Collage by Sarah Marsh
Updated August 12, 2002
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Sacraments (53k) -- EmGee
Category: SRA; Mulder/Scully/Skinner
romance, slash | Rating: R | Spoilers: Existence
Summary: Skinner angst. Lots and
lots of Skinner angst.
Lara's Rec: After everything that
happened to him in the 8th season, not even Walter Skinner could remain stoic
and strong. EmGee takes him to the very edge in this extremely angsty
story, then lets Mulder & Scully throw him a lifeline. I'm not usually
a fan of alternating first-person POVs, but EmGee succeeds here, mostly because
Skinner and Mulder (and Scully, to a lesser degree) are in such vastly different
states of mind, and because she chooses just the right parts of the story for
each of them to tell. Their tentative steps toward a deeper relationship
are touching and geniune.
Scarred (16k) -- Gwinne
Category: MSR | Rating:
R | Spoilers: 8th season
Summary: He's ba-ack!
Lara's Rec: Gwinne's quiet little
story tells of two people working their way back to each other ever so
slowly. Her Mulder and Scully both carry battle scars, and their
explorations of them are at once funny and poignant. Most heart-tugging
are the moments when they wonder if they're too scarred, and their
reassurances are gentle and loving.
Scenes
series (external link) -- Beduini
Category: MSR | Rating:
NC-17 | Spoilers:
Millennium
Summary: This is a series of six stand-alone
vignettes or scenes collectively depicting progress through the relationship.
Lara's Rec: Beduini's summary doesn't do these
stories justice. They're delicate, heartfelt tales of love and longing,
desire and patience, the need to get to know one another on many levels -- all
leading to a resolution that I was looking forward to almost as much as Mulder
& Scully were. Read them all, one right after the other. They're
absolutely beautiful.
Scenes
in Dark Rooms (external link) -- Maddie
LeClerc
Category: VA, Sk/D, sexual
situations, consensual m/m sex | Rating: NC-17
| Spoilers: DeadAlive
Summary: Skinner tries to explain.
Lara's Rec: The Author's Note on
this story mentions a moment, a heartbeat, a "scorching look" between
Skinner and Doggett in "DeadAlive" -- Maddie picks up on that look and
runs with it, creating an incredibly hot relationship between these two.
But more than the heat is the level of character development Maddie shows us --
not only how Skinner sees himself with Doggett, but how he sees himself with
Mulder & Scully. As he stands over Mulder's hospital bed and tries to
find his moral compass again, Skinner's anguish is palpable. Damn, this is
fine writing.
Scully,
NORAD Called. . . (external link) -- dlynn
Category: vignette, angst, MSR
| Rating: PG | Spoilers:
Existence
Summary: "Yeah, Dad. . . tell us how
it was." Scully raised her left eyebrow in the way that she did when
she knew she had him. "I want to hear again about how you chased away
fifty aliens. . . it was fifty, wasn't it, Mulder?"
Lara's Rec: Parents love to
embellish. Mine have done it, and my sisters have done it with their
children. So it's no wonder that Mulder would pad the story of William's
birth just a bit, exaggerating here and there for effect. But this gentle
look at Mulder & Scully's life with their son five years into the future
isn't always the happily-ever-after they crave -- the devil is still at the
gates, and both of Will's parents work tirelessly to protect not only him but
the rest of the world as well. This is a lovely tale, full of vivid
imagery and tender emotion.
The Secret
Language of Babies (26k) -- ML
Category: MSR, S, Mulder POV
| Rating: PG-13 | Spoilers:
Requiem
Summary: Mulder's turn to get up with the
baby.
Lara's Rec: Here's what I love about
this story -- father/son bonding; physical repercussions of Mulder's abduction
not often addressed in fanfic (including my own stories); a very real sense of
history and a possible future; a plausible explanation for all that chattering
babies do. This is an incredibly gentle and loving look at a beautiful
family.
Secrets Among Socks
(14k) -- Rachel Woods
Category: MSR | Rating:
R | Spoilers: Requiem [Per Manum]
Summary: My idea of what happened between
the fabled characters in the past couple of years.
Lara's Rec: The dates for the
flashback scenes in "Per Manum" were pretty non-specific, and that's
been a challenge for fanfic writers. Where do we place those events in the
grand scheme of things? Rachel's exploration makes sense, taking into
account all the ups and downs of Mulder & Scully's relationship over the
last two seasons. She even gives us a bonus -- a sort of talisman, a
symbol of what they mean to each other, what's at stake in their personal
relationship. A sweet story.
The Sequel (7k) -- Georgia
Category: not listed | Rating:
PG-13 | Spoilers: Requiem
Summary: An alternate take on
"Requiem."
Lara's Rec: A sweet, touching,
gentle look at "Requiem," with hints of "Hollywood A.D." on
the side. Georgia's depiction of Mulder & Scully is loving and tender,
and this story makes me smile.
Sexual
Healing (external link) -- rah
Category: pregnancy smut; PWP
| Rating: NC-17
| Spoilers: Vienen
Summary: After nearly four months of
uncertainty, three more of grief, and this last seven weeks of undefined
confusion and frustration, I *need^ this. . .
Lara's Rec: There wasn't much pregnancy
smut written during season 8. I'm sure that's because Mulder was gone most
of the time, but still, I'd have thought there would've been more. Not to
worry, though -- rah's got it covered. This hot little songfic (yes,
Marvin Gaye's soulful tune makes an appearance) is just what the doctor ordered.
Shards of Porcelain
(19k) -- Kelly Keil
Category: V, A, M/K | Rating:
R | Spoilers: Memento Mori
Summary: Broken dolls and self-delusion.
Lara's Rec: A follow-up of sorts for
Kelly's "Undertow" (also on this archive), this story delves into the
strangely symbiotic relationship between Mulder and Krycek. Their mutual
need is a backdrop here -- Mulder's guilt and self-loathing are front and
center. He's almost a nuisance to Krycek, who at times seems to merely
tolerate him rather than care about him. Both these men are as fragile as
the china doll Mulder talks about, and they keep breaking each other and getting
cut on the shards. Kelly's style and use of language are exquisite.
She Is (6k) -- Abra
Elliott
Category: MSR, Johndoggett POV
| Rating: PG-13 | Spoilers:
Within
Summary: Doggett finds more than fish
food in Mulder's desk drawer.
Lara's Rec: I've often wondered if
Mulder, like Scully, keeps a journal. In Abra's story he does, and
Doggett's reading of it gives him immense insight into the man. Starting
as a record of his work on the X-files, Mulder's journal evolves into a history
of his relationship with Scully, both professional and personal. Abra has
a real handle on how Mulder might record all this, and seeing him and their
relationship through Doggett's eyes is a lovely touch. Call me sappy, but
I love Mulder's last journal entry.
Shifts of Fortune
(9k) -- Leslie Sholly
Category: VRA | Rating:
PG-13 | Spoilers: Requiem
Summary: Scully and the Lone Gunmen share
good news and bad.
Lara's Rec: There are so many
beautiful elements of discovery here -- Scully's realization that the Gunmen are
her friends; their similar reactions to her news; hers to theirs when they tell
her what happened in Oregon; her moments of doubt, of fear that she'll be alone;
and finally, her transformation from Dana to Agent Scully, taking control of the
situation. Her moments alone with Frohike and on her own at the end are
unabashedly emotional. Lovely.
Ship Building (113k)
-- Jess M
Category: X-File (sort of), Mytharc,
MSR | Rating: NC-17
| Spoilers: Millennium
Summary: When THEY set out to break
Scully, Mulder steps in.
Lara's Rec: A gruesome casefile
involving child molestation and murder leads Mulder & Scully to a greater
understanding of both their relationship and the nature of their fight against
their enemies. The slow but intense pace at which they move from their New
Year's Eve kiss to a deeper relationship is a perfect counterpoint to the horror
of the case. Jess' characterizations are beautiful, and her use of
metaphor is quite lovely.
Silent Touches (11k)
-- Scullysfan
Category: VR | Rating:
PG | Spoilers: none
Summary: not summarized
Lara's Rec: I love stories told with
little or no dialogue, especially when they're as skillfully told as this
one. Scullysfan weaves an exquisite tapestry of touch and silence, of soft
passion and quiet love, all wrapped up in bubbles and candlelight. Lovely,
evocative storytelling.
Since Thursday (9k)
-- Lucy Garner
Category: V/A/DAL | Rating:
G | Spoilers: none
Summary: At the end of a few trying days.
Lara's Rec: Lucy has created a marvelous
little slice of life that resonates with me. The dialogue sparkles with
the kind of witty banter we've come to expect from Mulder & Scully.
The situation is appropriately grim, and we're only told as much as we need to
know. The characterizations are sharp and on-target, and the affection
between these two is evident in their every action. Just beautiful.
Sins of Omission
(33k) -- mountainphile
Category: MSR, S, D, vignette
| Rating: PG-13 for language | Spoilers:
8th season
Summary: Too many important things were
left to chance.
Lara's Rec: I must admit to a touch
of beta-bias here, but this story impressed me so much I had to recommend it
here no matter what. The characterizations are near perfect --
Skinner, Scully, Doggett, and someone we met once before, now seen in a
different light that makes total sense. I love Doggett here -- he's noble
and protective without really knowing why. And the scene between Scully
and Skinner at the beginning is just fabulous.
Six of a Kind (17k) -- Cincoflex
& jerry
Category: S, H | Rating:
PG | Spoilers: Requiem
Summary: Friends gather; storytelling
ensues.
Lara's Rec: Sweetly sentimental,
with a bit of history, a lot of levity and a touch of serious
contemplation. The authors have given us fully fleshed out portraits of
Chuck and the Gunmen, gathered to play Monopoly and reminisce about old times
with Mulder. Scully listens mostly, contributes a little, bringing the
story's most touching moment. This is an incredibly touching story.
Skinman on Campus (15k) --
ML
Category: Skinner POV | Rating:
PG-13 | Spoilers: Existence
Summary: The groves of academe beckon.
Lara's Rec: Inspired by a title
challenge ("write a story with this title"), ML has created a wholly
plausible post-"Existence" world for Mulder, Scully and William -- one
that includes Skinner as an important part of their lives. The Big Guy is
his surly self, with some introspective touches that work beautifully. His
melancholy and self-doubt are very much a part of who he is now, and ML explores
that part of him delicately, lovingly. (A bonus: ML has turned this
into a series!)
Sleeping Beauty (8k)
-- Sagan
Category: V, MSR | Rating:
PG-13 | Spoilers: none
Summary: As she sleeps on his chest,
Mulder muses.
Lara's Rec: Sweet and gentle,
lyrical and comforting, with just the right amount of romance -- Sagan pushes
lots of my buttons here. How could I help but love this story? The
characterizations are right on target, and the narrative is evocative.
Small Lives Awake
(external link) -- Jesemie's Evil Twin
Category: M/S, Story, Oddness,
Alt-U | Rating: NC-17
| Spoilers: Je Souhaite
Summary: Thanksgiving, 2000.
"For it is important that awake people be awake, or a breaking line may
discourage them back to sleep; the signals we give -- yes or no, or maybe --
should be clear: the darkness around us is deep." - William Stafford
Lara's Rec: Slow Dance,
Illinois. The kind of small town where everybody knows everybody
else. Where Mulder & Scully spend Thanksgiving 2000. No, not
because of work, although they do encounter an X-file, but because they want
to. JET's storytelling is magical, rich with atmosphere and
character. Everyone is real, from Mr. Kingsman to Miri, and emotions are
genuine. God, this is beautiful.
Small White Comfort
(3k) -- Kelly Moreland
Category: V | Rating: G |
Spoilers: Requiem
Summary: Neatly folded, and tucked
away on his bookshelf, was a letter with no date.
Lara's Rec: A beautiful, unabashedly
emotional slice of life. Scully finds a letter from Mulder that's so much
more than just a simple letter -- it's his heart on paper. Kelly's little
story packs a big emotional punch.
Snow Day (14k) -- Tess
Category: SAR | Rating:
R | Spoilers: 7th season
Summary: It's a snow day!
Lara's Rec: There's very little better
than staying home on a snow day -- unless it's staying home on a snow day with
the person you love, sipping coffee and munching waffles and confessing your
secret fears. Tess vividly describes all those elements of Mulder &
Scully's day at home, along with some very sexy reminiscing and a lot of real
emotion.
Sojourn (9k) -- Amanda
Wilde (MaybeAmanda)
Category: VA - Per Manum missing
scene/vignette type thing. Lots of angst. Equally shipper and noromo
unfriendly. | Rating: S for Squeaky
| Spoilers: Per Manum
Summary: Just tell her.
Lara's Rec: It's amazing how much
can go on in a person's mind in a really short period of time -- like, say, from
your car to your partner's apartment door. Amanda takes us through
Mulder's decision-making process in a most unique and thoroughly endearing
way. Her style is delightful, and her Mulder is just the right blend of. .
. well, every aspect of his multi-faceted personality.
Some Books About
Crooks (14k) -- Sabine
Category: S/D, some Mulder
| Rating: NC-17
| Spoilers: 8th season
Summary: "I'm full of
surprises," he said. / "Yes," she said.
"You are."
Lara's Rec: Need is a powerful
thing, overwhelming at times. In this exquisitely realized story, Sabine
explores the nature of need, the absurdity of comparison, the ache of
loneliness. Her biggest accomplishment, to my mind, is that she's able to
tell this story without letting either character appear selfish.
Someone Else (2k) -- Susan
Frankovich
Category: vignette written with
only 155 words | Rating: not rated |
Spoilers: Without
Summary: While in captivity, Mulder
can hear Scully. . . and someone else.
Lara's Rec: Some time back, someone
came up with the idea of writing stories using only 155 words. Most of
them are just exercises in brevity, but in Susan's capable hands they're finely
crafted vignettes. This one, her third, is a lovely take on Scully's
moment in the desert looking up at the stars in "Without." Susan
articulates Mulder's bond with his partner in a lyrical, albeit economical,
fashion.
Something Less (7k)
-- Meredith
Category: V, MSR | Rating:
not rated | Spoilers: This is Not Happening
Summary: Not quite pity; not quite love;
not quite life.
Lara's Rec: Intense emotion followed
by nothing -- that's how these three people deal with their pain. Meredith
takes us through Doggett's, Skinner's and Scully's almost-immediate reactions to
the events of "TINH" -- varied though they are, they all lead to the
same place, the same conclusion: nothing. Nothing left to do but
grieve. While each segment is gripping, Scully's is by far the most
heartbreaking.
Start as
You Mean to Go On (external link) -- Mare
Category: VA | Rating:
PG | Spoilers: 4-D
Summary: This man has already lost most
of what's important to him and I'm about to take away what's left, so I have to
be strong, even if I don't feel that way.
Lara's Rec: A superb missing-scene
fic from my favorite 9th season episode so far, Mare shows us the moment when
Doggett finds out exactly what happened to him -- and she lets Scully be the one
to tell him. The friendship and trust that has developed between them
takes center stage here, and the genuine affection they feel for each other is
palpable. Outstanding characterizations, especially Doggett.
Stay (18k) -- Emma
Brightman
Category: VA | Rating:
PG | Spoilers: This is Not Happening
Summary: He lost Mulder by not paying
attention; he won't lose her the same way.
Lara's Rec: In Emma's telling of the
aftermath of "TINH," Scully is a rock -- taking charge of everything,
making all the arrangements, staying busy -- leaving Skinner to follow in her
wake, watching and hoping to be there to pick up the inevitable pieces.
His need to be needed is sad and noble, and his relief when she finally does
need him is sweetly touching. Emma has a firm grasp on Skinner's
character, and I can hear his voice in her writing.
Staying Late (4k) -- Maidenjedi
Category: not classified
| Rating: R | Spoilers:
One Son
Summary: An assistant's job is never
done.
Lara's Rec: One of my favorite new
places to hang out is a mailing list/archive called the Harem, which focuses on
the supporting female characters (the Other Women) in the show. Lots of
good stories have come out of challenges on that list, more often than not posed
by Maidenjedi. This story is an answer to a Jeffrey Spender challenge, but
it features one of the best portrayals of an Other Woman I've read. Even
though the character only popped up onscreen a few times, you can hear the
actress' voice in Maidenjedi's words. Outstanding work.
Still Life (3k) -- Fiona
Category: not listed | Rating:
G | Spoilers: none
Summary: Ewwww mushy babyfic!
<spits>
Lara's Rec: I love this kind of
sweet, gooey little story. This one, as Scully looks at the pictures taken
during her baby's birth, just gives me warm fuzzies all over. And Mulder
is so adorable here. . . sigh. . .
Strange Glue (6k) -- Laura
Kaye
Category: V, A, Sk/Sc | Rating:
R | Spoilers: Requiem
Summary: The end of the night never comes
too quickly for me.
Lara's Rec: We got a good look at
Skinner's guilt in "Requiem" and "Within." Laura gives
us so much more -- guilt, recrimination, need, comfort, tears. . . with Mulder's
presence still a force to be dealt with. The ending is chilling,
perfect. Laura's a new writer, and if this story is any indication, she'll
be around for awhile.
Strawberries in
Winter (32k) -- Gina Rain
Category: MSR, A, H | Rating:
R (sexual content and a bit of naughty language) | Spoilers:
8th season
Summary: Christmas, 2001. Mulder
and Scully try to deal with a holiday that has not been historically pleasant
for either of them.
Lara's Rec: Therapy is a good
thing. Mulder discovers that not long after his return, but it takes
longer for Scully -- when it finally kicks in, the Ghost of Christmas Past
appears in a big way. To help make their baby's first Christmas something
special, Mulder reinvents the holiday. This is sweet, romantic and sexy,
with a lot going on in a relatively short story. Mulder's voice in
particular is dead on, and he's absolutely adorable in his efforts to make
Scully happy.
Strike a Deal (12k) -- spookycc
Category: V A | Rating:
R - for violence and language | Spoilers: Three
Words
Summary: Krycek offers Agent Doggett a
deal.
Lara's Rec: The best (so far) of
spookycc's Doggett-centered post-eps for the 8th season, the author gets to show
off an outstanding Krycek voice and a nicely realized moment of clarity for
Mulder. Krycek's a real bastard here, seizing on any opportunity that
presents itself with his characteristic viciousness and twisted humor.
Excellent work.
Submerged (17k) -- Jssangel
Category: S/MSR/UST | Rating:
R? for sexual situations | Spoilers: Requiem
Summary: Where do babies come from?
Lara's Rec: I love it when writers
pick up on stuff from earlier in the series' timeline and bring it back later on
-- Jssangel did just that here, and did it masterfully. Her Scully voice
is perfect, both in narration and in flashback dialogue as she indulges in some
sweet memories.
Sugarland (24k) -- Pacquin
Category: MSR, Angst | Rating:
R | Spoilers: The Truth
Summary: Scully struggles with her
choice; Mulder gives her another.
Lara's Rec: Pacquin's incredibly
thoughtful story gives us a Scully who's second-guessing herself and a Mulder
willing to do anything for her, anything to make her happy. There are so
many wonderful moments here, the place so vivid, the dialogue (internal and
external) so true. An exquisite story.
Sunset (14k) -- Foxsong
Category: V, M/S Married
| Rating: G | Spoilers:
none
Summary: In the end, Mulder finds
absolution.
Lara's Rec: The idea of Mulder &
Scully growing old together makes me smile. Foxsong's tale of endless love
and devotion turns that smile into a full-on grin. Mulder's adoration is
moving, even though he considers his role as caregiver to be the least he could
do for her, to repay her for everything she's done for him over the years.
Foxsong's nearly-ninety Mulder is perfectly in character, and her
wheelchair-bound Scully is gently, beautifully realized.
Suttee
(external link) -- Jintian
Category: Scully/Doggett, smidgen of
MSR | Rating: NC-17
| Spoilers: 8th season
Summary: The ascending stage of a cycle.
Lara's Rec: Chilling, this
story. Doggett's voice is perfect here, angry and vulnerable.
Scully's voice is damn fine too, distant and needy. Jintian explores these
dichotomies in an exquisitely heart-wrenching way. By the time it's all
over, I feel for both of these sad, lonely people.
Take Another Breath
(18k) -- mountainphile
Category: V, MSR | Rating:
PG | Spoilers: Detour
Summary: What thoughts linger in Scully's mind,
with an injured, sleeping Mulder in her arms. . . ?
Lara's Rec: I love stories about earlier
episodes written later in the series, even if that earlier episode was just in
the 5th season. With little to do but think during that long night, Scully
turns quite introspective, contemplating her life's choices and where they've
led her. A beautifully written vignette.
Taking in a Stray
(12k) -- Vickie Moseley
Category: A, A, more A, UST |
Rating:
PG | Spoilers: 3
Summary: Late at night, Margaret Scully has a
visitor.
Lara's Rec: For shippers, "3" wasn't
the most popular episode of the series. Vickie admirably provides some
completely in-character post-ep emotions from Mulder while exploring the tenuous bond he
formed with Scully's mother while she was missing. The ending is gentle
and sweet.
The Tallest Elf (7k) -- Article67
Category: Skinner fic/Christmas
fluff? | Rating: G all the way, baby
| Spoilers: 8th season
Summary: not summarized
Lara's Rec: Christmas fluff?
Hardly. Sweet and a little sad, with a touch of profound for good
measure. I was misty-eyed when I finished this story, and get misty again
every time I re-read it -- so have the tissues ready.
Tarnished
Gold, Hollow Faith (12k) -- Ms. AM
Category: V | Rating:
R | Spoilers: Requiem
Summary: not summarized
Lara's Rec: A flicker of a
reflection at Mulder's throat in his last scenes in "Requiem" led many, many of us
to believe he was wearing Scully's cross -- but she was wearing
it in "Within." Ms. AM created this incredible story to explain
how that might've happened. Along the way, we're treated to some very
romantic, very sensual memories of their time together. Genuine emotions,
vivid narrative.
The Tea (15k) -- Georgia
Category: not listed | Rating:
NC-17 | Spoilers:
Arcadia
Summary: Those who don't learn from the
past are doomed to repeat it.
Lara's Rec: A deceptively simple
little smutfic. Sexy and romantic, hot and sweet -- exactly how I imagine
Mulder & Scully might be at this point in their relationship. Yes, I'm
being obtuse. Just read it, okay?
Temporary (17k) -- Mischa
Category: VAR,
pre-colonisation? | Rating: PG | Spoilers:
8th season
Summary: In the dead of night, a reunion
takes place as the end draws near.
Lara's Rec: In this compelling
story, Mischa skillfully weaves threads of sadness and hope, of dread and fear
and guarded optimism, of finality and uncertainty into a tapestry of darkness
and falling stars. The imagery is vivid and the characterizations are
strong, particularly Scully and Mulder -- the scene between them is filled with
powerful emotions and too many things left unsaid.
The Tending of
Monsters (8k) -- Maria Nicole
Category: SA | Rating:
PG | Spoilers: The Gift
Summary: "They'll put a watch on
you, and cut your phone lines, and take away your car--but they'll let you near
him, because they don't want to take care of him themselves."
Lara's Rec: Maria's astonishing
story involves certain guest characters in "The Gift," telling us
their story from the time Doggett leaves that little town. At once
heartbreaking and horrifying, Maria's story fills in the gaps, the history of
the town and the secret they share, giving us a backstory I didn't even realize
I wanted until I read this.
Thanks of a
Grateful Nation (17k) -- Sabine
Category: V, Other POV | Rating:
PG | Spoilers: En Ami
Summary: I serve at the pleasure of the
President of the United States.
Lara's Rec: This crossover with
Aaron Sorkin's The West Wing shows just how well Mulder & Scully can
fit into Sorkin's world given the right circumstances. Sabine tells this
post-ep story through the eyes and voice of President Bartlet, and she perfectly
captures his character, his personality, the cadence of his voice.
Scully's sacrifice and Mulder's pain show through brilliantly, especially in one
quiet little moment near the end.
Thin Walls
(external link) -- alanna
Category: MSR, a little humor, a
little angst | Rating: strong R for sexual
situations | Spoilers: Three Words
Summary: If these walls could talk. . .
Lara's Rec: Poor Doggett is caught
between a rock and a hard place in this story -- stuck in a motel room next to
Scully's when Mulder decides to pay a visit. Worse, neither of them knows
he's there, and neither of them knows how paper-thin the walls are.
Doggett's observations of these two as they rekindle their personal relationship
are both funny and pathetic -- and his memories of married life and reflection
on his current single status made my heart go out to him, third wheel that he is
in this situation. But alanna's Doggett is man enough to take something
away from this experience, some new knowledge about his partner, and her partner
-- and that makes him a good man.
This Isn't Over (4k) -- Anna
Renick
Category: post-ep | Rating:
PG | Spoilers: Existence
Summary: What happened in that parking
garage.
Lara's Rec: Anna's Author's Notes
beautifully express what I like so much about this story: "I believe
that what Skinner did he did because he believed it was necessary. But I
do not believe that means he would walk away from that night and never look
back." I agree with her completely, and I have a deep affection for
stories like this one, that explore what his actions that night meant to him and
the lasting effect they had. Anna accomplishes that with great skill and
passion. Excellent work.
Those Better Angels of Our
Nature (20k) -- CindyET
Category: V, MSR | Rating:
NC-17 (graphic sexual content, violent
themes, language) | Spoilers: Kill Switch
Summary: "It was war that destroyed
Leonard Trimble's body. . . but his wounds went deeper than the loss of his
limbs. . . What destroyed those parts of him that make us human
beings? Those better angels of our nature? I cannot say." - Fox
Mulder in 'The Walk'
Lara's Rec: Remember that great
sequence in "Kill Switch," when Mulder was taken into emergency
surgery and we didn't know what was going on? Cindy's premise in this
amazing follow-up is that what he experienced could have had lasting
psychological effects. This complex, emotionally gripping story is one of
the best, most fascinating pieces of fanfiction I've ever read.
Things Found (13k) -- Kestabrook
Category: V | Rating: PG
(for language) | Spoilers: Closure
Summary: Mulder and Scully's wait at
a mall turns up things lost. . . and found.
Lara's Rec: Mulder indulges in some
introspection as he people-watches at a mall. There are some lovely
moments here as Mulder comes to realize just how necessary Scully is in his
life, but what makes this story stand out is his realization of how much his
quest to find his sister has cost him.
Three O'Clock (20k) -- JLB
Category: V, A, MSR |
Rating: PG-13 | Spoilers: Closure
Summary: sleeping and waking
Lara's Rec: I suffer from
intermittent insomnia. Frequently, I'll fall asleep just fine but wake up
after a few hours; then I'll be unable to go back to sleep for a few more
hours. Sometimes, it's just damn near impossible to shut your mind off,
even when you really want to. Trust me when I tell you that JLB got it all
right in this story. Mulder's character is beautifully realized here.
Throwing Words
Away (external link) -- alanna
Category: V, A, Doggett and
Reyes | Rating: PG | Spoilers:
This is Not Happening
Summary: Some children never know their
fathers. Some fathers lose their children.
Lara's Rec: An incredibly sad little
story, giving us some insight into Doggett's past and his relationship with
Reyes. alanna's characterizations are lovely, especially Reyes and the way
she speaks of her work. But the story's about children -- Doggett's child,
and Scully's. And about memories. And about keeping both
alive. Lovely, lovely work.
Tidings (28k) -- Ambress
Category: MSR, A | Rating: R,
I think | Spoilers: Requiem
Summary: lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub
Lara's Rec: Man, I love this
story. Everything about it is extraordinary -- the funny moments, like
Scully's nickname for the baby and her musings about her
"protuberance;" the sensual moments, remembering her nights with
Mulder; and mostly, recovering Mulder and what comes after. More than
anything, that sets this one apart from most post-"Requiem"
fics. The last few scenes are especially evocative.
Tiger and Dragon
(22k) -- bugs
Category: H, A, MSR | Rating:
mild NC-17 for some light smuttin' and some
dirty words | Spoilers: All Things [Per Manum]
Summary: Scully asks Mulder to come over
and help rearrange her furniture.
Lara's Rec: Dana Scully practicing
feng shui. . . okay, I've seen everything now. But as bugs tells the
story, it makes perfect sense. Really. What's so delightful here is
the single-minded enthusiasm she brings to the project, just as she brings to
everything she does -- and the way Mulder embraces this new facet of her
personality. The dialogue crackles, the narrative is rich with character
development for both Mulder & Scully, and the implications of the ending
make me sigh. Oh, and the opening line is hysterical.
Tilt (6k) -- Michelle
Kiefer
Category: Post-ep | Rating:
PG-13 | Spoilers: Pilot
Summary: It was as if the planet had
tilted and the ground had dropped out from under her feet.
Lara's Rec: When the season 1 DVDs
were released, we learned that Chris Carter had intended for Scully to have a
boyfriend in the Pilot. Although Ethan was relegated to the cutting-room
floor, Michelle uses him with great success in this story about the aftermath of
Mulder & Scully's first case together. She paints a vivid portrait of
their burgeoning partnership, of Scully's first inkling of how working on the
X-Files will change her life, of Mulder's trust and concern for her. Ethan
never had a chance.
To Build a Dream On (34k) -- ML
Category: S | Rating:
PG-13 | Spoilers: Existence
Summary: Have we earned our rest?
Have we suffered enough?
Lara's Rec: The things Mulder said
and did during the last few episodes of the 8th season puzzled a lot of
viewers. ML's view here is that they puzzled a lot of people on the show,
too. Here Mulder explains some things -- to us, to Scully, but mostly to
himself. ML writes a wonderful Mulder, full of hope and longing and pain
and guilt. . . but in the end, his happiness is what defines him, the truth he's
found with Scully and William. This is a beautifully told tale.
To Dream of Caramel
(4k) -- ML
Category: V, UST | Rating:
PG | Spoilers: none
Summary: Sittin' and thinkin'.
Lara's Rec: MulderMusings as he
watches his partner sip an iced caramel latte -- fear and longing, want and need
and insecurity. ML has a firm handle on Mulder's inner voice, his innate
attraction to Scully, his dread that she might not share his feelings, his
reluctance to express those feelings. This is a beautiful slice of life.
To Finish the Game
(13k) -- Muldersfan (no current email address)
Category: VA | Rating:
PG | Spoilers: Three Words
Summary: Everything is different after
you're dead. He's just now learning that.
Lara's Rec: A lot of fans were really
angry about the way Mulder behaved toward Scully in "Three
Words." I wasn't -- I figured he was going through some sort of
post-traumatic stress. Muldersfan understood that too, and has shown us
his journey through the flashbacks, the apathy, the anger. . . As he
eventually comes to realize that his feelings aren't going away anytime soon,
he's finally able to communicate what he's feeling to Scully. My favorite
line: "He can think of no kind way to break the news to them - that
he isn't the Fox Mulder they know and remember."
Tonight, Tonight
(22k) -- Twisted Sister
Category: M/Sc/Sk romance
| Rating: NC-17
| Spoilers: 5th season
Summary: not summarized
Lara's Rec: Twisted Sister has an
incredible talent for telling a three-way romance -- not just sex, but
love too. This evocative story deals with three lonely people who come
together to fill the empty spaces in their souls, in their hearts. A touch
sappy at times (not that there's anything wrong with that), this is nevertheless
a sweet well-told story.
Too Young to Party
(12k) -- cofax
Category: not listed | Rating:
PG | Spoilers: Closure
Summary: So take your hands off her/You
find yourself another/Or you're gonna have to answer to her big brother
Lara's Rec: Another well-written entry in the
Samantha Speculation genre, this story effectively skips back and forth between California
and England in October of 1979. cofax provides some needed and insightful
backstory for two damaged people separated by time, distance and
conspiracy. Lovely.
Touches (2k) -- Susan
Frankovich
Category: vignette, romance
| Rating: PG | Spoilers:
none
Summary: His touches give me what I need.
. .
Lara's Rec: What impresses me the
most about Susan's work is the economy of it -- the way she packs so much power
and emotion into a very few words, and the subtext says even more. The
words in this vignette may be about the physical, but the spirit behind the
words is about the emotional. Love, passion, devotion. Exquisite.
Tourniquet (11k) -- Tara
Avery
Category: V, A, MSR, other
unmentionables | Rating: PG-13 | Spoilers:
The Amazing Maleeni
Summary: "He takes the twine out of
his pocket and winds it around his finger tightly, drowning one pain in
another."
Lara's Rec: They say God is in the
details -- if that's true, Tara's been blessed. Every tiny little thing
here, from the bagels to the lipstick to the memories, is vivid and
evocative. Another of those two-hour improvs, this little tale is
frightening in its intensity and pain and sadness.
Treffen (14k) -- frogdoggie
Category: VRA, MSR, M/SK/SC
friendship, SK/SC UST, LGM | Rating: PG-13
| Spoilers: Without
Summary: Mulder and Scully reunion fic,
frogdoggie style. Skinner POV. Some angst. Character death,
but not Mulder, Scully, Skinner or the LGM.
Lara's Rec: One of the best of the
IWTB return-fic challenge stories, frogdoggie makes Mulder's rescue a group
effort. Skinner leads the charge, with able assistance from a few
supporting players. In crafting his scenario, frogdoggie goes back to
events last touched upon in Fight the Future -- Tunisia and the
bees. A strong sense of history, loyalty and affection permeates this
story, and it features the finest last line of dialogue I've read in a long
time.
The Trick Is To
Keep Breathing (14k) -- Dasha K
Category: S, R, little bit of H,
little bit of A | Rating: NC-17.
Yep, one of those. | Spoilers: Fight The
Future
Summary: What happens when Mulder
and Scully walk off into the sunset?
Lara's Rec: Okay, this is the
way Fight The Future should've ended. It couldn't, of course, not
in a PG-13-rated movie -- that's why we have fanfic. And that's why I'm
glad we have fanfic writers like Dasha K. She writes perfect
characterizations, excellent dialogue, and imaginative smut -- all wrapped up in
believable plots and well executed stories. And in this particular story,
she gives us an ending that's a welcome dose of realism in our idealized fanfic
world. Great stuff here.
Triebe (32k) -- FabulousMonster
Category: MSR, A | Rating:
R (yes, there is sex) | Spoilers: All Things
Summary: A person can't deny their
destiny.
Lara's Rec: This is one of those
stories that I've read over and over, that I really love, but that I can't quite
put into words why I love it. There are just so many wonderful things here
-- the glimpses of Scully's childhood with her father, the second-person POV,
the timetable of events, the depth of emotion, the idea of "Fox Mulder's
'lost girls'," the realistic first time, the references to past shared
experiences. . . Everything combines to make this an exquisite piece of
work.
Turning
and Returning (external link) -- Jori
Remington
Category: CSR | Rating:
NC-17 for graphic m/m and a little m/f
sex | Spoilers: 6th season
Summary: Years have passed since Fox
Mulder and Harmon Rabb last met, but now they are drawn together again to
investigate a series of mysterious deaths on a Naval base. Written from
Mulder's POV, the two men try to keep the past they once shared in proper
perspective.
Lara's Rec: It takes a lot for a
crossover fic to impress me (especially when there's a cross-series relationship
involved), but Jori's managed to do it several times over. This story, a
crossover with JAG and the first in a series, impressed me from the
get-go. Her Mulder and Rabb are dead-on in character, both in the past and
in the present. What's more, the past scenario is entirely plausible --
which is saying a lot. Exceptional work.
Twilight (25k) -- Avalon
Category: SMSR | Rating:
PG for some very mild language | Spoilers:
Requiem
Summary: Scully must deal with Mulder's
prolonged absence and their son's growing needs.
Lara's Rec: Aw, man. . . this one
made me weepy. Avalon's beautiful story of longing and hope is enhanced by
a very real Scully and a heartbreakingly genuine original character in
Will. From the incredibly sweet scene between Scully and her son
while he's in the bathtub to the achingly beautiful final scene, this fic is
just gorgeous.
Two Fish Swimming
(19k) -- Rachel Anton
Category: V | Rating:
NC-17 | Spoilers:
All Things
Summary: Mulder thinks about astrology
and other things.
Lara's Rec: Probably my favorite
post-"All Things" fic. Scully is a Pisces, a water sign, a
closet romantic. Its visual symbol is two fish swimming in a circle.
Mulder is a Libra, an air sign. A lover of beauty, its symbol the scales
of justice, of balance. Both are signs of duality and, as Mulder
discovers, the fulfullment of the opposite -- "When he is absent, she is
willing, open, extreme in her thinking. When she is absent, he is closed,
skeptical, bored." I had some big problems with the episode, but
Rachel's story clarified everything.
umbrella (13k) -- wen
Category: not listed | Rating:
not rated | Spoilers: 2nd season
Summary: strange rain-coloured snapshots of moments
following scully's return from her abduction.
Lara's Rec: wen is an incredibly
talented young writer -- I'm jealous as hell. This story is another of those
two-hour improvs, later dubbed "wenprovs," and it's just
incredible. The vivid imagery and emotional depth displayed here is
profound, and the use of language is amazing.
Undertow (60k) -- Kelly
Keil
Category: S, A, K/Sc, K/M, some
slash | Rating: NC-17
| Spoilers: DeadAlive
Summary: I lose myself inside her.
I am she and she is me and Mulder's ghost is on the couch watching. It's
all insane.
Lara's Rec: The angst level is quite
high in this exploration of the complicated relationship between Scully, Mulder
and Krycek. Kelly tells the story from Krycek's POV, going back to his
first time with Mulder and through the events of "Requiem" -- then his
developing relationship with Scully after Mulder disappears. Krycek knows
things, too, things he can't or won't tell either Mulder or Scully, and that
knowledge weighs heavily on him. What impresses me so much about this
story is the obvious love in Krycek's narrative -- love for both of them -- and
his palpable despair at the knowledge that they belong together and there's no
real place for him in their world.
Under Your Bed, In the
Closet, Behind You (6k) -- David Hearne
Category: post-ep | Rating:
PG | Spoilers: The Calusari
Summary: not summarized
Lara's Rec: "The Calusari"
aired near the end of the 2nd season -- the one with the toddler chasing the
balloon who was run over by the train. Yeah, I didn't remember it either,
but thanks to David Hearne's post-ep project (he's writing post-ep stories for
every episode of the series), "The Calusari" is uppermost in my mind
-- primarily for a line of dialogue near the end which Mulder quotes in this
story. . . this incredibly frightening story had me sleeping with the
lights on too.
A Unique Creation
(11k) -- Lari R
Category: MSR | Rating:
G | Spoilers: Requiem
Summary: Scully endeavors to save a
precious moment to share with Mulder.
Lara's Rec: I love a well-written
third-party POV. . . like this one. The narrator, Stephanie, watches
Scully as she shops for her baby-to-be, and her observations are sharp and
beautifully expressed. A bonus -- Lari dresses Mulder in my very favorite
outfit!
An Unnatural Mother
(14k) -- Agent L
Category: S, Teena-angst, MT
| Rating: Probably PG | Spoilers:
Demons
Summary: Teena Mulder's thoughts at her
son's bedside shortly after the events of "Demons."
Lara's Rec: "Demons" is
one of my very favorite episodes. Agent L's story is a welcome post-ep
fic, filling in a big gap so conveniently left for us -- what happens after the
final scene at the Mulders' summer house. Teena's thoughts drift back to
the night Samantha disappeared, her guilt and pain surging forward as she
realizes just how inadequate she's been -- and how much her son needs his
partner.
Unthinking (12k) -- Zephathah
Category: VR | Rating:
NC-17 | Spoilers:
none
Summary: Thoughts they weren't thinking
while making love.
Lara's Rec: An amazingly vivid
little tale, detailing all those things left unspoken -- and sometimes
un-thought -- while making love. The visuals here are sensual and
evocative, and Mulder & Scully are beautifully in character (especially in
the last paragraph). My favorite line really gets to the heart of who
these two people are -- "The act itself was almost peripheral. They
were as close as they could get; beyond that, not much mattered."
Urges (23k) -- Ann
K
Category: not provided | Rating:
R. Lots of sexual tension, some bad words | Spoilers:
none
Summary: Scully stands at the brink of
acting upon her desire for her partner, when Mulder gives her the incentive to
move forward.
Lara's Rec: I love
Horny!Scully. She's so damned controlled most of the time on the show, I
appreciate it when fic authors look beneath that cool exterior to show us the
firebrand within. Ann accomplishes this in a big way, not only giving us
Horny!Scully, but Frustrated!Scully too. Her Mulder is charming,
endearing, beguiling, sexy. . . no wonder Scully's behaving the way she is.
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