Lord of the Rings: No Other Hands by Adina

No Other Hands (Legolas/Gimli | PG | 1,208 words) has Gimli caring for his axe after Helm's Deep. This story has dwarven culture done well and shows how much Legolas and Gimli mean to each other. Whether you prefer them to be close friends or lovers, their relationship is deep. This story shows that, and it can be gen or slash depending on preference.

Excerpt:
The nick in the blade was no wider and no deeper than the thickness of his thumbnail, easily fixed even with the limited equipment in his possession. He would not have to beg the loan of tools from the smiths of Helm's Deep, nor tolerate the discomfort of working in another's shop. Still, he frowned at the axe; the blow was careless that dealt this damage. Even in the heat of battle he should have seen and avoided the orc's iron collar.

He was pleasantly conscious of Legolas's eyes on him as he selected the oil and his coarsest whetstone from his kit. The elf had not left his company since they had been reunited after the battle, as if he feared orcs would snatch him away in a moment's inattention. Or perhaps he though Gimli's trifling head-wound was more serious than it was. Either way, his attention was comforting, like a warm cloak on a cold winter's day.

Good Omens: Let It Snow by Louise Lux

Let It Snow (Crowley/Aziraphale | G | 1,011 words) has Crowley giving Aziraphale a Christmas present, even if he can't admit it. The story's cute and makes me smile, just the perfect thing to get in the mood for winter.

Excerpt:
One chime rang out from the church clock and voices raised in song floated from the doors and windows of the church, filling the small cobbled square. Crowley could easily pick out one particular voice, clear and pure above the others. He listened to it for a while, closing his eyes and tuning out the rest. It was a happy sound.

Perhaps it would snow after all; there was no reason why there couldn't be snow tonight, not really. The windows of the church glowed with gem colours against the dark. Aziraphale'd be finished soon and then they could go home. He shut his eyes again and his brow furrowed with concentration.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Worse Has Happened by Eddy

Worse Has Happened (Will/Jack | ? | ?) is kind of odd and rambling. Will joins Jack's crew after the movie. The story's very funny and really captures Jack's point of view. Jack is at the same time very aware and very out of it. Hilariously hilarious stuff here.

Excerpt:
Somehow Jack ends up having Will on the Black Pearl. He's not sure how. It may have been the several drinks Will bought him. Will is smarter than he looks.

Jack, for his part, has Will scrubbing the deck daily.

"I've scrubbed the deck," says Will.

"Good!" says Jack.

"For the fifth time," says Will.

"It's very clean," Jack compliments.

Will is still a bit of a brat and throws the rag he'd been holding in his hand down on the deck. "Yes, Jack. Yes, it is."

"Good job," says Jack, with a nod, and he thinks this is perhaps a hint for Will to go off and mind his own business -- maybe scrubbing the deck, it looks like it might need some scrubbing.

Buffy: Carpentry by Nwhepcat

Carpentry (Xander | G | 700 words) has Xander and carpentry. So so beautiful and insightful, adding on to Xander's character in a way that works. And, oh, it ends on just the right note. The story evokes so many emotions without a single one feeling forced.

Excerpt:
He breathes in the fragrance of wood. Some part of him, he thinks, knew he'd found his calling back in shop class when he learned that this scent spoke to some quiet place deep inside him. Strange how the wood doesn't release its richest perfume unless you torture it. Cut it down, cut it up, kill the living thing to create something. Sometimes it's something beautiful, meant to last an age. Sometimes it's a Wal-Mart hutch.

due South: Ray's Amazing Adventures at the Indigo Club by Speranza

Ray's Amazing Adventures at the Indigo Club (Fraser/RayK | PG13 | 1,517 words) has RayK coming to the rescue of a rather...intoxicated Fraser. Part of the reason why I like this story is that the mood is partly set through the descriptions of colors and patterns. Plus Fraser is just...himself but also something else I'm having trouble describing at the moment.

Excerpt:
Ray stood just inside the door, looking over the crowd. The place was full of people, mainly tall people, wearing really funky outfits. Some were wearing conical hats. "... sehen Sie eine offensichtlich prominente Person, kommen aber nicht auf ihren Namen," Ray heard one woman murmur to another. She was wearing a silver hat that looked like an upside-down flowerpot, and holding a wine glass full of blue liquid.

Not dolphins, Ray realized, resisting the urge to smack his forehead with his palm. Germans.

Someone gripped his arm tightly, and Ray was prepared to beat them to death with a conical hat before realizing it was only Turnbull--Turnbull wearing a tuxedo and looking very smooth and James Bond if you could get over the primary fact that it was Turnbull. Colored lights strobed over his long, pale face.

"Detective Vecchio, thank goodness!" Turnbull said. "Not a moment too soon!"

Smallville: After All by Livia

After All (Jonathan Kent | G | 3,777 words) is a wonderful Jonathan fic, focusing on his relationship with Martha and with Lex. This is a story that reminds me of why I like Jonathan while still keeping him in character. Plus, it's got lots of anecdotes and sayings and details to flesh out Jonathan.

Excerpt:
"Your mother's making breakfast," I told him, then glanced up at the loft. Lex leaned over the railing, the sleeves of his sweater pushed past his elbows. He was sweating through the dirty cashmere, breathing hard, and damned if he didn't look happy.

"Leave that for now." I told him. "Come on in the house and wash up. Clark, go give your mom a hand in the kitchen."

"Sure, Dad." Clark gave me a look as he headed past, the same look Martha gave me whenever I was in the same room with Lex. I gave Clark a look right back-- okay, I didn't have the best track record with Lex, but I'd never been one to kick a man when he was down.

"Doing all right?" I asked as Lex came down the stairs, arms swinging.

"I'm doing great," he said, scrubbing the sweat from his face with the back of his hand. "Thank you."

I nodded, and we headed into the house. Lex was still smiling.

Well, it wasn't so strange, I supposed. Lex had at least one friend who didn't care if he was broke or a billionaire. And if Clark liked her, Dr. Bryce was probably a pretty good catch. All things considered, Lex really wasn't doing so badly. Guess I just hadn't expected him to see it like that.