Fair Trade and Mobius by esteefee (NC-17)

[danceswithgary]

Rec Category: Sheppard/McKay
Pairing: Sheppard/McKay
Category: AU, Hurt/Comfort, Romance
Warning: Slash
Author on LJ: esteefee
Author's Website: http://esteefee.com
Link: Fair Trade and Mobius

Why This Must Be Read:

John as a small-business owner seems to be a natural fit in AU's; in them he's independent, answers only to himself, is in control of his life. The twist in this one (without revealing too much of the plot) is that John truly needs the help of other people, despite his stubborn insistence on being self-reliant. Enter the whirlwind otherwise known as Rodney, and John's life is changed forever. The details surrounding the running of John's coffee shop, as well as his personal daily struggle, add to the overall richness of this AU.

With a very few exceptions, I prefer stories where John and Rodney are presented as equals in their relationship, caring for each other without either being weak/submissive or where I'm risking sugar shock. I like plenty of snark to balance the sweet. This series handles that preference quite nicely and, at a little over 50,000 words, is a nice long read as a bonus.

( Excerpt )

The Unexpected by PurpleYin (PG)

[scarlet-gryphon.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: AU
Pairing: None
Category: AU, Rodney McKay, Gen, Peter Grodin
Warning: None
Author on LJ: missyvortexdv
Author's Website: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/149631/PurpleYin

Link: The Unexpected

Why this must be read: I'm a sucker for 'fics where Peter Grodin survives the events of The Siege (Part 1), because he's one of my favorite Season One secondary characters. It was a shame that the writers decided to write him off so soon, but the way PurpleYin writes this story, it makes me think that this could've actually happened, and Peter's still out there somewhere.

( A small quote from the text )

The Family You Choose, by Chocolatekettle (G)

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: Cassandra Frasier
Pairing: none
Categories: Cassandra, Janet, team, gen, character study, episode related, futurefic
Warnings: none
Author on LJ: chocolatekettle
Author's Website: unknown
Link: The Family You Choose

Why This Must Be Read: Chocolatekettle gives us three birthdays that Cassie celebrated on Earth: her first one after Hanka, the first one after Heroes, and her twenty-first, which coincides with another momentous occasion. And throughout the moments of uncertainty and heartache and triumph, her adopted family - Janet and SG-1 - are there for her.

Lovely snapshots with deft characterization and tender maturity make The Family You Choose an absolute pleasure and a wonderful tribute to Cassie.

( snippet of fic... )