One of my very favorite fics is All the Mulders by Alloway. Very few fics can be labeled humor, angst, romance, mytharc and actually accomplish all that and more in the space of 5K. This story still makes me giggle and gives me chills even many years after I first read it. For starters, it boasts one of the best opening lines in XF fanfic history: In another age, another place, it would have been a hell of an opening line. "Three aliens, a Mulder and a Cancerman walk into a bar."		I'm a casefile girl at heart, and this one by Ophelia is a crackerjack story. Resurgam features a trip back to Mulder's New England roots, a journey that may just end up killing Scully. In the mix is a cool ghost story and lots of adult, believable intereactions between our heros and the three-dimensional original characters. The writing itself is lovely; Ophelia has a way with gentle prose that is thoughtful and detailed without becoming overwhelming. The mystery involved is complex and the ultimate revelation is totally satisfying. This story is a treat not to be missed.
	This is another story that's stayed with me over the years. It's a version of "Monday" as told from the point-of-view of Pam Driscoll rather than any of the XF regulars. In Other People by Dawn Pares, we get glimpses of the XF world from the outside, and we see the many other paths where Pam's desperation has taken her. Powerful, stark writing here, with a strong character voice and images that are hard to shake.	I really enjoy a story that can take an old fanfic cliche and turn it on its head. In Practice by Alelou, the author injects a fanfic favorite moment into the story -- Mulder and Scully talk about the hidden meaning of iced tea -- but the results aren't what you might expect. This is a fluffy but fun story about learning how to say what you mean. Bonus points for the behind-the-scenes use of the Lone Gunmen.
Oh, I can barely express how much I enjoyed Bone of Contention by Kel and Michelle Kiefer. The opening scene alone is priceless, but what really works here is the way the authors tie the story thematically together so that it fires on all cylinders. It is by turns scary, tender and funny, but always witty and fun. You'll never look at sheep the same way again! Then do yourself a favor and read the many other stories by these two terrific authors. They are a treat both together and alone.	Black Hole Season by Penumbra would be fabulous for the title alone, but the rest of the story is just as amazing. Penumbra has a masterful vocabulary that she wields with vigor and skill in all her work; this one is just my favorite of the bunch. This short piece plays havoc with time and voice in a way that well echoes the post-Orison confusion in Mulder and Scully's world. Penumbra nails the characters' big brains and guarded, cerebral wooing of one another, but she doesn't neglect their playful side.
	This story has been on my hit parade since its debut in 2000. Malus Genius by MaybeAmanda and Plausible Deniability is a screamingly funny and inventive casefile with a helping of Mulder/Scully relationship on the side. The original characters are a hoot, and the personal and professional sides to the tale tie together well as poor Mulder copes with the idea of growing older. The demon got my vote for Original Character of the Year. Read this and then gobble up all their other separate creations, especially Amanda's "Epiphany" and the Young CSM series by Plausible Deniability.	Strangers and the Strange Dead by Kipler is a haunting story about abductees who start showing up in the woods one chilly winter. A curious coffee shop worker documents the odd happenings and the pain of lives left unfinished. Kipler's prose is a joy to read, as careful and ponderous as the story itself. The ending is especially moving, and very prescient of Kipler since it was written before the XF episode "Requiem."
Abject by PD is told from Skinner's point-of-view as he sits drinking alone in a bar. Then Scully comes in and things get really interesting. The small details here, such as Skinner's rolled shirt sleeves, really sell the story and make it come to life. Fascinating take on what happens when two tightly controlled people come together for a conversation spurred by liquid courage. There is also a sequel called "Silent Partner."	This story is a sweet, gentle sort of casefile. The Dreaming Sea by Revely takes Mulder and Scully to a seaside town where they encounter a boy who may or may not be some sort of true sea urchin. Revely's poetic style is a wonderful match for the content of this story, and the original characters are a rag-tag group of townsfolk who more than hold their own with Mulder and Scully. There's a hint of magic sprinkled over everything, which makes this a thoroughly delightful tale.
Joann Humby has written so many great X-Files fanfics over the years, including some bang-up casefiles that I've really enjoyed.. But I am highlighting her Half Life series, which puts the spotlight in turn on many different X-Files characters at different points in their lives. The topics are uniformly angsty, but the character portraits are by turns chilling, surprising, and enlightening. Also check out "Past Imperfect," a profiler!Mulder story that is another favorite of mine.		The episode "Orison" spawned many post-ep stories, but this is one of my favorites. Unintended Consequences focuses less on the direct result of the Pfaster situation, but on the way tragedy can ripple across many lives in unexpected ways. I also love this peek at nondomesticbliss!Mulder and Scully, both of whom are full-grown adults set in their ways and used to living alone. Again, it's the little details such as the clashing over morning programing, that really make this fic pop. Insightful, strong writing.
	Barbara D has been a favorite of mine since way back, and my favorite of favorites is Sixty Degrees of Separation, which is a marvelously clever follow-up to the episode "Triangle." The dialogue crackles but the sheer imagination involved is what sets this piece apart. Mulder continues to bounce around through time as he tries to figure out his true place in Scully's heart. A definite winner.	I love absurdist humor when it's done right, and this may be my favorite follow-up to "Requiem." Alicia K. puts her musical background to work for her in this fun fic that finds Mulder returned from his abduction with an unusual new...talent? Guitar Hero is a treat not just because it's funny, but because no one else in all of fanfic world had thought of it before. I dare you not to giggle along with this story.