A/N: This is my second story about MD and it's set a few years in the future...but you'll find out everything later on in the story. I don't wanna give too much away to not spoil your reading fun...

This story is still not completely finished though I have written 96 parts so far...

So please read and leave a review so I know if you like it or not!

Disclaimer: I never have and never will own any of the characters or plots of McLeod's Daughters. They belong to Channel 9.

Prologue

Tess McLeod sat in her sister's room and felt completely lost. She was holding Charlotte, Claire's little daughter, who was making funny noises to get her aunt's attention but it didn't work. With her four months Charlotte had no idea of the tragedy that had happened today. And the day had started off so well…

She had gotten the all clear that day that she was indeed cancer free and it had been decided to have a huge party. So she and Claire had driven into town to get some party supplies but on the way back a brumby had crossed the street right in front of them and Claire had lost control over the car. The car hadn't stopped till it was hanging on the edge of a cliff. Claire had convinced her to get Charlotte out of the car and she had done so. But when she had tried to get Claire out she had realized her sister was stuck in the car and there was no way she could get her out. So she had done the nearly impossible and had left her sister there on the edge of the cliff to get help…and half an hour ago she had gotten the phone call that the Ute had gone down the cliff and was burning.

Just then Alex Ryan, Claire's boyfriend, walked into the room…his eyes red and with a face that had lost its entire colour.

Tess looked up "Have you found her?"

"The Ute's still burning Tess…they can't get down."

"They have to do something! Claire's still in there!"

"It's too late Tess…it's too late" Thick tears were running down Alex's face…they had lost Claire. She was dead and with the way the fire was still raging they probably wouldn't even be able to find a body…

One

"Mum! I can really do this alone!" Emily Newbury looked at her mother and took her suitcase out of the car.

"All right, if you say so. But I'll have to come inside with you because I have to talk to your headmaster."

"Why? I'm really not a baby anymore, I'm eleven! And once you've left today I'll be alone here anyway."

Emily's mother sighed. Where did her daughter get that strong will from? Not from her that was clear.

"I know I have to leave you here…but I don't have to like it…"

"Mum, we've talked about it how many times? I really wanna do this so please, be happy for me. Before you know it 2 weeks will be over and I'll be home for a visit." Emily said with a serious voice that made her mother laugh.

"Look at us, I'm your mother, I should be the grown up not you. Come on, let's get inside and get you settled. You can unpack while I talk to your headmaster." She said and walked towards the huge yellow building.

Emily sighed. Maybe it was a good thing her mother came with her. It was her first day at boarding school and she had to admit she was a little nervous because she didn't know what to expect.

Once inside the building they were greeted by a corpulent lady with grey hair that was braided and went half way down her back.

"Well, who do we have here?" she said with a very high but pleasing voice.

"My name's Emily Newbury…" Emily said a little shy despite her earlier confidence. She was glad now that her mother was standing behind her and had put her hands on her shoulder.

"Welcome to Westminster College Emily, I'm Ms Wellesley. Let me try and find you on my list so I know where you'll be staying…" Ms Wellesley put her finger on the flip board she was holding in her hands and went down her list "Ah, here we have you, Emily Rose Newbury…you're in room B24 and if I remember correctly your roommate is already here. I think I've seen her run around earlier. Joan?" Ms Wellesley turned around to one of the older girls who was probably one of the volunteer helpers for the day "Would you please take Emily up to room B24?"

"Sure Ms Wellesley." Joan replied and offered Emily a hand "I'm Joan Keese and I'll be showing you to your room."

Emily smiled and shook Joan's hand "Nice to meet you."

"Do you wanna go with your daughter Mrs Newbury?" Ms Wellesley asked Emily's mother.

"I don't think my daughter would like that…but do you know if it's possible to speak to the headmaster for a minute?"

"I'm sure Mr Vandermark will be pleased to speak to you. Joan, could you show Mrs Newbury the way to the headmaster's office before you take Emily to her room? It'll give her an orientation right away of where she can find what."

"Sure Ms Wellesley" Joan said with a smile and led Emily and her mother up the broad stone stairs. They turned around several corners and Emily tried to memorize the way so she wouldn't get lost next time she was looking for the headmaster's office.

"Here we are Mrs Newbury." Joan said when they stopped in front of a large green door. "I'll just go inside and ask if Mr Vandermark is free. I'll be right back."

Two minutes later Joan came back out and informed Emily's mother that the headmaster would have time for her in 5 minutes.

"Thank you Joan" Mrs Newbury said and then turned to her daughter "Do you want me to help you unpack or shall we meet downstairs again when you've found your room and I'm finished with your headmaster?"

Emily sighed "I'll be fine Mum, just go and talk to the headmaster and I'll meet you downstairs when I've found my room and the way back down into the hall, all right?"

Her mother nodded and gave Emily a quick kiss on the forehead which only got her rolling eyes from her daughter.

"Come on Emily, your room is in the next wing." Joan said and with one last smile at her mother Emily followed her while her mother sat down on one of the chairs in front of the headmaster's office.

After five more minutes of walking with a heavy suitcase and a rucksack on her back, Emily regretted that she hadn't let her mother help her carry her things. Finally Joan stopped in front of another green door. Next to the door there was a small sign that said B24/25 and had 4 names under that. They had reached Emily's room.

"Right, here we are. I'm sure you already know that you'll be sharing a room with another girl. We all live in suites here, 2 rooms with 2 girls each and a lounge room for the 4 of you to share. If I remember their names correctly two of the girls in your suit are the year above you, one is in your year. Come on, let's go inside and meet them…"

Joan opened the door and led Emily inside the room. Emily could see that this was the shared lounge room she had just walked into. There was a couch and arm chairs places around a low table. On the walls there were shelves full of books and in one corner of the room there was a small kitchen place with a sink and a kettle. One of the shelves also held a stereo system and a couple of CDs were placed next to it.

"This would be your room…" Joan took Emily out of her marvel gaze and opened the door to the left of where they were standing "As it seems your roommate is already here and has unpacked. She's one of the girls that is the year above you. You can leave your things here and I'll take you down to the clothing chamber so we can pick up your uniforms."

Emily nodded in agreement, a little overwhelmed with all the impressions she had gotten in the last few minutes. So this would be her room. She wondered what her roommate would be like. Would she get along with her? She had never had to share her room with somebody so this would be very new to her but she also looked forward to it. At home all her friends lived far away from her and they had usually only seen each other in school. Now she could make new friends and spend a lot of time with them.

Emily placed her rucksack on the bed that would be hers now and put the suitcase in front of her wardrobe. Joan was already waiting at the door to take her down to the clothing chamber. Emily had been measured at home to give the school a rough idea what size of uniform she'd need and they would go and pick them up now.

After walking down some stairs and turning around several corners Joan and Emily had reached the clothing chamber where they were welcomed by another elderly lady with grey hair that introduced herself as Ms Adrian and Emily wondered if there were any younger teachers there. So far she had only met two and both had grey hair and seemed very old to her. Emily introduced herself and Ms Adrian looked at a list and shortly after that she nodded and went to get the uniforms prepared for Emily.

When she came back she said "You'll have to try them on now dear so I know if they fit or if we need to change something."

So Emily took one of the uniforms and stepped into one of the changing rooms to put it on. When she came back out Ms Adrian looked at her critical at first but then a smile appeared on her face and she said "Looks good. Would you please put on one of the jacket as well?" Emily did so and then turned around so Ms Adrian could take another look at her.

"Everything seems to fit…" the teacher stated and handed Emily the rest of the uniforms and the clothes she had been wearing. "Take the clothes to your room and if there's anything that doesn't feel right just come back and we'll have a look, all right? The chamber's open Tuesday and Thursday afternoon."

Emily nodded and her and Joan left again to go back to her room. This time Emily felt a little more confident in finding her way around as she recognized some of the corners they turned around.

Once they were back inside her room Emily saw that her roommate was now present as well and Joan asked if Emily would be fine now and after the girl nodded excused herself to go back down into the hall.

Emily placed her stack of clothes inside her cupboard and went over to introduce herself to her roommate.

"Hi, I'm Emily Newbury, I'll be sharing the room with you…"
The older girl looked up from her suitcase and smiled.

"Hi Emily, nice to meet you. My name's Charlotte McLeod-Johnson."

So...there's a start...what do you think of it so far? Please leave a review...if you liked it or not...