Fandom: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
Pairing: I'm not giving it away, but it's not slash
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Greenwoman's Half Aft
Why this must be read:

No good deed goes unpunished. When whiskey tells the truth, Ezra pays the price.

Greenwoman spins the web of relationships with wonderful delicacy. 'The Sin' is one of my favorites. It's short, so instead of taking time to read a rec, I suggest you just read the story. You won't be sorry.

The Sin

Fandom: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
Pairing: Jack Sparrow/Elizabeth Swann/James Norrington
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Unknown
Why this must be read: Pirates of the Caribbean is the polyest fandom I’ve ever seen—and this particular threesome is continually my favorite. Told from Elizabeth’s point of view, this fic is an AU, where Elizabeth has gone through with her marriage to Norrington at the end of CotBP—but also keeps Jack as her lover. “In Between the Spaces” captures the contrary aspects of the character--both her longing for freedom and adventure and her need for romance and stability, as reflected in her two men. Elizabeth’s wish to reconcile both her lovers parallels her desire to resolve her internal dichotomy—something she is going to have to do as her belly swells with child. Saeva’s ambiguity as to whether Elizabeth will succeed before she has her daughter—or, if ever—gives this story its emotional strength.

In Between the Spaces

Fandom: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
Pairing: none
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Black Raptor listing
Why this must be read:

'Tea and Sympathy' is another short gem. Nathan realizes he has something unexpected in common with Ezra.

( A little bit of tea and sympathy )

Tea and Sympathy

Fandom: NCIS
Pairing: Gibbs/DiNozzo
Author on LJ: kelly_girl
Author Website: n/a

Why this must be read: I rec'd this in our journal almost exactly a year ago. Weird. But I'm glad for the chance to pimp this story to a wider audience because it works so bloody well. The premise is one we've seen elsewhere in this genre -- Gibbs and DiNozzo are hot for each other, but Gibbs is reluctant to have an extra-curricular relationship with Tony. The difference is the way kelly_girl resolves the problem by having Tony turn his cop brain on. He works Gibbs like he'd work a suspect, substituting raw honesty for guile. He shows Gibbs just how well he really knows him, using techniques from his interrogation room toolkit.

I really like the way kelly_girl writes DiNozzo and this piece is a great example of how she balances his insecurities with his determination to get what he wants. The story is from Tony's POV, but she manages to convey Gibbs's intensity -- he's reserved without being cold.

You know, when I read this story, it almost made me want to stop writing Gibbs and DiNozzo myself. I questioned whether I really had anything to add to the genre because this is the quintessential Gibbs/DiNozzo first time story. It covers all the bases with economy and skill, but still packs a brilliant emotional punch. Plus, some excellent dialogue. I got over myself, eventually, but Frantic is just that good.

Oh, and? Really hot sex.

Tony's head thumped against the motel door as Gibbs crowded him. Their mouths fused together, hands reaching quick and sure, touching chests and hips, bodies keyed up and wanting. Everywhere Gibbs touched Tony, Tony touched Gibbs. Tony felt like he was about to explode; every inch of his skin felt too hot, like it was about to melt off his bones.

Fandom: X-FILES
Pairing: Mulder/Krycek, Scully/Skinner
Author on LJ: flambeau
Author Website: The Flambeau Factory
Why this must be read:

This is one of those fics that just hits you in the gut. It's poetic, romantic, and beautifully sad. It's a Christmas fic, but if you read it with the lights off and your music low, I promise, no matter how hot it is wherever you are right now, you'll feel the sharp wind and taste the snowflakes.

In Heavenly Peace

Fandom: DOCTOR WHO
Pairing: Ten/Sarah Jane
Author on LJ: lordshiva
Author Website: Author profile on A Teaspoon and an Open Mind
Why this must be read:

The basic premise of this fic is that the Tenth Doctor has decided to tell everyone that he loves that he loves them, using actual words, starting with Sarah Jane. The real beauty of this fic is the authors ability to move seamlessly from manic comedy to tragic angst and back again. Seriously, this fic has everything, hilarious sex scenes, Time War angst, in character dialogue and naked Tenth Doctor in spectacles.


“But what happened? Why did you have to save the universe in the first place?”

“I’m always saving the universe.”

“One planet at a time usually. With, you know, a sonic screwdriver, a ball of string, and your big gob.”

“I was younger then. I carried more stuff in my pockets. And things got a lot more complicated.” He paused, chewing on his lower lip. Then he sighed. “There was a war. A really big war. The kind of really big that make words like ‘really’ and ‘big’ seem very silly. Ball of string approach, charming, but ineffectual. Although… I did defeat the Sycorax with a well-aimed Satsuma. Your Prime Minister finished the job by blowing them the hell up. And I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Have you got any biscuits?”

She went to the kitchen, brought back a packet of All Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies from M&S.

“Ooh, who’s my little crack pusher, then? You are.” He tore open the bag with his teeth.

“Shouldn’t you talk about it though? I mean, you might have PTSD. You could need counseling.”

“If you knew how really incredibly stupid an idea that is you’d be prostrate with embarrassment right now.”

“Well, you could go off the deep end any minute, and start lobbing Satsumas at the average citizen on the street.”

“Sometimes I want to. Oh, we should do that tomorrow!”


Tiny Human Heads

Fandom: Heroes
Pairing: Nathan/Mohinder (mentions of previous Petrellicest, Peter/Mohinder and Peter/Claude)
Author on LJ: rhea_carlysse
Author Website: FF.net profile and teh_evil_bunny
Why this must be read:

This is all about two people shamelessly using each other for sex to forget their problems, and forgetting that the sex might actually cause them some new problems. It is hot, yes, but it is SO much more than just a PWP.

( Short Excerpt )

Fractions

Or in Spanish, if you prefer