The dining room wasn't the same as the three of them stared at Vera's empty chair. The three of them stayed silent as realisation of planning a funeral filled the once full of love dining room.

It had been twenty-hours since Vera's death and no one knew what to do next besides mourn for Vera.

The Melana house almost felt like it had lost the life that it had spent almost centuries building within it's wall. The Melana family photos were the only things that held memories of the ones that had passed, the Melana crest was the only thing that showed that a family of great importance once lived in it.

Now it was just three people who had been welcomed to come and go from the house as they pleased.

Tony's soft voice broke the silence "She would've wanted something."

Tommy tilted his gaze up to Tony than tilted his gaze to Zasha, she was still processing everything.

The mini argument that ran through Zasha's head she had with Vera before her murder, the shift of love in their relationship over the past weeks sat heavy in Zasha's heart as she felt her last words were going to hurt her.

Zasha lifted her gaze to Tommy and Tony "I can't do it." She wouldn't even know where to begin especially since she had discovered how much Vera had kept secret during their relationship.

Tommy slowly sat up in his chair "I'll do it, Zasha." He managed to say.

Zasha and Tony both looked at Tommy.

"I can't let you, Tommy." Zasha wasn't protesting him for planning something, she knew she had to do something in order to feel less guilt.

Tommy reached his hand out to touch Zasha's hand "Let me, please."

Zasha looked at his hand on her's, she nodded slightly. 

Tony knocked on the front door of Tommy's home, he waited and listened.

Tommy took his time to open the front door.

"Zasha's with her family. I was thinking maybe I could keep you company." Tony wasn't sure if that sentence was meant for Tommy or for himself, both knew that neither wanted to truly be alone.

Tommy half heartedly smiled "Thanks, Ton." He allowed Tony to enter his house.

Tony noticed stacks of photo albums scattered over the lounge room "How are you holding up?"

Tommy shrugged as he watched Tony "You?"

Tony carefully sat down on the lounge than looked up at Tommy, who was taking his time to enter the lounge room "I don't know. This feel different."

"What do you mean?" Tommy carefully sat across in a reclining chair; he lowered his gaze as the chair knocked a small pile of photo albums over.

"When I lost my wife and kids, I was a shell of myself. When I finally worked up the courage to contact you and Vera, I was barely hanging on. I thought she was kidding; Vera was just a kid when we meet. Who knew I'd last five years. She treated me like we were family but at the end of the day, did I really know her?"

"Don't take it to heart, Tony. It was the way Vera was raised. She had to have secrets."

Tony picked up a photo album, he looked at the gold writing etched in the front cover of the photo album. TO HERE AND THERE BUT NEVER IN PAIN.

Tommy watched as Tony opened the photo album.

Tony looked at the handwriting on the inside of the hardcover of the photo album.

November 1996 –

The future is unknown to us all, these are all we have of the past

The memories we made for you to look back on.

Forever and Always,

Dexter Melana Rivertin.

Tony looked up at Tommy "He never let her know, did he?"

Tommy shook his head "The last thing Dexter ever said to Vera was 'do as your told'"

Tony looked at the first photo in the photo album.

A photo of Dexter holding his newborn little girl, it looked like he had been crying as he held his daughter close to his chest as he beamed with panic and joy.

"Olvera hated Dexter, she hated that she had his child." Tommy mentioned "None of the albums expect for Olvera's funeral have her in it."

Tony looked up at Tommy "But there's family photos."

"They were done out of force." Tommy sighed "One day I got curious and was exploring the Melana house, I stumbled upon Olvera's stuff. Her diaries were so painful to read, Dexter wasn't mad at me for finding them instead he said it's your responsibility to look after Vera when I can't." Tommy felt numb, he felt like he had failed the one promised he had kept to Dexter.

Tony watched as tears dropped down Tommy's cheeks, Tony placed the photo album down before moving over to comfort Tommy.

Tommy closed his eyes as he leant into Tony's arms.

It took a few moments before Tommy had managed to find his words again "The Melana's have strict rules for their funerals." He pulled out of Tony's arms.

Tony glanced down at Tommy than at all the photo albums before returning his gaze to Tommy "Break them."

Tommy looked up at Tony.

"Vera broke all the rules, we can certainly break tradition."