Fandom: BTVS
Pairing: Xander/Andrew
Author on LJ: 3jane
Author Website: Janefic

Why this must be read:
Another post-"Chosen" story, this one focuses on Xander and Andrew. Andrew's character growth to sort of a second-tier Scooby was interesting, but he never was much more than comic relief, so this tale of Xander, Andrew, and Kennedy doing the Slayer caught my attention.

Andrew's got the magic mojo like Willow, so that plays a part in the plot. Yes, actual plot in this story, along with the sexin'. I particularly like the exploration of Andrew's psyche, and the secondhand picture of Xander, stalwart Slayer sidekick and someone Andrew looks up to (because Andrew needs to follow and be a part of a group).

Bonus reason for rec'ing: the boys' geekery in their downtime makes my heart do the Snoopy dance. *g*

Sweet You Rock

Sequel:
Spit

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: slight Anakin/Padmé
Length: 9,000 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Unknown

Why this must be read:

The premise of this brief story is quite simple. Anakin survived the second Death Star. Padmé is discovered alive somewhere. At Luke's instigation and Vader's request, the two estranged lovers meet on Tatooine.

Here are two people who once knew each other very well, and at one point, each thought the other had betrayed him or her. Anakin and Padmé know each others' vulnerabilities, as well, and they know how to hurt each other terribly with words. But, they have not seen each other in twenty-five years. Padmé is understandably a little bitter, and Anakin just wants to see her face again before he must go toward his uncertain future. Their meeting starts with harsh words and it seems like it will be over almost before it is begun. Are forgiveness and understanding even possible?

Having seen Revenge of the Sith *, this story is so true, it's almost frightening. There are a few small inconsistencies with the new movie, naturally, but the characterizations of Anakin and Padmé are near-perfect, and even many of the little details are correct. You can almost hear Vader saying his dialogue. This story is bittersweet, but it leaves the reader feeling more hopeful at the end. You will not be disappointed at all if you read it. Highly recommended.

* Gratuitous plug: You must go see this movie. It was excellent!

* * *

( Excerpt )

Reconciliation

Fandom: HARD CORE LOGO
Pairing: Billy/Joe
Author on LJ: thete1
Author Website: http://teland.com

Why this must be read:

Because it's short, it's hot, and it's by Te. Because they talk about That Night without making it sound like a rape recovery counselling session. Because the give and take, and sharp, hard need that is Joe is captured perfectly. Reasons enough for you?

"We're buddies, Joe. Blood buddies now, right? Remember? Your fucking pre-fab treehouse, my switchblade?" Billy is snapping, but still smiling. "You finally got up the nerve to do more than punch me or spit on me or kiss me in front of someone you could shock and I'm supposed to not notice it?"

Always

Title: Heard In Silence
Fandom: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Pairing: None
Author on LJ: aura218
Author Website: Her Skyehawke page
Why this must be read:

I love AUs. I make no bones about loving AUs. I freakin' adore them really so when I find good AU stories, even little slice of life ones, I'm more than a little pleased and I found one through a friend's rec page.

Attached is one of the big Picard/Crusher eps of The Next Generation but while the ep itself played up that angle, it also created a pretty interesting plot device. What happens when you have no choice but be completely honest with the person you're 'attached' too. They'll hear what you're thinking no matter what...

So with that in mind, this author removed Crusher from the situation and substituted her with Deanna Troi and took a second look at the fireside scene in that episode. This is not a 'shippy' story. It's a look at two characters and the interplay between them. It brings out a discussion of things that even fans have noticed and it's a great, rare, moment between the captain and the counselor and for that I love it.

Heard In Silence

Fandom: OZ
Pairing: Chris Keller/Ryan O'Reily
Author on LJ: geneticallydead
Author's website: Phoenix Fiction (password protected)
Why this must be read:

Because just like the "two things" in the title, there are two very different sides of Chris Keller, and this one, the one Mandy captures here, doesn't get explored very often in Ozfic. Let me warn you in advance, this story isn't for everyone: it's non-con, and it's Keller/O'Reily, and it's a Keller who resorts to rape rather than plying his seductive ways -- but Mandy makes all of that work, IMO, because at the core of it, Keller's motivation is always clear, and very familiar.

Chris wants Toby, but he needs… he needs a fuck. Not just a fuck. A release. There’s killing and there’s fucking, and REALLY they’re supposed to go together, but Chris has been indulging in one or the other lately. Not both. Which just, really, isn’t the same.

Can he really kill Ryan O’Reily? Maybe.

Can he fuck him?

Yeah.


If you've read anything by geneticallydead, you already know what a master she is, how brilliantly and beautifully she writes. If you haven't, this is an excellent place to start.

Go read Two Things.

Title: Endurance
Fandom: Stargate SG1
Pairing: Jack/Daniel
Author on LJ: destina
Author Website: Worlds Without Boundaries
Why this must be read:

Jack/Daniel with all the fun stuff. The bitching, the teasing, flirting, sex...plus some fantastic characterization on Teal'c & Sam, dancing women (not to be missed), little moments of tenderness, little moments of canon fun. It's all there. This is one that you sit down and giggle through some parts, melt through others, and feel just a little misty-eyed at the rest. It's one of those quintessentially J/D fics that is a treat for any fan of the pairing.

Endurance

Title: This Cannot Be Happening
Fandom: Stargate SG1
Pairing: Sam/Jack
Author On LJ: josephides
Author Website: Stargate Fic by JoJo
Why This Must Be Read:

I'm a multishipper but I am *not* a Sam/Jack fan. At all. However, I wanted to have a nice cross section of recs and pairings in this month and well, that means S/J. The trick was finding a fic that so well written I was able to ignore what the pairing was. With this one, I mostly managed that. It's an Alternate Universe, a Novella and a mystery. It's a great look at an alternate universe, an alternate SGC and an alternate history of the SGC. I can't really speak to the pairing content for enjoying it but what I can say is it is very well written and since it has been recced elsewhere by real S/J fans I'm guessing it's a shipper pleaser! But it is a story that non-S/J fans can enjoy as well. I know it hooked me when I was reading and all things considered, that is not easy!

This Cannot Be Happening

Fandom: LORD OF THE RINGS
Pairing: Aragorn/Arwen
Author on LJ: none
Author Website: none
Why this must be read:

I have always been a fan of Arwen’s. Something about her strikes me as incredibly strong— she chose a mortal life, leaving all she knew, her family, her friends behind. She chose love, despite the knowledge that it would mean her ultimate death. It just doesn’t get any stronger than that.

That was why I was sorely disappointed when I realized the LOTR fandom was seriously lacking in Arwen stories. Be it because the most popular slash couple – Aragorn/Legolas – tends to push our lovely Evenstar aside, or simply because in the books she never got much limelight, there are so few stories that focus on her.

This story, Interlude, gives us a glimpse into Arwen’s mind. JeannieMac manages to make her real, to make her come alive… she makes her more that Aragorn’s love, more than Elrond’s daughter: she makes her Arwen.

Interlude

Title: I, Lifesaver
Fandom: The West Wing
Pairing: Ensemble. Gen
Rating: PG-13
Author on LJ:
Author Website: It looks like the website might have gone down so I'm linking to the Code Blue archive where all SheilaVR's fic can be found.
Why this must be read:

This is the story of a female Secret Service agent who is on various White House details. It is utterly compelling reading and original character of Agent Colleen Reilly is completely believable. We see the denizens of the White House from the viewpoint of the Secret Service from the early days of the Administration through the events at Rosslyn and on through the campaign. This is a very clever way of nagivating through character studies but more than that, it is very well researched and incredibly interesting and gives SheilaVR a chance to explore the characters we rarely get to see.

I really can't recommend this highly enough.
( Extract )

I, Lifesaver by SheilaVR