Fandom: White Collar
Pairing: Peter Burke/Elizabeth Burke/Neal Caffrey; Neal Caffrey/Phillip Kramer
Length: 5k
Author on LJ: sheenianni
Author Website: On LJ
Why this must be read:

This is an alternate ending to the third season of White Collar, one of many in the fandom that posits, “What if Neal didn’t run, what if he fell into Kramer’s clutches in DC?” And WHAT a dark take on that possibility it is (and I love it). Neal decides to pull a con to get out of his new “sentence”: He will play on the obvious attraction Kramer has to him, and use it to ruin the man. Which he does.

God, the contempt Neal shows the man even as he makes Kramer fall for him is delicious. And in the end, Neal gets his way, but the story doesn’t end there (I won’t spoil it).

Read this for a truly interesting take on Neal – yes, he’s a conman, and he is very good at what he does – you won’t easily forget it.

Scorpion’s Touch

Fandom: White Collar
Pairing: Peter Burke/Neal Caffrey
Length: 8,700
Author on LJ: winterstar95
Author Website: On LJ | On AO3
Why this must be read:

I love when an author can inject a bit of science fiction and fantasy, a bit of metaphysics into a story (a talent I lack). Winterstar is one such author – you could say it’s her specialty. This story starts with a premise that Neal is an alien here on Earth on borrowed time, and he is being “called home.” His transition is painful (and kind of icky, so if you’re sensitive you may not want to read this) for everyone involved, including Peter and Moz. But what sticks for me is Neal's experience, because he has come to enjoy being human for the time he’s been here, and has even figured out what love is. The hurt/comfort here is so well depicted, the heartbreak so real, you will weep from it. A terrific premise, handled with great attention to detail and emotion – read it.

The Lasting Hours

(Full title: Excerpts From The Gospel of Harvey Specter, edited by Michael "Forever Awesome" Ross, 2011, 1st Ed.)

Fandom: SUITS
Pairing: Mike/Harvey
Length: ~7000
Author on LJ: mclachlan
Author Website:

Why this must be read: Not many Suits fics attempt to delve into Mike's mind, even if they are crack fics. This one does under a guise of him writing a gospel about Harvey's traits. It's filled with humor and attitude. It's also one of the few times I'd advise anyone to ignore the author's notes.



The Gospel of Harvey Specter is a work in progress, with chapters being in a constant state of addition and revision, complete with footnotes and important quotes, all detailing the small minutiae that make up the man, himself. But the day is quickly coming when the first edition will finally be complete. It will be a user-friendly guide to the enigma wrapped in a mystery sealed in a tortilla shell of gorgeous badassery that is Harvey Specter.

Mike has no doubt that Donna's produced a few of these, and probably keeps them in her desk drawer, but she doesn't see Harvey the way he does, and so his gospel is on the completely other end of the spectrum.

And his chapter titles rock harder than hers.



Excerpts From The Gospel of Harvey Specter, edited by Michael "Forever Awesome" Ross, 2011, 1st Ed.

Fandom: White Collar
Pairing: Peter Burke/Elizabeth Burke/Neal Caffrey
Length: 2,200
Author on LJ: fatale
Author Website: On LJ
Why this must be read:

Because Peter courts Neal like he’s having his teeth pulled. And because it is adorable.

This isn’t the first negotiating-a-threesome fic you’ll ever read, but it is one of the most delightful. This story is short, but the attention to detail in the character’s movements, and in the dialogue, will make you feel like you’ve read an epic romance. And it’s funny as hell.

You won’t regret reading ANY of Fatale’s White Collar stories – this is just one of many that will make you laugh, make you squirm, and make you want to read the next one.

Shut Up. Sit Down.

Fandom: White Collar
Pairing: Gen
Length: 8k-ish? There is no count on the story.
Author on LJ: gaelicspirit
Author Website: On LJ
Why this must be read:

Author’s summary: “Caught in the demolition of an abandoned building, Peter and Neal are hurt, trapped, and running out of time. But it's in those moments they realize that it's not enough to know what someone is. To learn who they are, they have to ask the big questions.”

I love this trope because it forces characters who care for each other to show it. And this story doesn’t disappoint on that score. Neal and Peter learn more about each other than they thought they would, and the overall effect is intimate without feeling claustrophobic. The story leaves you with – and, given the tangent the current series is on, reminds you of– a new appreciation for the kind of magic chemistry the friendship between Neal and Peter has always represented. Also, if you’re into hurt/comfort as much as I am, you will not be disappointed by the drama and the pathos of their situation. READ IT, I command ye.

Fortunate Son

Fandom: ONE DIRECTION
Pairing: Louis Tomlinson/Nick Grimshaw
Length: ~11,500 words
Author on LJ: checkthemargins
Author on AO3: checkthemargins
Why this must be read:

It's easy to understand why Harry/Nick is such a prominent pairing in 1D fandom, but the popularity of Louis/Nick requires a little more explanation. Their public canon interactions have been limited to a handful of interviews and award shows, and some on-air and Twitter jabs that make it seem there's no love lost between the two. Did they get off on the wrong foot? Are they just too much alike? Is there some jealousy over Harry?

Fandom may never know the truth, but at least in this A/B/O universe, there's a plausible explanation. (And who doesn't love cabin!fic?)

Three or four days, stuck in a cabin alone with Louis Tomlinson. Honestly, Nick doesn't know what he did to deserve this bad karma, but he hopes it was worth it.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing/Characters: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: novella
Author on LJ: aslownight
Author Website: her page at Gossamer
Why this must be read:

I can't believe how fast the time has gone. For these final days I am going to focus on fanfiction for The X-Files which I consider essential reading. Regardless of whether it's been recced here before, unless it was during the past couple of years, I consider it fair game.

I recced this story myself when it was first posted in 2007, and at het_reccers a few years ago. Both sets of links are broken. It's an old fandom. In any case, this is one of my favorite stories of all time from one of our most accomplished and under-appreciated writers--by the general readership, though not by her fellow authors--the one and only Kel.

Kel has set her tale in a post-Requiem universe where seasons eight and nine never happened. "Mulder and Scully have a son named William, but he wasn't born in a ghost town or adopted by farmers or anything stupid like that." It's told from the POV of her original character Jerry Luskin, making his fourth or fifth appearance in a Kel fic. It has that trademark Kel wit, edge of your seat suspense, smooth prose, terrific characterizations, an irresistible mix of humor and poignancy, and a far more satisfying ending to the series than the stupid one we got from 1013.

( Read an excerpt )

Read "A Beginner's Guide to Tightrope Walking" and then head to Gossamer and read everything else. You will not be sorry.

Fandom: ONE DIRECTION
Pairing: Harry/Louis, Harry/Nick, Harry/Louis/Nick
Length: ~48,500 words
Author on AO3: becka & mediaville
Why this must be read:

Harry and Louis used to have a thing, but Louis ended it and their friendship's been on unstable ground for years; after Louis breaks up with Eleanore and gets pulled back into a physical relationship with Harry - thanks to Harry's boyfriend - things get really shaky. Lots of gorgeous pining, misunderstandings, slightly kinky sex, and boys failing to talk about their feelings.

Promise Not To Stop When I Say When

Fandom: CRIMINAL MINDS
Pairing/Characters: Emily Prentiss/Spencer Reid, the B.A.U. Team, mentions of Jason Gideon
Length: ~130,000 words
Rating: Rated on ff.net as M (R or FRM)
Author Website: She's supposed to have an lj but I can't find it. Here is her profile page on ff.net

Why this must be read: This is technically a work in progress, but the author's last update (Dec. 2013) could qualify as an ending of sorts - she has resolved all of the major conflicts in the story even if it isn't tied up in a pretty bow for us. So, I'm rec-ing it.

This is an AU in which Reid suffers a debilitating accident in his childhood that prevents him from walking without the use of canes or a wheelchair. He is befriended by Gideon and becomes a consultant to the BAU, unbeknownst to the rest of the Team. The story begins when Reid shows up at the Unit looking for Gideon shortly after his disappearance. While it is a 'ship fic, there's a lot of other great stuff happening in it: Morgan and Reid develop a complicated friendship, Hotch gives Reid enough leeway to either shine or tank the Unit, and there are some very real anger issues surrounding the pride of a capable 'disabled person'. This is not your typical 'hurt Reid' fic where he is infantilized or 'feminized' into submission by his predicament. He doesn't feel sorry for himself and he gets angry at those who do -> that, alone, makes this a unique fic. The details of Reid's physical state and his limitations are so clear and fully realized that one assumes the author has real world experience with them.

There are some downsides to this one, though. There are significant grammar issues and some logistical miscues that may bother some readers. Also, the author has crudely edited out the NC-17 content in order to conform to fanfiction.net's content policy - as a result, some chapters really feel as if there is a big hole in the middle of them. Normally, I wouldn't have persisted in light of these issues, but I did, and I enjoyed the ride. But this may not be for everyone. Consider yourself warned.

The Consultant by fairytopia on FanFiction.net


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Fandom: Fairy Tales: Aladdin (Disney)
Pairing/Characters: Jasmine/Aladdin; Rajah, Genie
Length: 3K words
Author Website: at AO3

Why this must be read: Just a little light-hearted story that touches on crack.

A crisis has developed in the peaceful city of Agrabah. One of the water purifiers is on the blink, something that hasn't happened in over two hundred years and was last fixed by a sorcerer. Of course, the Genie would be able to fix it in a flash, but since gaining his freedom, trying to find him is problematical. Aladdin is out of town and Jasmine is informed that her accumulation of magical artifacts makes her their best hope for fixing the thing. And on top of that, it's "that" time of the month for the Queen.

As much as she would like to lay on her bed with a hot water bottle and eat bon-bons, Jasmine rises to the task of finding out what is wrong with the purifier. In doing so, everyone learns a lot. Enjoy.

The Hunt for Man-Yu-El

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Fandom: Fairy Tales: Little Mermaid (Disney)
Pairing/Characters: Ariel/Eric; King Triton
Length: 1584 words
Author Website: at AO3

Why this must be read: Eric loves Ariel totally and he knows she feels the same way. Yet her transition to the land world has been hard and their differences are many. He wonders whether she will regret their life and want to return to the sea. He gets his answers from an unexpected place. Enjoy.

Triton's Cove

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Fandom: Fairy Tales: Sleeping Beauty
Pairing/Characters: OFC, the King, OCs
Length: 9K words
Author Website: at AO3

Why this must be read: Because for every princess and happily ever after, there are good folk surrounding them whose stories are worth telling. One of them is Fina, a young woman who lives in a village within Sleeping Beauty's kingdom.

It's been ninety-nine years since the princess and everyone in the castle have been asleep. Fina is struck by a debilitating illness that leaves terrible black disfigurements around her neck. It's called the King's Evil and there is no cure save one: the King must touch the afflicted person, who will be instantly healed. The problem is that the King is asleep, and Fina will not survive long enough for the curse to lift.

What to do? Fina decides that she must find the king and wake him. Enjoy.

Waking

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Fandom: RÓMEÓ ÉS JÚLIA
Pairing: Mercutio/Tybalt
Length: 327 words
Author on LJ | Tumblr: samgrass | harkerling
Author Website: fic on AO3
Why this must be read:

A compelling, painful take on Tybalt's tangled self-loathing and sexual issues, as well as the roots of his hatred for Mercutio. (Note that this story includes themes of self-harm and teenage sexuality.)

Crown Of Thorns

If you enjoy this story, please take a moment to tell the author. Tiny fandom writers always appreciate encouragement!

Fandom: BLAKE'S 7
Pairing: Avon/Servalan
Length: 2774 words
Author on LJ: unsentimentalf
Author Website: on AO3
Why this must be read: We're approaching the end of the reccing period, so time to rec some 2013 het! And such wonderful het it is too.

I know you must be bored of this criteria by now, but it's worth mentioning that the dialogue here is exquisite. Like the very best interactions between these characters on the show it's a delicious mixture of flirtation and threat, and the surrounding prose aids the crackle of sexual tension marvellously. I like that they're both after something as well - it's not just a time out: it's a mission and they are trying to out think each other, Servalan using sex as a weapon as always but also possibly, genuinely interested in Avon. Well, who wouldn't be? The image of him in top hat and tails (created by this fic) is particularly delicious. As is, to be entirely equal opportunities, the image of Servalan in a dress that can be removed with one tug :D

( Excerpt )

Link: Shall We Dance?

Fandom: THE HUNGER GAMES
Pairing: Katniss Everdeen/Peeta Mellark (Everlark)
Length: 147,608 words
Author on LJ: silvercistern
Author Website: Author on AO3 | Author on FFN | Author on Tumblr
Why this must be read: This trilogy is absolutely lovely. There's no other way to describe it. It begins in that uncertain place between the end of Mockingjay and the epilogue and fills in all the nooks and crannies that had remained empty. This story is a rich continuation of Suzanne Collin's characters and explores them as they embark on a life in post-war Panem. Their hopes, their fears, their lives--it's all in this trilogy. The first book is narrated by Peeta, the second by Katniss, and the third by Haymitch. By the time you finish it I'm almost certain that much, if not all of this story will enter into your personal head canon for the series.



( Excerpt from 'The List' )


The Ashes of District Twelve by silvercistern
Book 1: The List
Book 2: The Good Wife
Book 3: The Grandmentor

Fandom: THE EAGLE/DOWNTON ABBEY
Pairing/Characters: Esca/Marcus, Violet Crawley
Length: 10896
Author on LJ: n/a
Author's Website: AO3
Why this must be read:

Whenever I read fusions, I'm always blown away at how seamlessly the author is able to mix two very distinctively different universes together.  Especially when it comes to something like The Eagle and Downton Abbey, which is done so wonderfully in Belle Époque .  But perhaps the best thing about this fic is the spot on voice of Violet Crawley, which is both lovely and hilarious and her perspective on what blossoms between Esca, her nephew and Marcus, the Crawley's new chauffeur.  And I especially loved how Esca and Marcus are portrayed here in Edwardian times and even through Violet's eyes there is so much going on beneath the surface between these two.  There are some amazing details and just wonderful characterizations all around and even if you don't know either fandom, it's a great read.


Belle Époque