Fandom: Due South
Pairing: Fraser/Kowalski
Length: Medium
Author on LJ: visionshadows
Author Website: SparklyDanceBoys
Why this must be read: The Due South Seekrit Santa Archive is a wonderful place to browse when you want to spend a few hours reading fic. I never visit without reading this story. Zillah is an amazing author who has be recced here before. This story is a little lighter in tone than some of her other stories. It is also a great example of one of my favorite Due South fic cliches which is everyone realizing Fraser and Ray are in a relationship before they do. I love seeing the little glimpses of the life they've built together. It's so incredibility obvious to everyone but them that their feelings for each other go beyond friendship. What really makes this story stand out for me if the simplicity and beauty of the moment when they finally realize they both want more.

( Excerpt )


Where I End and You Begin

Hi, I'm elmey, and here we are, slipping and sliding into January. I'm a first time driver, so hold on while I rev up the engine and try to figure out what all these little buttons do. I plan to give you a mix of gen and slash, of new authors and old favorites. So let's take that map away from Napoleon and keep Illya away from the wheel, and get on the road.

Fandom: MAN FROM UNCLE
Pairing: Napoleon Solo/Illya Kuryakin
Length: 11,945 words
Author on LJ: tgabrielle
Author Website: No website, but her slash stories are at the Chrome and Gunmetal Madhouse
and the gen stories are scattered at File 40
Why this must be read:

Since the van was in the garage last month, please consider this first story a belated Christmas gift. T. Gabrielle is one of my favorite MFU authors, her Children's Night Affair may be the best episode tag ever and has become as much canon for me when watching "The Children's Day Affair" as the episode itself. Her stories are layered and complex character studies--and yes, they have plenty of heat as well.

In Christmas Present, the Solo/Kuryakin relationship is as complicated as the men themselves: Napoleon, arrogant and calculating beneath the easy charm, and Illya, elusive, always just a bit out of reach. They irritate each other, they fascinate each other, and they're tied together by feelings they can neither fully acknowledge nor untangle. Stuck in a busy Ramada Inn on Christmas Eve, Napoleon tosses out a bombshell that threatens the little island of stability Illya has built for himself at UNCLE. And if Illya knows anything, he knows how to protect what he has... I won't tell you more, but I will tell you that the ending is absolutely perfect and totally in character--and it will make you jump out of your seat.
( Extract under the cut )

Christmas Present

Hi, I'm wizefics! I'm back for another shot at driving the Torchwood van and since I no longer have pneumonia, I expect a much smoother ride than last time. I'm a multi-shipper anything and everything goes reader in Torchwood, so I hope you enjoy the recs.

Now, let's get started!

Title: five ways to be
Fandom: Torchwood
Pairing: Various canon: Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Owen, Tosh/Mary, vague Owen/Diane.
Author on LJ: obfuscate3
Author Website: LJ Memories
Why this must be read:

This fic was written for the lgbtfest and is a beautiful look at each member of the team and even though it focuses on their sex lives, it really comes down to the essence of each character. Beautiful writing.

Excerpt: Jack is the best bullshitter this side of the twenty-seventh century. They have classes on it in other centuries. He’s got a degree, in another life. Jack Harkness, Bullshitter Esq., First Degree.

That’s not actually true, but it might as well be.

He didn’t sign up for Torchwood so much as he attempted to infiltrate it, and was more than a little surprised when Torchwood promptly infiltrated him back. In other circumstances that sort of thing might be mutually pleasurable, but in practice it was merely unsettling.

five ways to be

Well hello! *HR digs around for the right keys* Ah ha, here they are! I shall be your driver this month for The X-Files. *HR digs around in the glove compartment for a map and then promptly throws it out the window* I could never read those things properly. Ready? Buckle up!

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Mulder/Scully (though not necessarily overtly so)
Length: Short fic
Author on LJ: pokeitlikejello
Author Website: Author's Fanfic Journal
Why this must be read:

Just thought I'd start off this month with a bit of a lighter rec. This is a nice little look at Mulder and Scully's relationship with all it's potential. There is a nice bit of underlying tension and a nice look at the two as friends. All and all, just a fun little fic, and very "in season" for right now. *grin*

Link: Snowday

Fandom: STARSKY AND HUTCH

Pairing: Starsky/Hutch

Length: triple drabble

Author onLJ: Nyssa's fanfic den

Author Website: unknown

Why this must be read: Gorgeous imagery and a languid sense of being right there in the hotel room with Starsky and Hutch, watching that neon sign blink on and off.


Flamingo

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Obakin (Anakin and Obi-Wan friendship)
Length: 31890 words
Author on LJ: I don't think she has one.
Author's Website: FFN profile
Why this story must be read:

Susan Zell has written other hurt/comfort stories, but this is the first in the Star Wars 'verse. This story has a plot that could have come from the ongoing animated series and it has an Anakin fulfilling all of his roles as Jedi, husband, devoted friend and protector of the Republic; really, it is a wonder why he hasn't cracked before this. But he hasn't, and we get to see him at the peak of his form. As for Obi-Wan, he is down but not out, facing his health predicament with fortitude, aiding in his own treatment. And the comfort part of the story doesn't end with his stabilization, because there is a pace to this story, a recovery period entirely in tune with the story's tenor.

Death's Shade