Chapter Five

After giving the Krafayis a proper burial, the Doctor, Amy, Robyn, and Vincent, lay on the grass outside of the church, gazing up at the stars. It had been a harrowing day, and the way it had ended did not sit well with any of them, but they couldn't change it, not now. If only they'd realised sooner, there might have been a chance to save the Krafayis, so they could've taken it home, but now, that chance was gone. Robyn had been overcome with grief, and she'd hated the fact that they'd gotten everything so, so, wrong, but there was nothing she could've done. She'd thought about trying to talk to the monster herself, while it was still feeling its way around the room, but had thought better of it, since she knew the Doctor would never have forgiven her if she put herself in danger again. Well... he probably would have forgiven her, but the act of going out and trying to calm a rampaging Krafayis probably would've frightened him too.

"Hold my hand, Doctor," said Vincent, reaching out to the Time Lord, who lay to the right of him. "Try to see what I see." The quartet held hands, the stars above their heads twinkling and dancing as they looked up at the night sky. "We're so lucky we're still alive to see this beautiful world," Vincent continued. "Look at the sky. It's not dark and black and without character. The black is, in fact, deep blue," he pointed to a particular spot in the sky, where the darkness was less thick, "and over there, lighter blue," he waved his hand through the air, as if he was painting the sky, "and blowing through the blueness and the blackness, the wind swirling through the air, and then shining, burning, bursting through - the stars!" He raised his head, leaning towards the stars as his passion overcame him. "Can you see how they roll their light?" he asked, lying down again. "Everywhere we look, complex magic of nature blazes before our eyes."

The Doctor smiled. "I've seen many things, my friend," he said quietly. "But you're right. Nothing... quite as wonderful as the things you see." He turned to Robyn, lifting their joined hands to his lips and pressing a kiss to her knuckles. He said nothing more, but his actions spoke louder than words.

"I will miss you terribly," said Vincent sadly, addressing Amy, but meaning all of them.

And although none of them replied, it was obvious that the Doctor, Amy, and Robyn, felt the same way.

"Well," the Doctor said at last, letting go of Vincent's hand and getting to his feet. "It's time we started heading back, before it gets too much later."

Amy leaned up on her elbows, and turned to look up at him. "Back to Vincent's, or the...?"

"You will stay with me tonight," Vincent replied, standing and brushing the grass from his coat. "It will be very late when we return, and far too late for a child to remain awake."

The Doctor nodded. "And I think we'll all need a good night's sleep," he agreed. "So we're in a better state of mind tomorrow morning."

Robyn stood, shaking grass and leaves from her hair. "So, what are we waiting for?" she asked, smiling impishly. "Are we going to stand around here all night?" She looked at Vincent. "Or am I going to have to start making one of you chase me?"

The artist laughed, and the sound was like music to her ears. "I don't think we'll go that far, lass," he replied.

"I didn't think so either," said Robyn, taking the Doctor by the hand. "Don't want to lose anyone, anyway."

And, so they set off, talking and laughing, although they never forgot about the events of that night, how it had changed them. It had been so strange, and yet so right, that the Krafayis, and Vincent, had been so alike. Both had been abandoned, both had been feared, and both were misunderstood. The parallels were so striking, terrifyingly so, that it was heartbreaking to think in such terms.

"When we leave," Robyn began, speaking quietly so Vincent didn't hear her, "will you tell me everything?" she asked. "About Gallifrey, and why you're alone, and about Rory, and about all the things that you haven't told me because you think I won't be able to handle it?"

"Are you sure you really want to know?" the Doctor replied. "There's a lot of... stuff, very... extremely very not good... stuff I haven't told you, for very good reasons."

Robyn frowned. "And you think, just because I'm a kid, that I won't understand?"

"No! It's not like that at all."

"So, it's not that I'm a kid, it's that you obviously don't trust me."

The Doctor sighed. "Robyn, it's not that I don't trust you, but..."

"But what?"

"If, and I mean if, I told you everything... you might stop trusting me."

"I wouldn't," Robyn said quietly. "I wouldn't stop trusting you, not even if you paid me!"

The Doctor smiled. "That's the right attitude," he replied.

"So, will you tell me?"

"Tomorrow. I'll tell you, tomorrow, when we're back at the TARDIS."

Robyn sighed, then shook her head. "I suppose I can wait until then," she replied. "But don't think you're going to back out somehow." She smiled cheekily. "You crafty old man."

The Doctor grinned. "No, I'm a mad man with a box. There's a difference, you know."

"There is?"

"Sure there is, if you're willing to stick around long enough to find out." He raised his eyebrows. "Are you?"

"I am!"

But the Doctor wasn't so sure. It was true that he'd picked a pretty strong girl to adopt, and she'd taken everything she already knew in stride. He could tell her about Gallifrey, and he could tell her about Rory, but they were still pretty raw subjects with him. But he couldn't talk about Rory in front of Amy... yes, she did need to remember him, but something told him that it wasn't the right time for that.

Not yet.

"Anyway," he said at last, shaking his head. "I will tell you everything, and I mean everything, tomorrow. I promise."

OoOoOoOoO

The next morning, it was time for the Doctor, Amy, and Robyn, to leave. It felt like such a sad moment, and yet, Robyn couldn't help feeling that they'd changed Vincent's life for the better. She knew he might still kill himself, but it wasn't set in stone... or maybe it was, it was a bit difficult to tell sometimes. But she'd come to love the artist, which was a massive, but not completely unwelcome change on her part, and she wished she could spend another hour with him, or another day, learning all about him and his art.

"I only wish I had something of real value to give you," said Vincent, when everyone was ready to go. He'd presented the Doctor with one of his self portraits - the same one he'd tried to sell to the cafe owner.

Of course, the Doctor was flattered, but he knew the importance of Vincent's work, even if the artist himself didn't. "Oh, no, no, no," he said earnestly, holding the painted likeness up against its very real, very alive, subject and marvelling at its accuracy. "I could never accept such... an extraordinary gift."

Vincent looked dismayed for a moment, but not at all surprised. "Very well, but you're not the first to decline the offer." He turned to Amy and smiled, spreading his arms widely. "Amy, the blessed, the wonderful!" He gathered her into a hug, and the two of them kissed each other's cheeks.

"Oh, be good to yourself," said Amy, hugging him again. "And be kind to yourself."

"I'll try my best."

"And maybe give the beard a little trim before you next kiss someone," she added, rubbing her cheek and giggling.

Vincent grinned. "I will," he replied, joining in with her laughter. "I will. And if you tire of this Doctor of your's, return, and we shall have children by the dozen." He looked down at Robyn. "And if they are anything like your lass, Doctor," he added, smiling at the little girl, "then they will be the smartest, and the most beautiful, children in Provence."

Robyn blushed, deeply touched by the compliment. She allowed the artist to pick her up and hug her tightly, and she took the opportunity to kiss him on the cheek, then whispered in his ear, ever so delicately, "I love you, Uncle Vincent. Please be happy, for me... or Amy?"

"I'll certainly try, little one." Replacing her on the floor, Vincent turned to the Doctor next. "Doctor, my friend," he said, shaking the Time Lord's hand. "We have fought monsters together, and we have won." His face turned grave. "On my own, I fear I may not do as well."

The two men hugged, but while Vincent was the picture of happiness, the Doctor was not. Even after everything that had happened, the artist was still set to take his own life at some point in the not so distant future, and that knowledge hurt like nothing on Earth. Because he couldn't save someone from themselves; he didn't, and very likely never would, have that kind of power. If only there was something he could do, something that might reinforce the positive outlook that was blossoming in Vincent's life.

Well, there was one thing he could do, but he'd have to mention it to Amy and Robyn privately before he made a decision.

He took Robyn by the hand. "It's time we were off," he said, leading her to the front door. He nodded at Amy. "Come along, Pond."

Amy nodded back sadly. "Coming, Doctor."

The trio left the house, and started to walk back into town, but they hadn't gotten very far when the Doctor stopped in his tracks. He grinned, knowing that his idea was quite a good one, and he was sure that Amy and Robyn would like it, but he decided to test the waters a bit first, to see if one, or both, of them, might've gotten the same idea. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" he asked casually.

"I was thinking I may need some food or something before we leave," Amy replied, to his chagrin.

The Doctor sighed. "Well, no, you're not thinking exactly what I'm thinking."

Robyn frowned. "What are you thinking then, Dad?"

"You'll see," the Doctor said conspiratorially, as he turned towards Vincent's house. "VINCENT!" he called, hoping the artist could hear him through his open window. Fortunately, he could, but rather unfortunately, or still fortunately, depending on your point of view, the artist was half naked, since he was washing himself up. The Doctor quickly held a hand in front of Robyn's eyes. "Got something I'd like to show you," he added. "Maybe just.. tidy yourself up a bit first."

"So," said Robyn, once Vincent had gone back inside, and the Doctor had removed his hand from her eyes. "What do you intend to show him?"

The Doctor grinned. "The TARDIS of course," he replied. "Among other things."

Amy frowned. "You sure that's a good idea?"

"Of course it's a good idea!" He laughed. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"It might make him worse," Robyn replied.

"Or it might make him better," the Doctor countered. "Or at least, give him some hope... for a little while."

"Hope is good, but..." She shook her head. "What else were you intending to show him, any way? The museum?"

The Doctor grinned again, and it became increasingly clear to both Robyn and Amy that this was exactly what he intended to do. It was an absolutely ingenious idea, they had to admit, and if it worked, then time could possibly be rewritten. At least, that's what Amy hoped, but there was something about the whole thing that had Robyn worried. Yes, the thought of bringing Vincent to the future with them to see his works in the museum was brilliant, and it could be the best thing they would do for the artist, but... something just didn't sit right with her.

Something didn't make sense.

However, the thought was quickly pushed out of her mind, as Vincent joined them in the courtyard, having taken the Doctor's advice and tidied himself up.

OoOoOoOoO

"Now," the Doctor began, leading Robyn, Amy, and Vincent through the back streets of Arles. "You know we've had quite a few chats about the possibility there might be more to life than ordinary people imagine." He turned the corner, immediately noticing the state of the TARDIS, which had been papered over with posters, then groaned.

"Yes," Vincent replied, as the Time Lord rifled through his coat pockets for a penknife.

The Doctor looked at the artist and grinned. "Well, brace yourself, Vinnie." He quickly cut around the posters, then unlocked the door, opening it so Vincent could venture inside.

Of course, the first thing that Vincent noticed, like many others had before him, was that there was an entire room, very large, and very sparse, inside a very small, compact, blue box. He could walk around it in a few minutes, and yet it was the biggest room he'd ever seen on the inside. It was such a beautiful, magnificent, completely impossible thing, and yet, there it was, with tunnels and stairs that led to who knows where. Amy, Robyn, and the Doctor grinned at each other, as if sharing a private joke, quickly fading into mock seriousness as he returned outside. "How come I'm the crazy one?" he asked. "And you three have stayed sane?"

Laughing merrily, the quartet entered the TARDIS, the Doctor removing Vincent's hat and placing it on the coat rack. He approached the console, inspecting the buttons and levers. "What do these things all do?"

"Oh, a huge variety of things," the Doctor replied, walking around the console, stopping only when he found a particular switch. "Uh, this one here, for instance, plays soothing music." True to his word, music filled the air, and Robyn twirling on the spot, giggling as she danced. "While this one makes a huge amount of noise," the Doctor continued, pulling a lever at Amy's prompting. Although Vincent thought the Doctor was merely showing him what everything did, Amy, Robyn, and the Doctor himself, knew better. In reality, the Doctor was covertly beginning the dematerialisation sequence, and the TARDIS was playing along to great effect. "And this one," the Doctor continued, preparing to pull the final lever, the one that would send them into the Time Vortex, "makes everything go absolutely tonto."

And it did, as the TARDIS propelled itself through the Time Vortex, so much so, that Vincent found it hard to stay on his feet, grabbing hold of the bar underneath the scanner screen to steady himself. He looked at the console directly in front of him. "And this one?" he asked, reaching for another switch.

"That's a friction contrafibulator!" the Doctor cried, quickly leaning over to stop him causing an accident. Realising he must have been about to do something wrong, he turned his attentions to another pair of switches. "And this?"

"Ahh, that's ketchup," the Doctor replied. "And that one's mustard."

Vincent laughed. "Mmm, nice!" He grabbed the Doctor's arms. "Come on," he said. "Back to the cafe, and you can tell me about all the wonders of the universe."

The Doctor, Robyn and Amy exchanged a nervous glance. "Good idea, although, actually, there's a little something I'd like to show you first."

The TARDIS landed with a thud, and the quartet sauntered into the street... right in front of the Musee d'Orsay. Vincent looked around with wonder, as the sounds of the busy day blared around them. "Where are we?" he asked.

"Paris," said the Doctor, whirling around to face the artist. "Two thousand and ten AD, and this is the mighty Musee d'Orsay. Home to many of the greatest paintings in history."

Robyn and Amy smiled at each other, knowing that he included Vincent's own work in that description, even if the artist himself hadn't figured it out yet. Neither of them could wait to get inside and show him around, and to show him how much people loved and appreciated his work. Maybe Dr. Black was still around, and he could tell them exactly how he felt about Vincent's work? He was the museum's authority on Vincent Van Gogh, after all, and he had been very helpful the last time they were there...

A pair of young men coming out of the museum passed by the group, music coming from portable radio, which Vincent noticed, becoming fascinated with the device.

The Doctor waved his hand dismissively. "Uh, ignore that," he said. "I've got something more important to show you."

Robyn grinned and held the artist's hand. "This way, Uncle Vincent," she chirped, half walking and half skipping as she and Amy led the way into the museum.

It didn't take long to get to the exhibition of Vincent's work, except for when the Doctor had to run to catch up to his friends, and when they had to rush Vincent past the other exhibits. The museum was busy, just as busy as it was the day that the Doctor, Amy, and Robyn, had first come to view the artist's work. Vincent had never seen so many people before, at least not in this fashion. Back in Arles, the people would be laughing at him, and denouncing his work, calling it rubbish... but here... here... they were studying them, enjoying them... loving them!

Loving him.

The Doctor looked around, finding the museum curator talking to a school group. "Dr. Black," he said, gaining the man's attention. "Uh, we met a few days ago, I... I asked you about the Church at Auvers."

Dr. Black nodded. "Oh, yes! Glad to be of help. You were nice about my tie..."

"Yes," the Doctor replied, smiling widely. "And today is another cracker, if I may say so, but, I just wondered, between you and me, in a hundred words... where do you think Van Gogh rates in the history of art?"

"Well, um..." Dr. Black thought about his response carefully. "Big question, um... but, to me, Van Gogh is the finest painter of them all. Certainly the most popular great painter of all time; the most beloved. His command of colour, the most magnificent. 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 magnificence of our world... No one had ever done it before... 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."

Vincent looked around the museum, listening to Dr. Black's speech, growing misty-eyed. He wasn't used to such praise from anyone, and to hear it now...

The Doctor smiled, then realised that the artist was becoming distressed. "Vincent," he murmured, quickly heading to his friend's side. "Sorry... I'm sorry, is it too much?" he asked, hugging him tightly.

"No," Vincent replied, shaking his head and smiling happily. "They are tears of joy!" He broke away from the Doctor, and walked over to Dr. Black, then shook the surprised curator's hand. "Thank you, sir," he said, kissing him on both cheeks, and then hugging him. "Thank you!"

"You're welcome," Dr. Black replied, still slightly surprised and confused. "You're welcome."

Vincent felt his face, remembering what Amy had said to him back at his home. "Sorry, about the beard," he added.

As the odd man, and his friends, walked away, Dr. Black started to return to his work, but then stopped, getting a strange feeling that he had seen the odd man somewhere before... and that his friends had called him Vincent... as in Vincent Van Gogh... He shook his head. It couldn't have been him...

Could it?

OoOoOoOoO

The TARDIS materialised back in the fields of Provence, near Vincent's home. There was a different feeling in the air, a feeling of change, not big, but not insignificant either. Amy, Robyn, and the Doctor all knew this would be the last time they would see him, and it would be the last time he would see them. But the artist had earned a place in their hearts, and minds, and nothing... absolutely nothing would make them forget him. Everything Dr. Black had said was true, and even Vincent himself now knew what an impact he would have on the future.

"This changes everything!" he said, as he exited the big blue Police Box. "I'll step out tomorrow with my easel on my back a different man." He turned to the Doctor and frowned. "Though I still can't believe one of the haystacks was in the museum. How embarrassing!"

The Doctor laughed. "It's been a great adventure, and a great," he shook the artist's hand, "honour." He pulled the artist into a hug.

Vincent returned the hug eagerly. "You've turned out to be the first doctor ever, actually to make a difference to my life!"

"I'm delighted," the Doctor replied with a grin. "And I won't ever forget you."

The artist turned to Amy next. "And you are sure marriage is out of the question?"

"Mmm, this time," she said. She laughed, then leapt into Vincent's arms, giving him a big hug. "I'm not really the marrying kind."

Before she moved to say her final good bye, Robyn glanced up at the Doctor, just as Amy had told Vincent she wasn't the marrying kind. There was a sad expression on his face, and it was obvious that he knew something that Amy didn't, or else why would he look so sad? It couldn't have been about Vincent, they already knew his fate, after all, so there must have been something else, something connected to Amy, that she didn't know about. She shook her head. The Doctor had promised to tell her everything, and she was going to hold him to it. This wasn't the time, or the place, to be thinking about it.

This was the time to say goodbye to her newest, dearest, friend.

She giggled as the artist picked her up and kissed her cheek. "Bye, Uncle Vincent," she said softly, hugging him tightly. "Be happy."

"I will, little one."

The little girl hugged him again, then lingered for a moment, but it was long enough that the Doctor opened the TARDIS door and called her inside. She blushed. "Sorry, Dad's calling."

Vincent smiled. "Go on, better not keep your father waiting."

Robyn nodded, then turned and walked back into the TARDIS, taking one last look at the artist before she shut the door behind her... forever.

The grinding whale-song filled the air as she approached the console, and she heard Amy say "Let's go back to the gallery, right now," but she didn't reply, instead standing next to the Doctor and helping him man the console. She remained quiet, almost pensive, throughout the entire flight. Usually Amy's excitement and enthusiasm was infectious, and there was nothing more that Robyn wanted than to be able to feel that excited and happy... but the Doctor had the strangest look on his face. Not sad, not happy, but somewhere in-between.

Their arrival back the museum was as swift as their departure, and they arrived mere minutes after they left with Vincent. At least that meant they wouldn't run into their younger selves, so they could move through the gallery more freely.

"Time can be rewritten," said Amy happily, skipping into the museum. "I know it can!" She ran up the stairs, knowing the way off by heart now. "Oh, the long life of Vincent Van Gogh!" she crowed. "There'll be hundreds of new paintings!"

"I'm not sure there will," the Doctor replied, holding Robyn's hand and walking quickly so they could keep up with her.

Amy turned to her companions and sighed impatiently. "Come on!" She raced ahead, entering the Van Gogh exhibition and scanning the walls for anything new, and listened to see if Dr. Black said anything new.

"...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..."

Hearing this, Amy's heart broke. She turned to the Doctor, and Robyn, her eyes brimming with tears. "So, you were right," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "No new paintings. We didn't make a difference at all."

"I wouldn't say that," the Doctor replied, letting go of Robyn's hand and approaching Amy. "The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things, and bad things... hey..." He took the young Scottish girl in his arms and hugged her tightly. "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... and we definitely added to his pile of good things... and..." he lead her to the painting of the Church at Auvers, the painting that had started it all, "if you look carefully, maybe we did, indeed, make a couple of little... changes."

"No Krafayis," said Amy, looking at the painting once more.

"No Krafayis," the Doctor echoed.

But while they were occupied, Robyn had taken the opportunity to look around at the other paintings once again... and found something that would Amy very, very happy. She turned and ran back to the Church at Auvers painting, then tugged on Amy's jacket. "You have to come see this!" She turned to the Doctor. "You too, Dad!"

The Doctor and Amy looked at each other, bewildered that the little girl would make such a request, but allowed her to drag them over to another painting, which had been hung against a black backdrop and bathed in orange light.

When she realised what the painting was, Amy smiled.

The Doctor let out a low whistle, then smiled as well.

It was a vase... filled with sunflowers... with the dedication 'For Amy' written on it.

"So, aren't I a clever girl?" Robyn asked, looking up at the Doctor with a wide grin.

"You most certainly are," he replied, kneeling down and hugging her tightly. "Isn't she, Amy?"

Amy nodded. "If we had got married," she murmured. "Our kids would've had very, very, red hair."

The Doctor smiled. "The ultimate ginger."

"The ultimate ginge."

The trio laughed, gazing at the painting and remembering the artist fondly. Amy sighed. "Brighter then sunflowers."

OoOoOoOoO