I cannot believe the response that I have gotten from the previous chapter, I am so glad that you have really come to love Bella! I was going to keep you in suspense for a few more days but I decided that I would be kind and put it up today before I go out! SO HERE IT IS! Chapter 40! I cannot believe that I up to 40 chapters! As promised: Lazza77 you were the lucky 200th reviewer! CONGRATULATIONS! Now I want LOTS AND LOTS of reviews! Enjoy and REVIEW! Dannielle xoxo

[DISCLAIMER/COPYRIGHT: I do not own any of the existing characters or storylines in Home and Away but any characters, storylines or ideas used in this story are strictly copyrighted and are not to be used by any other person/s without written permission of the author of this story. Thank-you.]

BRAX POV

I sat on the hard wooden bench of the church, Charlie next to me. I was staring at the dark wood coffin with gold handles. I was wearing a suit for the first time since my wedding, Charlie was wearing a tight fitting knee length black dress and even Mckenzie was wearing black. The church was filled with people dressed in black and crying softly into their tissues. I watched as Elijah took to the stand "we are here today to remember a beautiful young girl who was taken from the world far too soon." He spoke to the crowd.

"now we will hear from Bella's best friend, Ruby Buckton" Elijah said as Ruby took to the podium. "I don't really know what to say to be honest, Bella was my best friend but not only that she was my sister. I remember when I met her in the diner, we clicked instantly and since that day we have been inseparable, she has been through so much in her life and she overcame it all only to be taken away from us by someone she thought she had escaped. I found a poem that I am sure Bella would have loved" Ruby choked out as a few tears slid down her face

"Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there; I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glints on snow,

I am the sun on ripened grain,

I am the gentle autumn rain,

When you awaken in the mornings hush

I am the swift uplifting rush,

Of quiet birds in circling flight.

I am the soft star-shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there; I did not die." She managed "I wish it were true but I know that although she is gone she will forever be with us. Goodbye Bella, my best friend and my sister." She finished before gently touching Bella's coffin and sitting down beside Charlie and I. I took her hand and squeezed it gently.

Heath spoke next. "I have no idea how to explain what I am feeling right now. I am hurt, angry, scared, sad and most of all I miss my sister. A lot of you don't know Bella all that well but she was – no is the most amazing person ever put on this earth. I remember the day that my parents bought Casey and Bella home from the hospital, I had come home from school and all I knew was that mum had finally had the babies. When I saw them both I thought they were both boys but I was soon told otherwise. Isabella was the most beautiful little baby girl you could imagine, her eyes were such a vivid bright blue and she had the tightest grip I have ever felt from a baby" Heath said which earned a laugh from the group of people occupying the church pews.

"I remember so much about Casey and Isabella's life, their first steps, first words, first time my only sister punched me in the arm, first time Brax and I taught them how to surf. I never once imagined that I would be standing in a church with my sisters body lying in a coffin before me after knowing her for only 17 years. Bella had the most amazing smile, that would light up a room and eyes that sparkled even in the dark and I know that right now she is here looking at me, the angel that she is thinking 'god Heath never knew you were so cheesy' I love Bella with every fibre of my being and I will never forget her. My dearest baby sister Isabella Maree Braxton, I love you now and forever" He finished kissing his two fingers and then tapping his heart. He joined Bianca beside us.

"Now we will be hearing a few words from Charlie Braxton, Isabella's sister in law." Elijah said as Charlie climbed the few steps to the podium. "I owe so much to Bella, thanks to her I still have my beautiful baby girl Mckenzie. Thanks to Bella I get to spend another second, another minute, another hour with my daughter. Bella gave up her life so that Brax and I could have our baby girl, and I promise everyone in this room and God himself that not a day will go by that Mckenzie will not hear about her amazing aunt, the aunt that gave up her entire future, entire life so that she could live just one more day. Bella was taken from this world before she had a chance to get married, have her first child, buy a house, get a job and even though she will never get to experience any of those things she sure managed to live an amazing life with the time she had. It is immensely hard to imagine a day without seeing Isabella Braxton smile or laugh but she will be forever in our hearts and will never be forgotten. Good bye my friend, my confidant and my sister." She said before kissing her hand and pressing it against the coffin containing my sister.

"Next to speak is Isabella's twin brother, Casey Braxton" Elijah said as a weak and defeated Casey stepped up to the microphone. "I-I don't know how to do this, breathe, blink, walk any of it without Bella on this earth. I have lost a piece of me, I have lost the other half of my life and now I just don't know what to do. I planned on telling you all about what a great person Bella was but you already know that. You already know just how amazing, beautiful, strong, funny and inspiring my little sister was so I don't need to tell you that. To be honest I don't really know what to say, Bella was stolen from us far too early and there is one man responsible. I don't know how I can face the next hour, day, week or even year without Bella in my life. I just don't think I can say goodbye" Casey said as he broke down, falling to the carpeted floor of the stage. Heath helped him to his feet and got him to the chair before Elijah returned to the stand.

"Finally we will be hearing from Bella's eldest brother Brax" He spoke softly as I wandered up to the front. I looked out to see so many faces, tissues and tears and I just didn't know what to do. "They say that eventually the grief will get easier and that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel but I think that is crap because I can't see that light and I don't think I will ever be able to. I had my precious sister stolen from me and my family because of one evil horrible man who should be the one lying in a coffin. Thanks to Bella I still have my daughter but right now I need my sister, I need her here to give some funny scarstic remark that makes everyone laugh, I need her here so that I can see her smile, hear her laugh, watch her as she miserably fails trying to twirl her pasta around a fork. I just…. I just need her here" I said as I broke down, Charlie was at my side in seconds as she guided me to our seats.

The ceremony lasted for another hour before the six men dressed in black hoisted the coffin into the air and carried my sister out to the hearse that was waiting on the red gravel outside. Ruby was crying into Casey as he tried to keep his composure, Mckenzie began to fuss as Charlie gently bounced her on her hip, tears streaming down her face. I just stood there staring as they strapped the coffin into the back so that it wouldn't slide during the journey to the cemetery. We were ushered to the car that was waiting as we all climbed in and headed to the cemetery for the burial.

Within twenty minutes we were standing at the top of Stuarts Point in the cemetery that resided there. The hole had already been dug and there was a piece of synthetic green turf laid on either side with pieces of wide rope to lower the coffin down with. The large headstone that sat just behind the hole read:

Isabella Maree Braxton

November 24th 1994 – 9th March 2012

Beloved sister to Darryl, Heath, Casey,

Ruby, Charlie and Bianca.

Amazing aunt to Mckenzie and Darcy.

Taken far too early,

Forever loved and cherished, gone but not forgotten.

Elijah had arrived along with a few other people who Bella was close to. Cooper and his family, Leah and VJ, Marilyn, Alf and Roo, April, Indi, Dex, Romeo, Sid and Xavier, John and Gina were all standing around the site as we slowly walked up to the hole. Bella had already arrive and was resting just about the deep hole. Elijah said a short prayer as the coffin was lowered into the hole and each of the guests took a white or purple rose and threw it down onto the box. I watched as my step-daughter, wife and brothers all threw their roses down, each whispering something to her as they struggled to keep themselves composed. I was last, by choice. I didn't want to do this, I didn't want to say goodbye but I had to. I picked up the last purple rose and gently let it slip from my fingers as it dropped down to the coffin below "Goodbye for now baby girl" I whispered before joining Charlie and taking Mckenzie as we left the cemetery for the wake.

Okay, so please don't hate me! It's all in the plan – please review or PM I don't mind which one and just let me know what you thought. What you want to happen, what your emotions are or even just have a little rant! It all counts! Please don't stop reading, this story is FAR from over and I have many plans for this story so please keep tuning in a reviewing! I love you all! Dannielle xoxo