Unlikely matchmaking

Phantom Menance became known as the Fandom that Ate the Internet for the huge flood of Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon it started. On screen, the only 'canon' pairing was Anankin and Padme, but fans are used to following the actual on-screen chemistry rather than the script.

And Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon stories rock. But midway through reading so many of them, I stumbled across an Obi-Wan/Darth Maul story. And went "Huh. Oh."

Because it worked. Not just for the sake of making a weird pairing work (Hagrid/Snape, anyone? Well, Snape/Broomstick then?) which is a technical delight in itself, but for the shift in perspective that made this odd pairing just as plausible and true as the usual ones.

Here are ten stories that did just that for me, and maybe will for you:

An Officer and a Gentleman
Laura
(Due South)

Frannie was used for cheap laughs mostly on Due South. But she was pretty damn brave for putting herself out and taking risks. The things she believed in - law, family and love - are things Walsh believes in too.

Nowhere's Kansas
Dale Edmonds
(Popslash)

Britney gets short shift in most of popslash, thanks to the boyband swap arounds. When she's not a beard for Justin or strung out on crack and K-Fed for amusement, what does she get? Here, she gets a chance at something real with Fe, someone who really did stick by Britney through thick and thin.

One Thing That Didn't Happen at Seattle Grace the Time Everyone Almost Blew Up
Annakovsky
(Grey's Anatomy)

I read this and instantly became converted. I know it'll never happen on-screen, but if it did - if it could - oh, George!

'Till Human Voices Wake Us
Mur
(BSG)

Racetrack never made sense to me until I read this. Then her exile, her anger, the anger and sex driving her in a furious tangle was laid bare. And Sharon Valerii through Racetrack's eyes? A whole different person. Robot. Whatever.

Learning Process
Toft Froggy
(Bones)

I love Angela, I do! And yet - Zack and Hodgins makes so much more sense.

Night-blooming Heartsease
Julad
(Harry Potter)

After this, I couldn't bear to read any Snape stories with anyone else for a long time. This was Neville's life, Neville's hope and Neville's grief.

In Nomine Patris
Fleshflutter
(Supernatural)

Bobby is the closest thing the Wincester boys have to a father now. And the Wincesters were never very good about knowing where the lines are drawn.

Mr Woolsey's Guide to Etiquette in the Pegasus Galaxy
Busaikko
(Stargate Atlantis)

I had never once looked to Woolsey for more than comic relief. But the similarity between him and Sheppard goes bone deep, and this story convinced me.

For Purely Selfish Reasons
Smittywing
(West Wing)

CJ Cregg has pretty much the most stressful job in the White House (the President gets perks after all) and she deserves some Charlie. And Charlie, well, he deserves a lot of good things. I'd never have thought of them together, but in my head, this totally happened once.

Another Pretty Face
Wintertime
(CSI)

I don't see the chemistry on the show between them, but this story makes Catherine and Greg not just plausible but downright sensible. He would watch cartoons with Lindsey, cook dinner for Catherine and totally keep up with her dancing and in bed. Also, he'd make her laugh, and Catherine's beautiful when she laughs.