The confessional stopped moving instantly, and the trio peered out of the confessional to see Vincent standing on the far side of the church, holding up his chair and waving its wooden legs defensively.
"Come on, over here." Vincent taunted at the Krafayis as he waved his chair, presumably to ward off the beast. "Because I'm right here waiting for you."
"Come on!" Terry urged as Vincent ducked an invisible blow, and she pulled Amy and the Doctor quickly from the destroyed confessional as Vincent fended off the Krafayis.
"Vincent?" Terry called as she led the way behind the painter for safety, and he ordered: "Stay behind me!"
The Doctor aimed his sonic over Vincent's shoulder, and he asked: "Doing anything?"
"Uh uh." Vincent answered, while Terry tugged on the Doctor's arm as she called: Come on, this way!"
The Doctor and Amy followed her out of the church, Vincent bringing up the rear as he kept the beast back with his chair.
As they ran out into the church courtyard, the Doctor looked around wildly as he asked: "Where is he?"
"Where do you think he is, you idiot?" Vincent snapped as he held his chair up against the beast as it reared up in the doorway. "Use your head."
The Doctor quickly pointed his sonic at where Vincent was holding off the Krafayis, and he asked Vincent hopefully: "Anything?"
"Nothing." Vincent answered grimly. "In fact, he seemed to rather enjoy it."
"Oohh." The Doctor muttered as he pocketed his sonic, while Terry's eyes narrowed as Vincent's head turned to his left.
"Look out!" Vincent called, pushing Amy and Terry behind him once more as he turned to keep himself between the women and the circling Krafayis.
Unfortunately, the Doctor had strayed a little and was now trapped alone with the Krafayis, which he couldn't see, between him and the others.
"Duck!" Vincent yelled at the Doctor, who did as he was told. "Left!"
"No, right!" Terry cried, but it was too late and the Doctor yelled as he was smacked across the chest and sent flying back.
Amy screamed, while Terry ran to the Doctor, kneeling down beside him worriedly as she checked: "Are you okay?"
"Ugh." He groaned, and Vincent apologized as he and Amy also joined the Doctor's side. "Right, sorry: your right, my left."
"Doctor?" Terry asked worriedly, and he grunted: "Fine, but not fine. This is no good at all. Run like crazy and regroup."
"In here!" Amy called as she ran up and wrenched open the closest doors nearby. The others quickly followed, running after Amy into the crypt, where they quickly began slamming the door shut behind them – only for it to catch as the Krafayis jammed its foot in the doorway to prevent them from shutting it.
Luckily, Vincent was closest and he reacted swiftly, stomping down on the Krafayis's foot. It screeched as it withdrew its foot, and they quickly slammed the door shut.
"We're safe for now." Terry gasped, and the Doctor said breathlessly: "Right. Okay. Here's the plan. Amy, Rory-"
"Who?" Amy asked, bewildered, and the Doctor corrected quickly: "Sorry, er, um, Vincent."
Terry shook her head silently at him, while Amy interrupted impatiently: "What is the plan?"
"I don't know, actually." The Doctor admitted as he waved his sonic about. "My only definite plan is that in future I'm definitely just using this screwdriver for screwing in screws."
"No you won't." Terry muttered, while Vincent said hurriedly: "Give me a second. I'll be back."
He dashed off somewhere deeper into the crypt, while the Doctor, Amy and Terry remained leaning against the door, bracing it just in case.
"I suppose we could try talking to him." The Doctor suddenly piped up, and Amy repeated in disbelief: "Talking to him?"
"Well, yes." The Doctor shrugged. "Might be interesting to know his side of the story."
"Terry, please tell me you have a better plan." Amy begged while the beast roared outside, and Amy down at the shorter brunette but Terry answered: "Actually, talking to him was my plan C."
"What?" Amy gasped, and the Doctor asked: "Really? Though, what if he's not really in the mood for conversation right at this precise moment?"
The beast suddenly started to ram itself against the door, and the trio quickly braced themselves more securely against the door in alarm.
"I don't think it'd hurt to try!" Terry gasped pointedly, and the Doctor agreed: "Yes, I don't think so either. Listen!"
He addressed the Krafayis as he shouted: "Listen!"
The banging stopped, and the Doctor blinked, staring at the door. Taking the quietness as a good sign, the Doctor began: "I know you can understand me, even though I know you won't understand why you can understand me."
The Krafayis growled softly, while the Doctor continued: "I also know that no one's talked to you for a pretty long stretch, but please, listen."
The Krafayis went silent on the other side of the door, and Terry called: "Please, do as he says; listen. We can help you."
There was no answer, no sound, and the Doctor pressed his hands against the wood, saying beseechingly: "I also don't belong on this planet. I also know very, very well what it… what it feels like to be alone."
His eyes met Terry's, and he gathered his strength from her bright chocolate hues as he continued saying to the Krafayis: "But if you trust me, I'm sure we can come to some kind of, you know, understanding. And then, and then, who knows?"
"Theta, behind us!" Terry warned, knowing what the absolute silence on the other side of the door meant – what it could only mean.
The Doctor only had time to look at her in confusion, before the window shattered behind them. Amy shrieked while the Doctor started in surprise as the Krafayis roared as it presumably entered the crypt through the broken window.
The Doctor looked up with wide eyes at the shattered glass, while Terry pulled Amy behind her protectively as the Krafayis roared.
"Over here, mate!"
The Doctor blinked as Vincent came running back into the crypt, brandishing his easel as he held the points out warningly towards the Krafayis and keeping it away from the Doctor and his companions.
Terry and the Doctor ran up to Vincent, staying close behind the painter, and Amy dashed with them while the Doctor asked: "What's it up to now?"
"It's moving round the room." Vincent explained in a wary undertone. "Feeling its way around."
Vincent moved to crouch behind the center slab, keeping his eyes on the beast, while the Doctor and Terry braced themselves behind a different pillar.
The Doctor's brows furrowed at Vincent's words, and he asked: "What?"
He looked at Terry questioningly, as Vincent elaborated as Amy came hurrying up behind him: "It's like it's trapped. It's moving round the edges of the room."
"Moving around the edges of the room…?" The Doctor repeated slowly in his mind, and Terry reminded softly: "It's been abandoned by a vicious pack, Theta, the same way lame animals are left behind by their own packs."
The Doctor's eyes widened before they closed in understanding as Amy hissed: "I can't see a thing."
"I am really stupid." The Doctor murmured, and Terry took his hand in hers while Amy snapped over at him: "Oh, get a grip! This is not a moment to re-evaluate your self-esteem."
"No, I am really stupid." The Doctor bit out, and Terry corrected: "No, you're not, Doctor. You're just…"
"Growing old." The Doctor finished in a low voice.
"What are you talking about?" Amy hissed, confused, and the Doctor listed in a harsh whisper: "Why does it attack but never eat its victims? And why was it abandoned by its pack and left here to die? And why is it feeling its way helplessly around the walls of the room?"
He took Terry's hand and pulled her with him to crouch beside Vincent and Amy, all four of them staring over the top of the slab to see the Krafayis knock down a wooden stand in the corner of the room.
"It can't see." The Doctor explained softly.
Amy's eyes widened, while the Doctor muttered: "It's blind. Yes, and that explains why it has such perfect hearing!"
He yelled the last two words angrily, furious with himself for being so slow, when Vincent deadpanned: "Which unfortunately also explains why it is now turning around and heading straight for us!"
The group quickly got to their feet, and Terry looked around helplessly. She needed to be able to see it, now more than ever, before-
"Vincent." The Doctor urged as he too looked around wildly while the sound of the Krafayis's thundering paws came closer. "Vincent, what's happening?"
"It's charging now." Vincent answered warningly. "Get back. Get back!"
He waved them back, knocking Terry back accidentally.
"Wait, Vincent!" Terry called, but it was too late.
There was a scream of pain as the Krafayis accidentally impaled itself on Vincent's lifted easel, and Vincent himself yelled as he was lifted into the air when the Krafayis reared back in agony.
Amy shrieked in fear as well, while the Doctor watched with wide eyes and Terry turned her head away in sorrow as Vincent dropped to the ground while the easel waved about in the air seemingly by itself. But they all knew, realized it too late, that it was the Krafayis swaying in pain as the easel imbedded itself into the beast's body.
The Krafayis finally collapsed to its side, and the four slowly came up beside the dying creature as it wailed.
"He wasn't without mercy at all." Vincent murmured, sorrow and guilt seeping into his voice as he looked down at the creature only he could see. "He was without sight."
"It's all right, Vincent." Terry told him comfortingly. "It was an accident… and, I'm afraid, it may have been a mercy in the end for the Krafayis."
Vincent glanced at her, but Terry didn't notice as she knelt down beside the Krafayis next.
"Hello." Terry murmured softly. "I'm sorry… but it's all right now. You don't have to be afraid."
The Doctor listened silently as the Krafayis moaned, though only he and Terry could understand: "But I am afraid."
"You don't have to be." Terry repeated gently. "You're not alone anymore. We'll be here, until you go."
The Krafayis crooned softly before, with one last sigh, it breathed its last.
Amy bowed her head as she understood what must have happened, while Vincent murmured shakily: "He was frightened, and he lashed out. Like humans who lash out when they're frightened. Like the villagers who scream at me. Like the children who throw stones at me."
The Doctor had turned away, turning his back on the dead alien, but Terry murmured softly: "Yes; but, for a lame creature like him, this may have been a mercy. He could never go back to his pack, and he was too vicious to live alone."
Vincent bowed his head, while Amy gazed down in understanding at where she knew the Krafayis had to be. Terry got back to her feet and backed up next to the Doctor, who didn't say a word as he simply took her hand in his and held on tightly in silence.
The four lay down on the field outside, each falling into their own thoughts for a moment as they stared up at the night sky.
Terry and the Doctor's hands were interlaced, as they lay, having not let go of each other once since they'd defeated the Krafayis, and Terry leaned her head against the Doctor's shoulder as she gazed up at the stars.
Vincent took Amy's hand in his own, before he reached cross to his other side as he said: "Hold my hand, Doctor."
The Doctor glanced at Vincent's outstretched hand, before taking it as Vincent told them: "Try to see what I see."
Terry reached out for Amy's hand as the redhead did the same, and the four lay with their hands all linked as they looked up at the sky while Vincent said softly: "We are so lucky we are still alive to see this beautiful world. Look at the sky. It's not dark and black and without character. The black is in fact deep blue. And over there," he pointed with his hand interlocked with the Doctor's, "lighter blue."
Terry smiled, watching as the sky above them shifted in her mind's eye, and she found herself seeing Van Gogh's 'Starry Night' as Vincent continued to paint the image in their mind's eye with his words: "And blowing through the blueness and the blackness, the wind swirling through the air and then, shining, burning, bursting through, the stars. Can you see how they roar their light? Everywhere we look, the complex magic of nature blazes before our eyes."
The Doctor also smiled as he murmured softly: "I've seen many things, my friend. But you're right. Nothing quite as wonderful as the things you see."
Vincent glanced at the Doctor, before he also smiled slightly. His expression became sorrowful, however, as he tilted his head to the side, and he stared at his hand in Amy's as he murmured sadly: "I will miss you terribly."
Amy also stared at her hand in Vincent's, her gaze also solemn, while the Doctor sighed slightly before leaning over to press a soft, lingering kiss on Terry's forehead as he felt Vincent's pain.
The next morning
"I only wish I had something of real value to give you." Vincent sighed.
Amy laughed into her hand as she pressed it against her mouth tightly, trying to contain her excitement. Terry smiled with her friend, while the Doctor positively beamed as he held Vincent's offered 'Self-portrait in a Straw Hat'.
It took every ounce of his self-control to refuse as he said, though he couldn't take his eyes – or hands – off the painting: "Oh, no, no, no. I could never accept such an… extraordinary… gift."
He handed the painting back to Vincent, though Terry could see he really didn't want to.
Apparently, Vincent couldn't see it as he sighed: "Very well. You're not the first to decline the offer."
He waved the painting, and the Doctor lifted his hands in silent anxiety, worried that something would happen to it as Vincent placed the painting carelessly on the table before saying as he opened his arms: "Amy, the blessed, the wonderful."
Amy smiled, and she kissed Vincent's cheeks fondly before hugging him as she told him firmly: "Be good to yourself, and be kind to yourself."
The Doctor watched, his expression becoming pensive, while Vincent answered lightly but with a hint of wistfulness: "I'll try my best."
"I know what you're thinking." Terry said lightly through their telepathic link, and the Doctor shot her a smile while Amy let go of Vincent, adding: "And maybe give the beard a little trim before you next kiss someone."
Terry smiled back at the Doctor as Vincent chuckled: "I will, I will. And if you tire of the Doctor and his 'angel'," he jerked a finger at said pair, "return, and we will have children by the dozen."
Terry chuckled, while Amy's eyes went wide and she squeaked: "Eek."
"Terry, angel." Vincent smiled, turning to the short brunette next. "Truly, an honour."
"The honour was mine, Vincent." Terry answered warmly as she hugged Vincent as well. "I only wish it could have been longer."
"As do I." Vincent replied, a hint of sorrow entering his smile before he turned at last to the Doctor.
"Doctor, my friend." Vincent said fondly, clasping the Doctor's hand in his own. "We have fought monsters together and we have won."
The sorrowful longing intensified despite Vincent's brave attempt at staying light until the end, and Vincent sighed as he admitted quietly: "On my own, I fear I may not do as well."
The Doctor paused, and his eyes flickered over to Terry. She met his gaze, and gave him a tiny nod, and the Doctor turned back to Vincent.
"Vincent," the Doctor began, making the painter cock his head curiously, "how would you like to see something grand?"
"Now," the Doctor began as he led the way down the alley towards the Tardis, "you know we've had quite a few chats about the possibility there might be more to life than normal people imagine? Oh."
He groaned as he saw the many advertisements pasted all over the Tardis, making Terry laugh a little, while Vincent answered in confusion: "Yes?"
The Doctor chuckled, perking up again as he said: "Well, brace yourself, Vinny."
The Doctor opened the Tardis, before standing back and nodding for Vincent to go in first. The painter did so, wondering what all the fuss was about, before stopping dead in the doorway, his eyes widening and his jaw dropping at what he saw inside.
Terry's smile widened and she leaned against the Doctor while he folded his arms smugly and Amy bounced on her feet excitedly as Vincent froze in the doorway for a while, and then all three of them started giggling as Vincent poked his head back out of the Tardis, looking around.
Vincent didn't even notice their giggles as he walked around the entire outskirts of the Tardis, pushing against the wooden box to make sure it was actually solid, before he finally made his way back to the front of the Tardis and he peered inside again.
He turned back to the Doctor, Terry, and Amy – who were all pretending to be casual again – before he walked back into the Tardis, asking: "How come I'm the crazy one, and you three have stayed sane?"
Terry and Amy laughed, while the Doctor grinned, and they all entered the Tardis behind Vincent.
"What do these things all do?" Vincent asked as he looked about the console, and the Doctor answered airily: "Oh, a huge variety of things. This one here, for instance," he pointed to a lever on the far side, "plays soothing music."
He pushed the lever, and instantly music started to play inside the console room.
Amy and Terry pretended to waltz, while Vincent's eyes went even wider, and the Doctor continued as he pulled another lever: "While this one makes a huge amount of noise."
A strange buzzing sounded, making Vincent wince, while Terry beamed as the Doctor placed his hand on the most important switch. He shared a look of delight with her, while Amy nodded excitedly, and the Doctor told Vincent: "And this one makes everything go absolutely tonto."
He pulled the lever, and instantly the whole Tardis shuddered while the familiar whooshing started as they took off. Amy and Terry laughed as they braced themselves while Vincent stumbled before he also caught himself on the console.
A slow smile spread across the painter's face, and Vincent was soon laughing with them as the Doctor flew them away.
"And this one?" Vincent asked curiously as he placed his hand on a large lever near where he stood, and the Doctor yelled as he moved to prevent Vincent from accidentally pulling the lever: "That's a friction contrafibulator!"
Vincent quickly let go while Terry twirled a few dials to fine-tune their landing, and Vincent asked as he spotted another button: "And this?"
"That's ketchup." The Doctor answered lightly. "And that one's mustard."
"Mmm, nice." Vincent hummed in appreciation before turning to the Doctor as he said excitedly: "Come on, back to the cafe and you can tell me about all the wonders of the universe."
"Good idea." The Doctor agreed before spinning Vincent around as Terry landed them. "Although, actually, there's a little something I'd like to show you first."
With that, the Doctor walked out of the Tardis once more and Vincent frowned after him, especially as Amy bounded out excitedly as well.
"Well?" Terry asked casually, and as Vincent glanced at her she nodded to the doors.
Shrugging, Vincent walked out, only to stop and stare in wonder as he found himself in a completely unfamiliar place.
"Where are we?" Vincent asked in awe as he stared at the many glass buildings around him, and Terry answered as she shut the Tardis door behind her: "Paris; 2010 AD."
"And this," the Doctor announced proudly as he presented the building they'd parked in front of, "is the mighty Musée D'Orsay, home to many of the greatest paintings in history."
"Oh, that's wonderful." Vincent beamed, before becoming distracted as two young men walked passed them, listening to the radio.
"Ignore that." The Doctor said dismissively, noticing Vincent's preoccupation. "I've got something more important to show you."
He pulled the enthralled painter along, as Amy bounced excitedly and Terry followed fondly while they headed into the Musée once more.
Vincent looked around in awe, but Amy and the Doctor tugged him along quickly to where they really wanted to show Vincent a miracle. The ginger-haired painter let them lead him along, even as he tried to see all the masterpieces they passed along the way.
He was so busy examining the many artworks they passed, trying to get glimpses as he was pulled along, that he missed the name on the special gallery that the Doctor led him to. It was just as well, Terry thought, as she watched with a smile while Vincent stood, stunned, by the sight that met his eyes.
Vincent stood in the middle of the special exhibit, his mouth parting as he slowly spun in a circle on the spot, unable to believe what his eyes were seeing as he took in the walls covered with his paintings.
His paintings, lining every wall in the special exhibit; his paintings, which everyone he'd ever met called ugly and not worth even a drink; his paintings, which even he thought were terrible. Yet here they all were, hung up for the world to be inspired by.
Vincent swallowed as he turned to look at the Doctor and Terry, staring as the former spread his arms wide with gleeful satisfaction while the latter just gave him a small, soft, understanding smile.
Amy was also watching with a small smile as Vincent gazed around the room once more, the shocking truth slowly sinking in, when the Doctor turned and called to a nearby gentleman: "Dr. Black, we met a few days ago."
The museum caretaker turned at the Doctor's call, and the Doctor elaborated as he casually drew the caretaker over to where Vincent was: "I asked you about the church at Auvers."
Amy smiled and gently pulled Vincent, keeping him hidden from Dr. Black's view though within easy hearing distance as the man said to the Doctor: "Oh, yes. Glad to be of help. You were nice about my tie."
"Yes. And today is another cracker if I may say so." The Doctor complimented.
Terry leant against the wall, watching the scene with a fond, sad smile as the Doctor began: "But I just wondered, between you and me, in a hundred words."
He glanced at Vincent briefly, making sure Vincent was listening, and Vincent glanced over almost apprehensively as the Doctor turned back to Dr. Black to ask: "Where do you think Van Gogh rates in the history of art?"
"Well, um," Dr. Black answered thoughtfully, "big question, but, to me, Van Gogh is the finest painter of them all."
Vincent turned in shock, his eyes starting to prickle suspiciously as he stared at Dr. Black's back as the museum curator said to the Doctor passionately: "Certainly, the most popular great painter of all time. The most beloved. His command of colour, the most magnificent."
Vincent gazed around the gallery once more, overwhelmed, as Dr. Black continued admiringly: "He transformed the pain of his tormented life into ecstatic beauty. Pain is easy to portray, but to use your passion and pain to portray the ecstasy and joy and magnificence of our world… No one had ever done it before."
Terry's lips curved into a wry smile as Vincent struggled to hold back his tears while Dr. Black went on: "Perhaps no one ever will again. To my mind, that strange, wild man who roamed the fields of Provence was not only the world's greatest artist, but also one of the greatest men who ever lived."
It was at that point that it became too much, and Terry's eyes were soft as she watched the tears start to trickle down Vincent's cheeks. Vincent began to sniff as he held back his sobs, and Terry called softly: "Theta – Vincent."
The Doctor turned, and – noticing Vincent crying – hurried over as he asked: "Vincent? I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Is it too much?"
He hugged the man comfortingly, but Vincent shook his head as he answered tearfully: "No. They are tears of joy."
Vincent turned to Dr. Black, and – kissing the man's cheeks emotionally – he said sincerely: "Thank you, sir. Thank you."
Dr. Black looked startled, but he answered, albeit confusedly: "You're welcome. You're welcome."
"Sorry about the beard." Vincent added, gesturing at his face as he retreated.
Terry smiled as she walked up, taking Vincent's hand gently as she led the overcome man out of the museum, while the Doctor and Amy followed behind.
"This changes everything!" Vincent declared as he strode out of the Tardis, back in his own home time. "I'll step out tomorrow with my easel on my back a different man."
The Doctor, Terry, and Amy followed Vincent out, the redhead beaming while the Doctor and Terry had wistful looks on their faces as they watched Vincent.
He'd paused, before turning back to his new friends as he added: "Though, I still can't believe that one of the haystacks was in the museum. How embarrassing."
Terry had to smile while Amy chuckled, and the Doctor said with a warm grin of his own: "It's been a great adventure and a great honour."
He shook Vincent's hand before hugging the man, and Vincent laughed as he said happily: "You've turned out to be the first doctor ever actually to make a difference to my life."
"I'm delighted." The Doctor answered warmly. "I won't ever forget you."
He patted the man's shoulders fondly, before stepping back as Vincent turned to the next person in line for a farewell.
"Terry-angel!" Vincent beamed as he faced the short woman. "The Doctor was right, the name is very befitting."
"Oh, I don't know about that." Terry chuckled, but Vincent laughed: "No, it is! And no-one who sees how the Doctor looks at you could argue! He looks at you like you are the brightest star in the universe; and I would say I agree but."
He nodded at Amy, who laughed good-naturedly, and Terry said softly: "I'm so glad we met, Vincent. I will never, ever forget you."
"Nor I, you." Vincent answered.
Terry leant up to press a gentle kiss on Vincent's beard in farewell, before she turned and followed the Doctor into the Tardis.
He was waiting for her just inside the doorway, and Terry hugged him wordlessly.
"I know." He answered in her mind as Terry's grip on him tightened.
"Come on!"
The two broke apart as Amy bounded inside happily, saying excitedly: "Let's go back to the gallery right now."
The Doctor indulged in her request as he and Terry headed over to the console as well, though without a word, as Amy said happily: "I can't believe we actually met Vincent, and that we can actually turn his life around!"
Terry and the Doctor exchanged looks as they landed, a look that Amy missed as she'd already rushed back to the doors.
"You all right?" The Doctor checked, and Terry nodded as she answered: "We made him laugh, and I like to think we gave him hope. That's enough for me."
The Doctor nodded, before he took Terry's hand in his own as he and Terry followed Amy out, where she was waiting impatiently.
The moment they appeared, she turned and bounded towards the Musée, saying enthusiastically: "Time can be re-written. I know it can. Come on! Oh, the long life of Vincent Van Gogh! There'll be hundreds of new paintings."
"I'm not sure there will." The Doctor tried to interject carefully, but Amy didn't hear as she ran on ahead, saying impatiently as she reached the special exhibit gallery "Come on!"
Terry didn't have the heart to watch that cheery expression fade, and she hung back with the Doctor, just watching Amy's back as the redhead looked around the gallery.
They didn't need to see Amy's face to know when the cruel reality sank in, and Terry watched sadly as Amy's shoulders slumped while Dr. Black was saying nearby to another group of visitor: "We have here the last work of Vincent Van Gogh, who committed suicide at only thirty seven. He is now acknowledged to be one of the foremost artists of all time. If you follow me now…"
The Doctor bowed his head, squeezing Terry's hand tightly in comfort as she stared sorrowfully at Amy as Amy slowly turned to face her friends once more.
"So you were right." Amy said quietly, blinking back tears.
Terry let go of the Doctor's hand to come up to Amy, reaching out for the redhead as Amy said bitterly: "No new paintings."
"Oh, Amy." Terry sighed as she hugged her friend.
Amy hugged the shorter woman back, burying her head into Terry's shoulder for comfort while the Doctor walked up as well.
"We didn't make a difference at all." Amy whispered brokenly, but the Doctor answered gently as he stopped beside the two women: "I wouldn't say that."
Amy sniffed, lifting her gaze to the Doctor's as he said softly: "The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. And the good things don't always soften the bad things, but vice versa, the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things or make them unimportant."
Amy sniffled, but the Doctor comforted with a smile: "And we definitely added to his pile of good things. And, if you look carefully," he pulled Amy over to the painting of the church, "maybe we did indeed make a couple of little changes."
They stood, staring at the Church at Auvers, and Amy had to smile as she murmured, staring at the empty church window: "No Krafayis."
"No Krafayis." The Doctor agreed as he walked closer to the painting with a smile.
Something else caught Terry's eye, and her face filled with sadness but a small smile appeared on her face. There, in the corner of 'Starry Night', was one line written in the darkest of paint.
'The darkest nights bring the brightest angels.'
It was surrounded by the swirling colours, and so nearly undetectable in the chaotic spinning that no human eye would have caught it but she did. And she knew the Doctor had as well, when he hugged her from behind, wrapping his arms around her middle and placing his chin on her head as he held her lovingly.
Amy, meanwhile, had seen something else, and the redhead wandered over to the painting of 'Still Life with Twelve Sunflowers' while a smile appeared on her face.
There on the side of the vase, for the world to see, were the words 'For Amy'. The Doctor and Terry smiled as they saw it too.
Coming up beside Amy, Terry took the redhead's hand and squeezed it while the Doctor whistled slightly in appreciation, and Amy muttered: "If we had got married, our kids would have had very, very red hair."
"The ultimate ginger." The Doctor agreed, but Terry corrected fondly: "The ultimate ginge."
"Brighter than sunflowers." Amy whispered, and the trio stood for a long moment in front of the painting, basking in the small gift of hope and light that Vincent had left behind for all eternity to come.
