Cross-over day! *rubs hands in glee* Finally I can reck this awesome story.

Title: Questionable truth by Tarlan
Fandom: MICHAEL BIEHN CHARACTERS - Sheriff Brent Marken from the movie Cherry Falls
Pairing: Brent Marken from Cherry Falls/Martin Fitzgerald from the TV show 'Without a trace'
Length: novella long
Author on LJ: tarlanx
Author's website: Phoenix Michael Biehn archive, and the rest of her websites can be found through this one

Why this must be read:
Well... actually... only if you like marvellous long stories with a real plot to them *g* Because that's what this is. And the length is part of its appeal, because it means that the writer takes her time to slowly unravel what's going on. What can I say? I was blown away by this story the first time I read it because of how rich it is, how well-defined all the characters are and how everything that was hinted at in Cherry Falls comes together here and gives us a new spin on the story. There are great plot twists troughout, giving us new information we hadn't expected.

And through it all it's also the story of two men finding each other as they slowly come to terms with their homosexuality and the fact they have fallen in love.

I can only say, treat yourself and take a nice evening off to delve into hours of reading enjoyment.


Questionable truth

The story also has a sequel, about half the length of the first one: Debatable answers

Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Pairing: John Sheppard/Rodney McKay
Length: long: ~16,000 words
Author on LJ: smittywing
Author Website: SmittyWorld!

Why this must be read:
This older story from 2006 only has a few season 1 spoilers. I liked the snappy dialogue and how angst-free John was. Overall, it's a light-hearted story with a few serious moments. The "aliens made them do it" scene had me hooting out loud.

Close Only Counts in Horseshoes and Hand Grenades

Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Length: (novella-length, I'd say)
Author on LJ: franticsga
Author Website: Here's the fic tag on her lj.
Why this must be read:

The final part of this story was just posted this morning, which means I'm lucky enough to get to rec the whole thing!

In this modern AU, Arthur and Merlin (and Morgana and Gwen) are in the Combat Weather Team of the United States Air Force. It does seem like an incongruous fit at first- Merlin in the military? you're probably wondering- but franticsga is so familiar with this world that she makes everyone feel perfectly at home in it. Her Arthur in particular is my favorite- heartbreakingly noble and repressed- and the boys' slow-building relationship is wonderfully done.

( Excerpt: The first time Lt Arthur Pendragon properly met A1C Merlin Emrys, he was doing push-ups on the floor of the Fort Campbell weather station. )


Be Resigned

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Benton Fraser/Ray Vecchio
Length: 2260
Author on LJ: belmanoir
Author Website: http://blackmothfic.twonth.com/
Why this must be read: Hi, I don't know about you, but DAMN I love the idea of Fraser topping from the bottom. Right? Right? Anyway, that is one of those ideas that just makes me go like this: :D! :D! :D! So therefore, I am sharing this fic because it's smoking hot when Fraser does this to Ray, but also--I love the mental and emotional trust here, as well as the humor and how the characters are just so perfectly them while being very hot and kinky.

Also, Fraser deciding Ray needs to clean out his closet and give the clothes he doesn't wear away--this just makes me giggle every time. AWWW. Boys! And just as an aside, there needs to be more kinky fic that involves icecubes. I'm just saying.

Enjoy!

( Click me for awesomely fantastic excerpt! )

which i cannot touch because they are too near

Fandom: THE MAN FROM UNCLE
Pairing: Napoleon/Illya
Length: ~9,000 words
Author on LJ: farad
Author Website: see her fic tag on lj
Why this must be read: This story is darker than I generally like my MFU fic to be, but beautifully done, painfully bittersweet and convincingly characterized. The initial scenario is a classic: A few years after Napoleon and Illya's partnership ends, Illya returns from the USSR to help his former partner. What brings them back together is complex, both in plot and in the emotions invoked. The feelings between Napoleon and Illya are as intense as ever, but that kind of need can be damaging as much as it can be romantic, and this story explores that hazard in an original way, to great effect.

The Greater Good Affair

Wow. I totally suck. I completely forgot that I was driving and I sincerely apologize to all of you who use this site for X-Files fanfic recommendations. Let's see if I can use the last half of the month to make it up to you?

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Mulder/Scully
Length: Short one-shot
Author on LJ:aloysiavirgata
Author Website: X-Files Fanfiction by Aloysia
Why this must be read:

Aloysia is one of the greats of the fandom in terms of writing and she is still active. While the fandom has been around a long time and created some truly amazing work, I think authors who continue to write and produce work for this fandom deserve a special mention. Aloysia has been rec'ed here before and I'm sure she will again. This story grew out of a drabble that began from a solicitation for story ideas on her journal. It's short, poignant, and wonderful.

Under a Juniper Tree

Title: can see it in his eyes by Insane Troll Logic
Pairing: none - features Dean, Castiel, Kirk, Spock
Author on LJ: trolllogicfics
Author Website: Master Fic List
Why this must be read: Because the premise is unbelievable, and yet ... it convinced me that yes, this could be the truth. Really, is Castiel that unlike a certain Vulcan we know? Is reckless and self-sacrificing Jim Kirk all that different from the "give 'em hell" Dean Winchester we know and love? Yes. And no. Much to love in this short piece; its concept and execution are well-conceived and definitely worth reading if you enjoy the two fandoms.

( 'Demons?' Kirk repeats. 'Like the old Terran superstition?' )

Read the story and feedback the author: can see it in his eyes

my wlan currently hates me, totally wonky yesterday, i had to restart my computer 3 times, and gave up. So belated crossover rec!

Fandom: SMALLVILLE/Torchwood
Pairing: Clark/Lex, Jack/Ianto
Length: 16,200 words
Author on LJ: me_ya_ri
Author Website: -
Why this must be read: my oldest slash fandom combined with one of my new found love :D SV and Torchwood, that is a match made in heaven!
When I was first reading this story in 2008, I did know nothing about TW, but boy did that changed this year.
Rereading the story, I can appreciate all the humour and banter even more, now with having all mental images of the team available!
its a perfect make-me-feel good fic! clark and Lex, as they ought to be, helping each other, trusting each others, and finally, *know* each other!

(  excerpt  )

Full Circle

Fandom: NCIS
Pairing: Tony/Ziva
Length: ~1,500
Author on LJ: darkmissred
Author Website: http://darkmissred.livejournal.com
Why this must be read:
Yes, this idea is kinda of corny, but darkmissred makes it work. It's exactly like I imagine Tony and Ziva getting together: slowly without either really noticing. It's a relieving happy ending for those of us Tony/Ziva shippers that  have seen the whole pairing seem to fall apart so many times.

"All ‘true’ love was, really, was a strong friendship with incessant lust. Ziva believed this with her heart and soul (even if she always wished it to be false)."

Love does (not) exist

Fandom: BANDOM
Pairing: Patrick/Frank, background Mikey/Pete
Length: 21,220 words
Author on LJ: gigantic
Author Website: new words for the 1990s
Why this must be read:

Patrick and My Chemical Romance, especially Frank, on Warped 2005.

I love on-tour stories and this is such an excellent example. It has a great sense of place, if you can say that about a story that follows the meanderings of Warped and its strangely insular atmosphere, broken by the occasional inroad from the wider world. It's a welcome difference from stories where the tour is little more than an abstract setting. A relaxed, unhurried kind of story, very thoughtful and quiet, as much about friendship as the whatever-it-is Patrick and Frank is starting. And the Patrick characterisation is wonderful.

( Excerpt from the story... )

Somersault on the Sawdust or here

Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Pairing: John Sheppard/Rodney McKay
Length: long: 21,000 words
Author on LJ: fiercelydreamed
Author Website: playing god in other people's sandboxes
Why this must be read:

A couple of years old, this story has spoilers through season 2. I like that it's a plot-driven story rather than a romance, although the emotions between John and Rodney drive the story forward in a satisfying way. This could be categorized as disability fic, although I don't find it particularly hurt/comfort focused given it is from Rodney's POV. Both of these facts make the first two parts feel a lot like gen to me, and that might appeal a lot to those who lean more to the gen side of fanfic.

Rebuilding Babel

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Duncan MacLeod/ Doctor Pierce (Methos)
Length: 6040 words
Author on LJ:mackiedockie
Author Website: Highlander Fiction
Why this must be read:A great AU set in the late 1800's, full of humor, lust, and wild west flavor. Mackiedockie did the research and has the lingo down.

Desperados Waiting For A Train

Fandom: ANNE OF GREEN GABLES
Pairing: Matthew/Marilla
Length: 1901 words
Author on LJ: mk_tortie
Author Website: Fic Tag on LJ
Why this must be read: This AU (Matthew and Marilla are married, instead of brother and sister) takes place before Anne comes to Green Gables. It's more of a thinky double-drabble than a plotted story, though you can read between the lines to find the plot. This is Marilla, every day plain ol' Marilla, and her gentle, if naive, husband Matthew - completely believable from the first sentence. A lot of AOGG stays within certain boundaries, but when they crumble, some of the best work emerges. This is one of the best examples.

Really, the best AOGG stories come out of Yuletide, and there isn't enough of them. mk_not_r2d2 contributes to the fandom brilliantly, and defines a genre with this short work.

I highly encourage bringing a Kleenex.

Waiting

Fandom: POPSLASH
Pairing: gen, Nick's POV
Length: short
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Archived at Backstreet Bauhaus
Why this must be read: Sort of continuing with the Brian/Nick theme here, this one is actually gen but it's a really great read. It's also rather unusual because it's told in first person with Nick as narrator, and we get to hear all of the ramblings that go through his head. It's not very often that I really enjoy first person narration in popslash, but Cecilia really does an excellent job of blending Nick's voice with skillful storytelling.

The story begins way back when marriage was an imminent revolution in the world of Backstreet, and Nick is having a hard time dealing with all of the changes. Nick and Kevin go out for some male bonding, which doesn't go exactly as planned, and the sentiment seems to follow them through to Brian's wedding day. It's a humorous yet touching look at group dynamics from a really great author.


So Long