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Hey guys. I'm alive. Really. Just had some unexpectedly awesome things happen that have sort of temporarily taken over my life. Just one more week of insanity though, and things should settle in again. Writing has sort of fallen to the wayside, sadly. Not that I haven't been writing, just not writing effectively. The next chapter of my Ginny fic has demanded to be rewritten and taken unexpected turns three or four times in the last few weeks. It's being as slippery as a Slytherin. Snerk. I've also started and abandoned three or four ideas for my help_japan  charity fic. Oy. I tried poking at the next installment of the DC Series, but Daniel is being stubborn. (What else is new?) I've had a few other things open on my desktop, adding a few words here and there, but I'm not really settling to anything, sadly.

I just got a review on one of my oldest stories, which is nice. Really. Comments are always great. It's just... I do my absolute best to pretend I never wrote this particular fic, so the rare time someone leaves a comment, it gives rise to that urge to DELETE THE STORY FROM EXISTENCE yet again. All of you who never posted your first ever fic? I envy you SO MUCH. Lol.

I'm really behind on TV watching. I can't really build up any interest in the latest Sanctuary, though I imagine I will get around to it eventually. (I'm sorry. You all know how I feel about character bashing, but I just...can't make myself like Will. I'm trying. And another aside, I was commenting to holdouttrout the other day that I rewatched Star Trek Reboot again the other day and noticed that Chris Pine is a total mouth breather too, it just in no way bothers me the way it does with Will. I cannot explain this. Lol.) I saw Fringe, but don't really have any thoughts at the moment. Maybe later. It's a long hiatus to ruminate over. Looking forward to all the summer shows starting up again soon though. Yay White Collar and Covert Affairs and Leverage and other ones I am probably forgetting about.

Speaking of Leverage, I'm pretty broken up that Con-Con was canceled. Not surprised, just sad. I'd really been looking forward to that.

Seems there's gong to be a new Lady Julia Grey book coming out on June 21st. Let's hope it doesn't suck as much as the fourth one did. I'll give it a read and let you know if it's worth reading or if we should just continue to pretend there were only three Lady Julia books.

( I've been reading throw away shitty romance novels. )

Here are a few fic recs to make up for it:

The Package Deal by ziparumpazoo  (Fringe, Peter/Olivia, Walter)
She drew these two men together and forced them, sometimes painfully, to build their own warped version of a family. They’re a package deal. An If/Then statement. It’s that simple.
This is a great morning after fic for 6B, showing Olivia's relationships with Peter, but also Walter, who is an inescapable part of the deal. Such a perfect glimpse into what life with the Bishops would be like.

The Bridal Path by Vyola (Addams Family, Wednesday/Joel)
To marry an Addams means taking marriage very seriously. After all, it is till death do you part. And even then, sometimes they come back.
Okay, so it's not like I'm this big Addam's Family fan or anything. I'm pretty sure I saw the movie a million years ago. But, god, I love Wednesday, the quirky worldview of the Addam's family, and their non-traditional romance. This is such a great little fic. Short, quirky, and definitely worth a read.

The Priming Game by amonitrate (Ironman, Rhodey, Tony, Tony/Pepper if you really squint)
Rhodey wonders if from now on it's going to be Tony Before and Tony After.
This is a fill in for the time between when Tony is rescued out of the desert and when he lands back in America. Rhodey's POV on the changes that have come over Tony, the secrets he is clearly keeping, and the suspicions of the US Government that threaten to push Tony over the edge. Such a clear vision of the characters and their relationships as well at the way Tony is changed by his experience.

May the Moon and Sunlight Seem by Lizarel (Harry Potter, Hermione/Ron)
Because scars don't disappear just because darkness is defeated.
I have to admit that while I like Hermione/Ron just fine, I have never been much of a fan of the fic. This fic is the exception. It has true voices, a wonderful look at Ron and how he changes over the series of books, and lacks all of the smarmy, hysterionics popular in a lot of the teenage romance of the Harry Potter world. I really love this fic.  

All Roads (Eventually) Lead to Home by igrockspock  (Harry Potter, Hermione, gen)
After the end of the war, Hermione goes to find her parents. They aren't where she expected them to be.
This is a nice look at Hermione dealing with her actions at the beginning of Deathly Hallows (and was there honestly a more wrenching scene in the first film than Hermione leaving her parents' home? Gah.

The Blood in Your Skin by anythingbutgrey  (Fringe, altLivia/Lincoln)
Ten things that may or may not have happened to Lincoln and Olivia. This is what leads Lincoln to kiss her the first time they almost die together. Lincoln thinks this is romantic. Olivia laughs in his face.
Oh, this fic. So wonderful. And painful. But definitely worth reading. (Warning: character death)

Five Things That Never Happened to Nikki Heat...and One That Did Happen to Kate Beckett by fialka  (Castle, Nikki/Rook, Beckett/Castle, NC-17 for smut)
Sometimes, even Castle needs a fic fix. Meta AU.
Hot and awesome. I love the way Nikki Heat and Rook are different characters, and yet a tiny bit not. Definite must read.

Mama Who Bore Me by language_escapes (Saint Trinian's)
Ten stories about eleven St. Trinian's girls and the women who shaped them.
This is set in a specific version of this universe by this author that I love. (Having Chosen, So Defined). I think this fic even manages to blow that one out of the water. You know, even if you have never seen the St. Trinian movies, I think you really might enjoy this fic. It's about daughters and mothers and the paths we chose in this life. It's lovely and powerful, and way better than the original movies themselves which are amusingly bad, but make up for it in the idea they put forth.

CSI

Fleeting Moments by Elialys (CSI: Las Vegas, Sara/Grissom, character death)
When grief blurs the line between memories and imagination, here's your last chance to say goodbye.
Brief, brutal, beautiful look at a different outcome for 'Living Doll'.

Stale Toothpaste (And Other Problems of Love) by Camilla Sandman (CSI: Las Vegas, Sara/Grissom)
Grissom snores. Sara leaves the toothpaste cap unscrewed.
Fluffy established relationship.

Fringe

Trickster Makes This World by Alice Starling (Fringe, Peter, Peter/Olivia, Alt!Livia, Lincoln)
On fatherhood and the art of the con; Peter comes downstairs one morning to find Olivia with unwelcome guests.
I love the idea of Peter as the Trickster. A glimpse of what first made me like Peter, the grittier side. Or at least the possibility of it.

Gilmore Girls

Minute Detail by Arianna555 (Gilmore Girls, Rory/Jess)
This is called tension. These are the facts: it's two words on a page. Rory sent the letter from LHCD.
Awesome look at Jess and Rory's dysfunctional relationship while they are both with other people. Jess broods with the best of them.

Taking Shots for Mother Nature by falseeyelashes (Gilmore Girls, Rory, Rory/Finn)
It's the alcohol and the decadence and the swimming pool; it's the Jay Gatsby and a date with destiny and it's the friends that aren't her own and Rory gets it now: she's become her mother without ever meaning to. AU Post-Season Five finale.
Rory at her season five dysfunctional best. Love it. (And yes, you read that pairing right.)

The Seven Deadly Sins: A Series of Lit Vignettes by abc79-de (Gilmore Girls, Rory/Jess)
A series of looks at moments we were robbed of in Season Three. A look at Rory and Jess being Rory and Jess.
Just what it says.

Harry Potter

Cyclic by Fair-Ithil (Harry Potter, Ron, Trio)
Fall holds your beginning, summer your end, and you've only just realized...Ron Weasley charts the seasons
Great, great lyrical look at Ron's side of things. Short and sweet.

Of Kissing and Karma by She's a Star (Harry Potter, Harry/Ginny)
Mistletoe has reared its ugly head during the sixth year Christmas holidays at Hogwarts, resulting in revolting displays of affection, and one Miss Ginny Weasley ain't gonna stand for it.
This is a cute little fic with great Ginny in it. Even if there are like an acre of author's notes at the top for some reason. Trust me, it's worth wading through to get to the fic itself.

SG-1

Plan C Series by missparker
Sam throws her back out the same week the Colonel is scheduled for his third knee surgery.
Very nice series of stories about Sam and Jack doing what we love best, pulling apart as hard as they can until they inevitably snap back together. Very nice angst and I just love the voices.

Yup, still reading like a crazy woman. I feel like all I ever post anymore are fic recs. Lol.

Roulette by kerlin (CSI, Sara/Grissom)
Pick a future. Any future.
This is a five things type fic, detailing five ways it could have gone between Sara and Grissom. Good, bad, and in between.

That common consolation by Zara Hemla (Fringe, Peter/Olivia)
Sometimes she looks at him sideways out of those eyes of hers and it's a kind of voltage, the kind he's been searching for all his life.
This is set a bit earlier, right after Olivia takes her first trip to see Bell on the other side. I really like Peter's view of Olivia in this.

Frequency by alchemyalice  (Fringe, Peter/Olivia)
Olivia speaks. Peter hears her.
Another great Peter-figures-out-he-has-the-wrong-Olivia fic.  (I never get tired of these.)

that home by melissa_pbfan  (Fringe, Peter/Olivia)
i'd rip reality in two and cross universes for you
Very short, but beautifully poetic glimpse of a different outcome for 'Jacksonville' and what follows. I like experimental, lyrical stuff like this. There really isn't enough of it out there.

Five Times Gaila and Sulu Save Each Other by igrockspock  (Star Trek Reboot, Gaila/Sulu)
Even tough, independent people need saving once in awhile. Gaila and Sulu save each other from fears and insecurities, tarantulas and Starfleet ration bars, failed simulations and lost promotions. And space pirates. Twice.
I love this type of fic, following two people over long periods of time as their relationships develop, and how at the core, these two are just really good friends and the romance is the part that comes and goes, but that they always seem to gravitate back towards each other. Plus. Gaila. And space pirates. I find the Orion culture endlessly fascinating.

Homework by penknife  (Sanctuary, Gen, Ashley)
Ashley does her homework.
A great glimpse at what childhood for Ashley may have been like.

Moving On and Biding Time by a_loquita  (Stargate SG-1, Sam/Jack)
She puts her head on his shoulder. He wonders if this is what it will be like.
This is a wonderful, quiet, achy fic about Jack and waiting. And what a toll it takes on him. (Yay, birthday fic!)

syxp  has not only added another edition to the Jack's Magic Penis Chronicles, but has also finally compiled them all in one easy post.

Before I jet off on a long weekend away from home, thought I'd share some more fic recs. Both of my requests over at the Rewriting History comment-athon have been filled. Which, wow, is awesome.

First a Bourne Series ficlet, wherein I requested that Marie not die. I got no need for the past by etoilefilante 
Second, a Fringe ficlet wherein I requested an Astrid that had been dosed with Cortexiphan. I got The Air Breaks There by lyssie .

They are still taking requests and people are still comment ficcing, so go on over!

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Other fics you should definitely read too:

The Art of Fugue by BlackMamba (Fringe, Astrid, gen)
(Astrid is a hero. The world may not know it, but she is.) Five days in the life of Astrid Farnsworth.
Awesome, awesome, AWESOME Astrid fic.

Moirai by prozacpark (Greek Mythology, Athena, Hera)
"that's the art of war, and she knows war." [Hera and Athena as allies in a war against Zeus.]
Even if you know nothing of Greek mythology, this is an awesome fic. Hera with a reason for the way she does things, Athena with a secret hidden agenda, and the ways these women find to work together behind the scenes. One of the tags for this story is 'women being awesome' and I couldn't agree more.

Five Futures Kassandra Saw and One She Could Not by prozacpark (Greek Mythology, Kassandra, Andromache, Helen, Klytemnestra)
to know your fate is to be a slave to it.
Oh, man. There is nothing I love more than fic that gives a story to the peripheral ladies of great manly tales (and AGENCY and PURPOSE). This story has that in spades.

Shamash by igrockspock  (Amanda, Spock, Uhura, smidge of Spock/Uhura)
Amanda and Spock light Hannukah candles
There is nothing I love more than igrockspock 's Amanda. This is lovely and touching.

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It's strange, looking at my reading habits. I am widely multifannish, but then again, have you ever seen a fic writer who was more doggedly monofannish, not to mention OTP -laden as me? I think I should make a New Year's Resolution to try writing things in other fandoms. Nothing crazy, but just pushing my comfort zones a bit. Maybe at least five ficlets in five new fandoms? Yeah. That sounds about right.

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ETA:
Oh! And syxp , queen of comment fic, was bemoaning the lack of Stargate prompts at the Rewriting History thingy. Which, inevitably, lead to Sam/Jack comment fic. Lol. Go give her some prompts or something!

I've been slowly doing some reading over at Yule Tide and various other places. (I'm only through 'N' on the fandoms.) Here's my recs so far.

Boundaries by teyla (Lie To Me--Cal, Emily, Zoe)
Proof is always better than trust. Or is it?
This is an amazing look at what Cal's job affects his relationships with his wife and daughter, no matter how hard he tries not to let them. This is also a great look at Emily, the ways she deals with Cal, how well she understands him, even when her attempt to get around him fail as always. This is an Emily trying to be her own woman with a father that makes it impossible. Great, great fic.

Five Things Madeline Knows by myystic (Burn Notice--Madeline, Michael, Nate, Frank)
About her family.
This is a great look at my favorite character on Burn Notice. It gives us a great look at the Westen family, and shows so clearly just how much Madeline sees, and how much she pretends not to.

13 Ways of Looking at Betrayal by rivkat (Fringe--Olivia, Peter, Walter, Astrid, Peter/Olivia)
Sometimes the crossing isn't as difficult as the arrival.
This is a great fic about what happens after Olivia crosses back over and Peter's confession. It's about how she deals with the mess the other Olivia has left behind, and how things slowly, slowly, slowly may be okay again someday.

everything in its right place by vnilla (Fringe--Alternate Astrid)
In the alternate universe, Astrid notices some changes in Agent Dunham.
How much do I love that Fringe gave us these wonderful alternative universe characters? And made us love them just as much as the originals, just in different ways? This is a great and slightly heart breaking look at the life of Alternative Astrid.

Armistice Summer by Reading Redhead (Austen, Persuasion--Anne Elliot/Frederick Wentworth)
In the summer of 1806, Anne Elliot meets Commander Wentworth for the first time.
There is something about the restraint and quiet of Persuasion that will always make it my favorite Jane Austen story. This is a nice look at how they could have met and first fallen in love.

Two-part harmony by dafna (Austen, Persuasion--Anne Elliot/Frederick Wentworth)
In which Anne explains how she came to play the piano-forte so well and Frederick tells the story of the first Captain Wentworth.
Anne and Frederick after they have reconciled but before they have told anyone else. Nice, quiet scene and just what I love about these two.

bright and clear by hardlygolden (Friday Night Lights--Tami/Eric)
"Eric Taylor," she declares, "you are my hero." Two decades later, he still is.
My love for these two is no secret. This is a great look at their lives together, and how much they love their family. Short and sweet with great characterizations.

Can't Get Next To You by yahtzee63  (Fringe, Peter/Olivia, with various other background Alt!Olivia pairings)
This is a wonderful fic about Peter wandering the multiverse in search of his Olivia. There is lovely Peter/Olivia, but the real star of this amazing fic are the multiverses themselves, and the various incarnations of Olivia--recognizable, but slightly askew. And man, do I love each and every version of Olivia we are given, even as completely different as they are on the surface. Also read this for alt versions of Astrid, Walter, Broyles, and even John Scott. Wonderful idea exquisitely executed. A must read for Fringe fans.

walking on my skin again by seimaisin  (Inception, Ariadne, Ariadne/Arthur)
What makes me love this fic more than anything else? That this is really an Ariadne fic first, about her friendships and relationships, but most importantly, how she finds her own place in the world. Excellent inclusion of Eames, Cobb, Yusef, and even Mal. (God, I love where Mal goes in this fic. Love like whoa.)

Your Contribution to the War Effort (A Mercenary's Guide) by threeguesses  (Star Wars, Han Solo, Han/Leia)
This fic is hilarious, touching, a bit bitter, and a lot wonderful. It follows an unusual format and style (the dreaded second person), but captures Han's self-deprecating wit so damn well as he chronicles his part in the rebellion. A must read.

Lonely Let The Flowers Grow by pumpkin_fics  (Harry Potter, Luna, Neville, Ginny, Luna/Neville)
I have a huge soft spot for Luna and for stories about what when on in Hogwarts while the Trio were away. This is resistance and friendship and Luna's ability to see the world in that unique way of hers.

Don't Say A Word by seldear (SG-1, Jack, Mitchell, Dixon, Lam, Jack/Sam)
An interesting little later seasons AU where Jack is still commander of the SGC (and is involved in a not-so-secret affair with Sam), and the rest of the base watches as Jack struggles with SG-1 missing off world. I love the obvious and not obvious ways the base rallies around Jack, and how Jack never loses it, no matter how much he'd like to.

Those of you who like Jane Austen but aren't fans of WIPs, the excellent fic on ffnet that I've been following is finally complete! Check it out! Anne de Bourgh in Bath by SwordSwallower17. (PG, Anne de Bourgh/OMC)

Honest When It Counts and it's sequel Conversations in a Holding Cell by lears_daughter . These are little Leverage/Lie To Me crossovers that are made of win. Gen.

Make a Deal With God by monroeslittle (Fringe, Peter/Olivia.)
The summary kind of says it all: 
Alt!Livia doesn't like Gene, Walter only wants Peter to smile, that is not Ella's Aunt Liv, Elizabeth Bishop isn't going to pretend anymore, and somebody . . . somebody has to set the universes running right again and bring Olivia Dunham home.

An Act of Outright Stupidity by randombattlecry  (Pirates of the Caribbean, Jack/Elizabeth)
Short and perfect. Read it.

Safe in Magnetic Fields by openended  (SG-1, Sam/Jack, Alternative Realities)
Guy walks into the wrong reality, girl tries to get him home.
Angsty, real, and plausible, and oh so fascinating.

Gen

The Art of Fugue by BlackMamba (Fringe, Astrid, gen)
(Astrid is a hero. The world may not know it, but she is.) Five days in the life of Astrid Farnsworth.
Awesome, awesome, AWESOME Astrid fic.

everything in its right place by vnilla (Fringe--Alternate Astrid)
In the alternate universe, Astrid notices some changes in Agent Dunham.
How much do I love that Fringe gave us these wonderful alternative universe characters? And made us love them just as much as the originals, just in different ways? This is a great and slightly heart breaking look at the life of Alternative Astrid.


Other Pairings

The Blood in Your Skin by anythingbutgrey  (Fringe, alt!Livia/Lincoln)
Ten things that may or may not have happened to Lincoln and Olivia. This is what leads Lincoln to kiss her the first time they almost die together. Lincoln thinks this is romantic. Olivia laughs in his face.
Oh, this fic. So wonderful. And painful. But definitely worth reading. (Warning: character death)


Peter/Olivia

That common consolation by Zara Hemla (Fringe, Peter/Olivia)
Sometimes she looks at him sideways out of those eyes of hers and it's a kind of voltage, the kind he's been searching for all his life.
This is set a bit earlier, right after Olivia takes her first trip to see Bell on the other side. I really like Peter's view of Olivia in this.

Frequency by alchemyalice  (Fringe, Peter/Olivia)
Olivia speaks. Peter hears her.
Another great Peter-figures-out-he-has-the-wrong-Olivia fic.  (I never get tired of these.)

13 Ways of Looking at Betrayal by rivkat (Fringe--Olivia, Peter, Walter, Astrid, Peter/Olivia)
Sometimes the crossing isn't as difficult as the arrival.
This is a great fic about what happens after Olivia crosses back over and Peter's confession. It's about how she deals with the mess the other Olivia has left behind, and how things slowly, slowly, slowly may be okay again someday.

Can't Get Next To You by yahtzee63  (Fringe, Peter/Olivia, with various other background Alt!Olivia pairings)
This is a wonderful fic about Peter wandering the multiverse in search of his Olivia. There is lovely Peter/Olivia, but the real star of this amazing fic are the multiverses themselves, and the various incarnations of Olivia--recognizable, but slightly askew. And man, do I love each and every version of Olivia we are given, even as completely different as they are on the surface. Also read this for alt versions of Astrid, Walter, Broyles, and even John Scott. Wonderful idea exquisitely executed. A must read for Fringe fans.

Make a Deal With God by monroeslittle (Fringe, Peter/Olivia.)
The summary kind of says it all: 
Alt!Livia doesn't like Gene, Walter only wants Peter to smile, that is not Ella's Aunt Liv, Elizabeth Bishop isn't going to pretend anymore, and somebody . . . somebody has to set the universes running right again and bring Olivia Dunham home.

Trickster Makes This World by Alice Starling (Fringe, Peter, Peter/Olivia, Alt!Livia, Lincoln)
On fatherhood and the art of the con; Peter comes downstairs one morning to find Olivia with unwelcome guests.
I love the idea of Peter as the Trickster. A glimpse of what first made me like Peter, the grittier side. Or at least the possibility of it.

The Package Deal by ziparumpazoo  (Fringe, Peter/Olivia, Walter)
She drew these two men together and forced them, sometimes painfully, to build their own warped version of a family. They’re a package deal. An If/Then statement. It’s that simple.
This is a great morning after fic for 6B, showing Olivia's relationships with Peter, but also Walter, who is an inescapable part of the deal. Such a perfect glimpse into what life with the Bishops would be like.

Austen

Castle

CSI: Las Vegas

Firefly

Fringe

Gilmore Girls

Glee

Harry Potter

Leverage

Sanctuary

Stargate Atlantis

Stargate SG-1

Star Trek Reboot

Star Wars

The West Wing


All other fandoms:

Addams Family
The Bridal Path by Vyola (Addams Family, Wednesday/Joel)
To marry an Addams means taking marriage very seriously. After all, it is till death do you part. And even then, sometimes they come back.
Okay, so it's not like I'm this big Addam's Family fan or anything. I'm pretty sure I saw the movie a million years ago. But, god, I love Wednesday, the quirky worldview of the Addam's family, and their non-traditional romance. This is such a great little fic. Short, quirky, and definitely worth a read.


Bible
The Apple by kitausu  (Bible, Eve)

We Laugh Indoors by martyr4mylove4u  (Bible, Lilith [/adam, /lucifer]) 
SO AWESOME.


Bourne Identity
Survivor by .unique.curious.individual. (T, Marie-centric, Marie/Bourne)
She is Marie Helena Kreutz, and she is a survivor.

Breathe by fearlessfan (T, Marie/Bourne)
Filling in the space between.

Easier by medie   (Nicky/Jason)
Jason Bourne is one of my fictional boyfriends, because, hot and tragic, duh. But this fic is great because it's a Nicky fic about not quite knowing what the hell she is doing, with a dash of ship for flavor.


Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Echo by vatrixsta (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Xander, Cordelia, Xander/Cordelia)
Today is Cordelia's favorite day.
Yes, this fic is in first person, which is usually not my cup of tea, but this is so wonderfully done, capturing all my nostalgia for the first show I was ever fannish about, and the sheer joy that was Xander and Cordelia in their early snarky glory. Definitely worth a read.

Bunny, Bunny, Oxen Free by lowercase k (?)
I have a soft spot for Anya. This is post series finale, Buffy investigating when Anya unexpectedly shows up. It's short and quirky and is so the Anya I love. Gen.

Physical Presence by Mona (monanotlisa) (SGA/Buffy, Anya/Rodney)
Oh my goodness, you guys.  I have been craving Rodney/Anya fic since I signed up for the ucp_ficathon ages ago.  I even wished for a Rodney/Anya story for my Holiday Wish List.  And then, lo and behold, just as I had begun to lose hope, rositamia rec'd one over at stargateficrec.  All is right with the world once more.  Especially because it is funny, snarky and full of pop culture references.  If you have any Buffy love mixed in with your Stargate fannishness, go forth and read.


Burn Notice
Five Things Madeline Knows by myystic (Burn Notice--Madeline, Michael, Nate, Frank)
About her family.
This is a great look at my favorite character on Burn Notice. It gives us a great look at the Westen family, and shows so clearly just how much Madeline sees, and how much she pretends not to.

If you love Maddie, read the first part of this fic: The Last Smoke. (spoilers for season 3 finale).


Dollhouse
Identity Crisis 101 by irony_rocks   (Sierra/Victor)
No matter my issues with Dollhouse, I still love Sierra and Victor, and this fic is a great look at the fragmenting of identity, the brokeness of these liberated dolls, and what in their lives may actually anchor them.


Eureka
A Hand to Hold by jedibuttercup  (Eureka, Jack/Tess)
The first Jack/Tess fic I've managed to find, and it's short, but lovely. Tag to "Ship Happens"


Friday Night Lights
bright and clear by hardlygolden (Friday Night Lights--Tami/Eric)
"Eric Taylor," she declares, "you are my hero." Two decades later, he still is.
My love for these two is no secret. This is a great look at their lives together, and how much they love their family. Short and sweet with great characterizations.

There are Roads Left in Both of Our Shoes by likewinning  (Friday Night Lights, Julie Taylor)

Building Shelters by myrifique (Julie Taylor/Tim Riggins)
The pairing sounds odd, I know, but it works.


Greek Mythology
Moirai by prozacpark (Greek Mythology, Athena, Hera)
"that's the art of war, and she knows war." [Hera and Athena as allies in a war against Zeus.]
Even if you know nothing of Greek mythology, this is an awesome fic. Hera with a reason for the way she does things, Athena with a secret hidden agenda, and the ways these women find to work together behind the scenes. One of the tags for this story is 'women being awesome' and I couldn't agree more.

Five Futures Kassandra Saw and One She Could Not by prozacpark (Greek Mythology, Kassandra, Andromache, Helen, Klytemnestra)
to know your fate is to be a slave to it.
Oh, man. There is nothing I love more than fic that gives a story to the peripheral ladies of great manly tales (and AGENCY and PURPOSE). This story has that in spades.

Hid By Night and Every Fault Forgiven by kitausu  (Odyssey, Penelope)
OMG, so awesome.


Inception
walking on my skin again by seimaisin  (Inception, Ariadne, Ariadne/Arthur)
What makes me love this fic more than anything else? That this is really an Ariadne fic first, about her friendships and relationships, but most importantly, how she finds her own place in the world. Excellent inclusion of Eames, Cobb, Yusef, and even Mal. (God, I love where Mal goes in this fic. Love like whoa.)

daytime language by dropsofviolet  (Inception, Ariadne)

remember how you got here by kellifer_fic (Ariadne with bits of Ariadne/Arthur).
I swear, Kellifer is just incapable of getting a character voice wrong.


Inglorious Basterds
smoke in the blood by lesaut  (Inglorious Basterds, Shoshanna)
the stars are made of fire by penny_lane_42  (Inglorious Basterds, Shoshanna)


Ironman
That Time with the Dobermans (and the Hole in the Wall) by mspotts  (Tony/Pepper)
I never got quite as sucked up by Ironman as everyone else, but I love this fic. This is a Tony/Pepper I could easily get into. Hilarious Pepper voice that reads true.

The Priming Game by amonitrate (Ironman, Rhodey, Tony, Tony/Pepper if you really squint)
Rhodey wonders if from now on it's going to be Tony Before and Tony After.
This is a fill in for the time between when Tony is rescued out of the desert and when he lands back in America. Rhodey's POV on the changes that have come over Tony, the secrets he is clearly keeping, and the suspicions of the US Government that threaten to push Tony over the edge. Such a clear vision of the characters and their relationships as well at the way Tony is changed by his experience.


Lie To Me
Boundaries by teyla (Lie To Me--Cal, Emily, Zoe)
Proof is always better than trust. Or is it?
This is an amazing look at what Cal's job affects his relationships with his wife and daughter, no matter how hard he tries not to let them. This is also a great look at Emily, the ways she deals with Cal, how well she understands him, even when her attempt to get around him fail as always. This is an Emily trying to be her own woman with a father that makes it impossible. Great, great fic.

Honest When It Counts and it's sequel Conversations in a Holding Cell by lears_daughter . These are little Leverage/Lie To Me crossovers that are made of win. Gen.


Lord of the Rings
Hail The Queen by snowyofthenight  (Lord of the Rings, Eowyn)


Mulan
My Story is Not Like Yours by moirariordan  (Mulan, Mulan)


Pirates of the Caribbean
Like a Leaf on the Water by penknife  (Pirates of the Caribbean, Mistress Cheng)
They were both different people, once, or maybe they weren't that different after all.
Even if you have never seen PotC, or have no memory of the later movies all that much, you still need to read this fic. It's the story of the life of Mistress Cheng and how she becomes a great pirate lord. This is one amazing, well textured woman. Warning for many adult themes and situations. See fic heading info.

An Act of Outright Stupidity by randombattlecry  (Pirates of the Caribbean, Jack/Elizabeth)
Short and perfect. Read it.

A Tale Retold-At World's End by Laura H and Sal R (Pirate of the Caribbean, R, Jack/Elizabeth with various other pairings)
I'm not a huge Pirates fan, but I certainly loved the first two movies and surprisingly have a bit of a thing for Jack/Elizabeth. This epic fic takes all the characters from the movies, treats them all with interest and respect and conflict and gives them all a destiny and a part that makes sense. It is loooong, and wonderful and definitely pays off. I admit, the cahracterization of Elizabeth bugged me a bit in the beginning, but the author's evolve her so wonderfully and completely by the end that I totally forgave them. The story also treats Elizabeth/Will with respect and tenderness and believability and that is always a bonus to me when there is a love triangle. If you like Pirates and have an inkling for Jack/Elizabeth, you can't miss this epic, epic fic.
My biggest beef is that they didn't consistantly link from the end of one chapter to the beginning of the next, nor is there a comprehensive table of contents page or whatnot. So you have to dig through this tag some.

Shadow and the Soul by She's a Star (Elizabeth/Jack UST)
No idea how I found my way to this, but I love it to pieces.


Romeo and Juliet
a fleck on my porcelain skin by martyr4mylove4u  (Romeo and Juliet, Rosaline[/Juliet])
Love.


Saint Trinian's
Mama Who Bore Me by language_escapes (Saint Trinian's)
Ten stories about eleven St. Trinian's girls and the women who shaped them.
This is set in a specific version of this universe by this author that I love. (Having Chosen, So Defined). I think this fic even manages to blow that one out of the water. You know, even if you have never seen the St. Trinian movies, I think you really might enjoy this fic. It's about daughters and mothers and the paths we chose in this life. It's lovely and powerful, and way better than the original movies themselves which are amusingly bad, but make up for it in the idea they put forth.


Sleeping Beauty
Unhappily by lyrstzha  (Sleeping Beauty, PG-13)
I don’t care what you’ve heard; there were never any fairies involved.
An awesome retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairytale, only this time with snark and human error and ZOMBIES. I love the narrator's voice, and the story is just great. I like that idea that when you peel behind the disney-ification of fairytales there are much darker and grittier things hidden underneath. This fic is short and fun. Definitely give it a read. And feed the author!


Star Trek Voyager
Some Other Girl by alicamel   (ST: Voyager, Miral Paris) Oh, man. It's not easy being the daughter of heroes.


Thor
It's Electrifying by waketosleep (Thor, Darcy, Clint Barton, Jane, Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Darcy/Clint)
Clint Barton is apparently an Avenger and a pretty good shot, but whatever, Darcy has a taser and no reluctance to use it. Clint is the damaged one if he finds that charming.
Oh lord, where to begin? The Darcy voice is awesome and sarcastic and just so wonderful as she faces off against Clint and hulks and even Tony Stark. Love this fic to pieces. (The caveat is that beyond Ironman, I know nothing of the comics world, but still enjoyed the hell out of this.)


True Grit
A Long Time Traveling Away From Home by lindentree  (True Grit, Mattie/LaBoeuf)
Proverbs 16:18 - "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Mattie has one version of events. LaBoeuf has quite another.
This is not your traditional love story, but for these two would you really expect anything less? Lovely story telling and pacing and just overall so true to the characters and the source material. Great read.

We Have No Rodeo Clowns in Yell County by SarahT (True Grit, Mattie/LaBoeuf)
As I grew into a young lady, I was not much troubled with suitors.
Can't say I was all that certain about this pairing, but Mattie's voice is so well done I sort of didn't care.


Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego
the catch is you stay and see what becomes of us by anythingbutgrey  (Carmen/Waldo)
I'm not kidding, guys. read this.


Wizard of Oz
poppies stretch for days by falseeyelashes  (Wizard of Oz+ZOMBIES, Dorothy, Dorothy/Tinman) I mean, zombies. Do you need another reason?


X-Men
Gravity by penknife  (X-Men, Rogue)
There are all kinds of weight. Rogue is learning that.
This is an awesome, awesome, awesome fic all about Rogue dealing with the voices left in her head, and the men she has touched. Love this.