no more crying, or I'll have to get Jodi back in here and fuss over your ruined make-up." Nick joked as he pulled out of the hug.

Giggling, Emma nodded as she brushed away her tears. A moment later, she drew herself up and looked at herself in the mirror, Nick moving to stand behind her.

"How do I look?" she asked.

Nick smiled before kissing the crown of her head. He started to massage her tense shoulders. "Stunningly beautiful."

Emma's lips curved up into a smile as a voice spoke behind them. "We're almost ready."

Both of them turned to see Marcus standing in the doorway, a soft smile playing on his lips.

Nick and Emma looked at each other.

"I think we're ready too," Nick responded.

Marcus nodded at Nick. He blinked, then seemed to notice Emma's presence.

"You look gorgeous, Cupcake. See you out there."

"Thanks, Marcus. For everything," Emma blurted, before Marcus even had the chance to step away from the doorway. The other blonde just smiled gently before he left.

"Everything for my Cupcake."

Emma smiled at the now-empty doorway before turning to Nick, who held his arm out for her. "Shall we?"

Emma nodded slightly.

It seemed like it took forever for them to descend the stairs. Emma felt like her body was on autopilot. She let Nick lead her, her heart beating painfully against her ribcage. Did every bride feel like this right before she said 'I do' to the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with? Finally, Nick tugged at her hand as a sign to stop. Emma looked up at him, finally returning to reality.

Nick squeezed her hand softly. "Deep breath. In..and out."

Emma, for once, did as she was told.

"Wow, you've really grown up. You finally do what I tell you." Nick smirked, nudging the bride's side. Emma merely smiled before turning to Nick, who was watching her closely.

"Are you ready?" he asked sweetly, lifting the veil so it covered her eyes.

Emma smiled softly. "As ready as I'll ever be, I guess."

Nick blinked, then gave Marcus - who was standing nearby, waiting for the 'go ahead' - a thumbs up. "That's my girl."

Taking a couple deep breaths, Emma closed her eyes for a second. This was it. She was getting freaking married!

"We're all so proud of you, Emma. Alex and Riley would have been so happy to see you on this day. I know it. They're up there somewhere, looking down at us, at you right now. " Nick reassuringly whispered in her ear as the wedding march began to play. As Emma took the first step down from the veranda, a ray of sunlight blinded her and took her back to where and when it all began…

"I'd hold the sun, lasso the moon so you would not feel pain.

I'd travel far, catch you a star, I'd walk through fire and rain.

Yes, I would do what can't be done, for you my precious one.

Yes, I would do what can't be done, for you my little one."

~ Xander's Lullaby by Michala Banas