Title: Secrets
Author: takethesky87
Pairing: Nathan/Heidi
Spoilers: "How to Stop an Exploding Man"
Summary: Sometimes the truths that hurt the most are the same ones that set us free.
Why? Recommending this today because it'll be Jossed by tomorrow, but that won't make it any less beautifully bittersweet or the characters any less recognizeable in it.

Title: As Time Goes By
Author: Yahtzee
Pairing: Buffy/Angel, Angel/Cordelia, Wes/Fred
Spoilers: early S3
Summary: The world has gone to hell, and a disillusioned Cordelia may just hold the key to saving it, but whose side is she on?
Link: As Time Goes By
Why: You know those fics where someone takes the plot of a classic movie and rewrites it using characters and settings from another fandom? Yeah. This is one of those. Quite possibly the best one ever written--a post-demon-apocalyptic version of Casablanca with Cordy in Rick's shoes.

Title: The Last Virtue
Author: Yahtzee
Pairing: Fred/Gunn
Spoilers: nothing past the middle of S3, I think
Summary: Gunn struggles to come to grips with a world spiraling out of control during the holiday season.
Link: The Last Virtue
Why: Because Yahtzee writes amazing Gunn, and because it's the only Kwanzaa fic I've ever read and that just makes it doubly cool. :-)

Title: Destination Unknown
Author: Yahtzee
Pairing: Buffy/Giles, Angel/Cordelia
Spoilers: S6, possibly 7
Summary: When Buffy comes to England, ostensibly to get Giles' input on a mysterious crystal, the two are forced to confront some difficult truths about their relationship.
Link: Destination Unknown
Why: Because this is quite literally the ONLY Buffy/Giles fic I've ever read that made the pairing work for me, and considering how much I generally don't like them as a couple, that says a lot about the fic.

Title: Gilead
Author: Yahtzee
Pairing: Mulder/Scully
Spoilers: the show's over--does it matter anymore? ;-)
Summary: Two people find each other again in a broken world, but can they save each other too?
Link: Gilead
Why: Because while I would never have thought of this crossover, it works so well it's scary and the result is one of the best apocalyptic XF fics ever not to include aliens. *g*

Title: Wild Honey
Author: Sanj
Pairing: Idgie/Ruth
Spoilers: movieverse
Summary: Even a bee-charmer can be charmed by someone she loves.
Link: Wild Honey
Why: Because every character's voice was so pitch-perfect it took my breath away, and because it brought back the love story that the movie left out.

Title: Thirty-One Not-Hyperlinked Flashforwards
Author: boundbyspells
Pairing: Lily/Marshall
Spoilers: mid-season 2 to be on the safe side
Summary: Of course the real question is why was Marshall reading Pride and Prejudice anyway?
Link: Thirty-One Not-Hyperlinked Flashforwards
Why: Dude, it's HIMYM fic! And *good* HIMYM fic! Read the non-linear version first--it'll have you completely confused, but make the pay-off of the linear version that much cooler. *grin*

Title: The Gift of the Gunmen
Author: eponine119
Pairing: none
Spoilers: if you've seen the series at all, you're safe
Summary: Jimmy brings Christmas back into the lives of the Gunmen...with a little help.
Link: The Gift of the Gunmen
Why: Because I miss the guys, and because good LGM fic can be hard to find. This is funny and sweet and perfectly in character. :-)

Title: Please Discuss Only Approved Topics With Your AI
Author: jmtorres
Pairing: none, although not for lack of SARAH's trying ;-)
Spoilers: nothing past the second episode *that I know of* but I haven't watched the show in a while
Summary: When sentient houses turn matchmaker.
Link: Please Discuss Only Approved Topics With Your AI
Why: This is another one that does a great job of capturing the silliness inherent in Eureka's premise, especially where SARAH is concerned. *giggle* Oh, and probably not work safe. ;-)

Title: Five, er, Six Reports Nathan Stark Wishes Never Crossed His Desk
Author: Merlin Missy
Pairing: negligible mentions of Carter/Allison, Carter/Stark, Stark/Allison
Spoilers: um...I have no idea
Summary: See title.
Link: Five, er, Six Reports Nathan Stark Wishes Never Crossed His Desk
Why: I *loved* the madcap, black humor of Eureka's pilot. I stopped watching when it started trying to take itself too seriously (although I really should check and see if they ever got over that), but this story had everything I loved about the series in it, and nothing I didn't. Also a couple of the most *fantastic* crossovers. :-)

Title: Companion
Author: Bangles
Pairing: Sidonie/Imriel, Sidonie/Maslin, Imriel/other
Spoilers: Kushiel's Scion
Summary: Since the day Sidonie was born, Imriel has always been part of her life.
Link: Companion
Why: Kushiel's Legacy is one of the most sweeping, most elaborate and elegant alternate history (*extremely* alternate) series of novels ever written, and it's a rare fanfic author who can capture the archaic language and undercurrent of sensuality of the series as well as Bangles did here.

Title: Five Things They Don't Teach Fairy Godmothers
Author: akamarykate
Pairing: none
Spoilers: well, for the book, obviously ;-)
Summary: Who was Shirl, and where did she go after she left Colorado?
Link: Five Things They Don't Teach Fairy Godmothers
Why: Someone wrote fanfic for one of my favorite books ever, one I've never seen fanfic for before! And better yet, it was *good*! I did miss Sandra and Ben a bit, but *loved* the backstory we got on Shirl (and a cameo by Flip!).

Title: The Bridal Path
Author: Vyola
Pairing: Joel/Wednesday, Gomez/Morticia, Fester/Dementia
Spoilers: Addams Family Values
Summary: Couples who vow only 'til death do them part lack ambition.
Link: The Bridal Path
Why: Another absolutely snicker-worthy glimpse at Joel and Wednesday's possible future together. Man, now I want to go rewatch the movie.

Title: Addams Family Therapy
Author: bucketmouse
Pairing: Joel/Wednesday, Gomez/Morticia, Itt/Margaret
Spoilers: Addams Family Values
Summary: It takes a hardy soul to marry and Addams...but even hardy souls can use a little help every now and then.
Link: Addams Family Therapy
Why: Joel Glicker is a perfect POV character, because he's us--the outsider drawn into the Addams' world--and I love how different authors have dealt with his acclimation into the family. *g*

Title: Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas
Author: Havoc
Pairing: Gomez/Morticia, Joel/Wednesday
Spoilers: Addams' Family Values
Summary: Joel's Jewish, so why is he spending Christmas with the Addamses?
Link: Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas
Why: Because it cracked me up. What a perfect Addams family Christmas!

Title: The Last of the Winnebagos
Author: trinityofone
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard
Spoilers: nothing specific that I noticed
Summary: Atlantis is not for the elderly, but that doesn't make leaving any easier.
Link: The Last of the Winnebagos
Why: I don't read a lot of McShep, but when someone steals the title from one of my favorite authors ever? I had to make an exception, and I'm glad I did. The relationship is very low-key, so that it feels like a given. And the story is beautifully bittersweet and melancholy.

Title: Incredible Luck, Annoying Charm
Author: Ana
Pairing: Teal'c/Vala friendship
Spoilers: "Beachhead"
Summary: Two aliens bond over those annoying Tau'ri and one of their stupid games.
Link: Incredible Luck, Annoying Charm
Why: Dude--Teal'c and Vala talking about those nonsensical Tau'ri...what's not to love?

Title: Orientation Memo
Author: chasingkerouac
Pairing: a hint of Carson/Cadman
Spoilers: nothing past "Duet"
Summary: Dr. Kate Heightmeyer and Lt. Laura Cadman let a few new (female) recruits know what to expect on Atlantis.
Link: Orientation Memo
Why: Absolutely delightful, oh-so-very true, and features a pair of wonderful but woefully underused recurring ladies. :-)

Title: The Right Thing to Do
Author: Miera
Pairing: none
Spoilers: "Critical Mass"
Summary: Elizabeth reevaluates the choices she made to save her city.
Link: The Right Thing to Do
Why: Miera is one of my favorite Elizabeth Weir writers for a reason--fic like this. This is *exactly* the scene I needed to read after "Critical Mass," when I was so angry with the character she almost lost her status as my favorite. This scene--and others like it, if not as too the point, in later episodes--are what saved her for me.

Title: Too Good
Author: Tielan
Pairing: Simon/Elizabeth
Spoilers: "Intruder" at the latest
Summary: It's never easy loving someone who's meant for greater things.
Link: Too Good
Why: Because most SGA fic makes Simon Wallace out to be an irredeemable bastard, and IMO that's an unfair characterization--obviously Elizabeth saw *something* in him, and besides, she left him first. Tielan and I don't agree on many things...but if I'd ever gotten around to writing the Simon/Elizabeth pre-series epic I wanted to do, it would've felt a lot like this. :-)