Top 5 Stories That Live in My Memory

[shapinglight]

You know how you can read some stories and yes, they're good, but you don't think about them again after you've read them? And then there are some that you can't get out of your head and you go back to again and again? The following are five from 2005 of those that fall into the second category for me. I've only mentioned completed stories, though there are some WIPs that may well be in my list for 2006.



A Two Part Harmony Part One & Part Two
Written by missmurchison
Rating: R-NC17 for sexual content, Spike/Harmony, mention of other canon relationships
This is a terrific story about Harmony and her on-off affair with Spike. It doesn't mince words regarding his treatment of her and even with a soul, he's still thoughtless and just plain rude to her at times, but it also redeems their relationship and gives it a far more positive gloss than ME ever did. If only, is all I can say. It's also funny and sexy and if you don't end up liking poor old Harmony after reading it, I'll eat my hat (haven't got a hat, but it's the thought that counts, right?). This story cheers me up whenever I read it.


The First Few Steps
Written by girlpire
Rating: PG-13, Spike/Angel friendship
I'm always trying to get people to read this wonderful story, in which a post-NFA human Angel, now an alcoholic, is making his first tentative steps towards recovery. Spike helps him in his typically Spike-ish way. Funny and sad in equal measures.

You Made Me Forget Myself Part One, Part Two and Part Three
Written by lillianmorgan
Rating: NC17 Spike/Angel
There does seem to be a bit of a theme here, in that two out of the five stories concern post-NFA human Angel and his relationship with Spike, but I think that's more of a happy accident than anything. In this one, Angel and Spike slowly fumble their way back towards each other after time apart while human Angel tries to find his place in the world.There are flashbacks too, to the time just post-NFA when Spike is trying to help an injured Angel and hasn't yet realised the enormity of the change in him. This is possibly one of the most romantic Spike/Angel stories I've ever read without being at all mawkish, and the characterisation is unforgettable.

Starting Over
Written by felisblanco
Rating: NC17 for threesome sex,Spike/Angel/Buffy
It's very difficult to write S/B/A without any kind of bias towards either B/A or S/B, I think, but this story manages it beautifully. Yes, it's Angel that Buffy loves, but post-NFA, Angel, though still a vampire, is like a blank slate, childlike and vulnerable. Spike has been caring for him and he loves Spike in the way that a child loves. When Buffy enters the equation it makes for difficult times at first and watching the three of them come together is both painful and yet inspiring. I love this story so much. I know it's been recc'ed in Top5 before, but in my opinion, it can't be recc'ed often enough.

Fever Dreams
Written by shadowscast
Rating: maybe R for suggestiveness? Spike/Angelus/Drusilla
Something completely different here, just equally unforgettable in its own way. Set in season 2 of BtVS, Spike falls sick with the awful flu' that put Buffy in hospital and finds himself being cared for by Angelus in a way that both surprises and disturbs him. H/c, with wonderful characterisation of the Fanged Four.

Comments

[so-sharlemaine.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, three that I haven't read. Sound like good recs too.

I can't believe I haven't read that one by girlpire. I thought I had read everything of hers. And the shadowcast sounds good too. I'm just now exploring the works of lillianmorgan, so I haven't read that one either.

Thanks, Deb!

[shapinglight]

I hope you enjoy them. That one by girlpire is quite short. I dunno if that might be why it's been overlooked. As for shadowscast, I'd recommend everything of hers. She's one of the few writers who can make me read Spander.