It didn't take long for the neighbourhood to learn of Vera's death even though Tommy would've preferred her death wasn't publicly known.

The media had camped out in front of the church while the street filled with members of the public, many who only knew of the media reports about the Melana family while the odd one or two had personally bumped into the Melana family throughout the living years of members of the Melana's.

The various families had been instructed to wear something other than black for a change, many followed the request while some refused to change out of their comfort colour; black.

Tony pulled the car into the church carpark; he stopped the engine before stepping out; his light blue suit made him feel like he wasn't the driver but rather as someone who Vera had genuinely cared about.

Tommy stayed in his usual attire; a dark blue suit, his sunglasses hid his eyes as they welled up again. He stepped out of the passenger side, he noticed the crowds out the front of the church, he smiled a little as he realised how much the Melana's may or may not have affected the community.

Tony opened the back of the car door for Zasha, she stepped out wearing a white dress, her hair was pinned back in loose curls and with the Melana family ring sitting uncomfortably on her ring finger.

Zasha took a deep breath as she held Tony's hand.

Tony and Zasha were the outsiders who were brought in, the two who managed to form a bond and leaned on each other the most throughout the time they had known each other.

Tony carefully shut the door of the SUV before leading Zasha around to Tommy.

The three of them looked at the crowd and the media, they noticed cars starting to pull into the church carpark.

Tony wrapped his arm around Zasha's waist, Zasha wrapped her arm around Tony's waist and Tommy hesitantly touched the tips of Zasha's fingers before locking their hands together.

The three of them bravely took their steps up the church stairs, they stopped in front of the priest who bid his condolences for their loss before leading the three of them into the church.

The three of them let their tears fall as they noticed Vera's coffin sitting at the front of the church.

Various photos of Vera with the Melana family sat proudly on and around the coffin, several photos of Vera and Zasha sat amongst the Melana family photos while photos of Vera and Tommy proudly being silly in their photos mixed amongst the framed photos and three photos of Tony and Vera; one of Vera playfully squashing cake around Tony's lower face, one of Vera and Tony laughing at something out of frame and one of Tony and Vera with their arms around each other as if they were having their last hug.

The priest took their place near the coffin as Zasha, Tommy and Tony stood to the side of the coffin.

They watched as the Baker family made their way into the church, with the assistance of Trouble who had helped Zephan carry Christopher in his wheelchair into the church.

Trouble silently followed behind the Baker's. He waited as the Baker's pulled Zasha, Tony and Tommy into their arms.

Christopher was oblivious to what was happening as his sister held him tight.

Tommy reluctantly lead the Baker's to the front row of the church before returning to Zasha's side.

Trouble didn't speak as he shook Tommy and Tony's hands. He took in the sight of Zasha, he hadn't meet her before but knew now wasn't the time for introductions.

Tommy watched as Trouble reached into his red jacket, Trouble pulled out a lone flower before placing it amongst the sea of photo frames on top of the coffin, he kissed Vera's coffin "Goodbye, Vera." He whispered softly before taking a seat in the second row of the church.

Various crime families began to make their way into the church, each giving their condolences to The Melana family, each laying flowers of various colours and various sizes around the coffin and family photos before scattering themselves around the church pews.

Tommy and Tony watched as the final person made their way into the church; Mr Tonio.

Mr Tonio took sight of everyone in the church, he took sight of Vera's coffin, he held back his disgust and refrained from making judgemental comments about the display in the church.

Mr Tonio stopped in front of the three of them. "My condolences." He spoke.

"Thank you." Zasha spoke.

Tommy and Tony both wanted to kick Mr Tonio out of the church, but they knew it wasn't right to disturb the peace at Vera's funeral.

Mr Tonio went to turn to find a seat instead stopped himself before returning his attention to Zasha "May I ask how you knew Ms Melana?" He knew who Zasha was and he certainly knew about Zasha being forced to wear a wedding dress with Antonio by her side.

"I was" Zasha's lower lip trembled "We were engaged." She touched the Melana family ring as she let her tears fall.

Tommy and Tony studied Mr Tonio as Zasha admitted the truth about Vera.

Mr Tonio stood in disbelief; he hadn't realised there was truth behind Zasha wearing the ring. "You? You were engaged to Vera?"

"Is that a problem?" Tommy quipped.

Mr Tonio shot daggers at Tommy before returning his attention to Zasha "She never mentioned she was in a relationship?"

"Vera was a private person." Tony spoke before Zasha could.

Mr Tonio started to realise why Vera tried to avoid him, avoid anyone that wasn't part of her safety net. He started to realise the damage he had actually caused the Melana's. Mr Antonio Ariovaldo II wasn't remorseful for his judgement, he believed the Melana's had brought it upon themselves. Though Mr Tonio knew how important it was to keep the blood lines and the power of the families going. He didn't speak another word as he found a seat next to Trouble.

Mr Tonio had built an empire not realising what it had cost him until it was too late while Vera had built a family and she tried to savour every moment with those in her life that meant the most.

Vera had always known the path she was meant to take; she didn't like it but knew. She knew the secret to choosing the right people. She knew when to stand up and when to stand back, what she hadn't calculated was how many trusted her. She may have been just as dangerous as Mr Tonio, but everyone knew who to always put their trust in even if they weren't allowed to say it out loud.

Zasha looked at Vera's coffin. She struggled to hold her composure as Tony wrapped his arms around Zasha, Tommy quietly made his way to a spot near the Baker's.

Zephan didn't react at Tommy, he almost sensed that Tommy was trying to avoid Zasha and her family.

Tony helped Zasha to sit next to her family before he took a seat next to Tommy.

The priest took his spot at the front of the church, he looked at the love surrounding Vera's coffin before shifting his gaze to the notes on his stand, he looked up at the sea of colour in his church before opening his mouth to speak.

No one in the church was paying attention to what the priest was saying as they remembered Vera in their own little way, no one in the church had a dry eye.

Tommy and Tony stood to their feet to prepare themselves to carry the coffin with the church staff but instead Trouble, Saint Nick, Glasson and three others had made their way towards the coffin.

The church staff assisted lifting away the photo frames.

Tommy and Tony stayed standing by their seats as they watched Trouble, Saint Nick, Glasson and the three others carefully lift up Vera's coffin.

Trouble and Saint Nick carefully nodded their head towards Tommy, Tony and Zasha.

Zasha managed a mournful smile as she rose to her feet, Zephan and Viola rose to their feet.

The church full of mourners all rose to their feet with the expectation of Mr Tonio.

Everyone watched as Vera's coffin was carefully carried down the aisle of the church.

Zasha took her first step away from her seat, Tony and Tommy followed by her side before Zephan pushed his son's wheelchair with his wife by his side as the six of them followed behind the coffin.

No one dared move from their seat as they all watched and gave space to the grieving family.

Tommy and Tony helped Zephan carry Christopher in his wheelchair down the stairs before the six of them stopped at the hearse parked out the front of the church.

The crowd of church mourners had begun to shuffle their way out of the church.

Everyone around the street of the church watched as Vera's coffin was lowered into the back of the hearse and carefully pushed inside the back of the hearse.

Everyone stayed silent as they possibly could as they gave a moment to soak in Vera's final travel.

Everyone began to make their ways back to their cars as the hearse started it's slow drive out of the church carpark.

The Melana SUV followed behind with The Baker's car behind them before everyone else forming an orderly line of cars.

The crowds of the street began to clap, and some threw flowers towards the hearse.