Redefining Family by Wiccaficca

[aj.livejournal.com]

Fandom Category: NCIS
Pairing: Abby Sciuto/Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Abby Sciuto/Donald "Ducky" Mallard
Fic Title: Redefining Family
Author: wiccaficca
Link: http://wiccaficca.livejournal.com/19810.html
Rating/Warning(s): PG; babyfic, spoilers for season 4.
Genre: Friendship, retelling, AU, romance, babyfic.
WIP?: Complete.

Why This Must Be Read: I have absolute unadulterated love for Abby, Ducky, and the fact that they canonically adore each other to pieces and beyond. This does start off in a very tenuous Gibbs/Abby way but it absolutely does not demonize said relationship at all. Additionally, this is very much more a gentle love story than a 'and they done sex' piece. It's about a friendship that grows and deepens due to some rather unexpected circumstances, and Ducky's protectiveness for Abby, Abby's vitality and spirit, and the entire team's dedication and love for each other is just so vibrant on the page that I kind of want to force everyone to read this RIGHT NOW. As y'all might have been able to tell, the highest praise I can possibly give (and that I would ever WANT to give) is to say that something is in-character; and this? Is in character. These are the characters I recognize and love and all of it seems natural and organic. Additionally, this has a very ambiguous ending, so whichever pairing you support, you'll be okay. Because these people love each other enough that, at the end of the day, that part doesn't matter. Not completely.

Infinite Regress by Justanotherfic (PG)

[silver_galaxy]

Fandom Category: Law & Order-Criminal Intent
Pairing: Alex Eames/Bobby Goren
Fic Title: Infinite Regress
Author: justanotherfic 
Link: http://justanotherfic.livejournal.com/21978.html
Rating/Warning(s): PG
Genre: angst, drama, character study
WIP?: no

Why this must be read:
There is no question that Bobby has issues, mostly to do with his inability to form lasting relationships (although that seems to be a problem for all the characters in the L&O-verse) with anyone other than Alex. This is a great character study where Bobby wonders why he can't love Alex, when really he should.  Even when she tells him about her feelings for him, Bobby is awkward and doesn't know how to reciprocate and remembers an old girlfriend saying you can't love someone until you love yourself. There is a wonderful detached feeling to this fic, which for me kind of represented Bobby's detachment from his feelings & the rest of the world

Four Times Pepper Considered Quitting... by seren-ccd

[hariboo.livejournal.com]

Fandom Category: Ironman (movieverse)
Pairing: Pepper Potts/Tony Stark
Fic Title: Four Times Pepper Considered Quitting and the One Time She Did
Author: seren_ccd
Link: http://seren-ccd.livejournal.com/6079.html
Rating/Warning(s): PG
Genre: friendship, light UST.
WIP?: No.

Why This Must Be Read: Like the title says it's about four times Pepper thinks of quitting and the one time she does. The fic spans the length of Tony and Pepper's relationship from the first day Pepper steps into the house as Tony's newly appointed to the end of the movie. The growth of their relationship is done gently, highlighted in moments where Pepper (and Tony) take a step forward cementing herself in Tony's life and awesomely so at that (not that he complains, much).

( Excerpt )