Epic Recs - RR -- Marriage of Convenience

RR -- Marriage of Convenience

Feb. 14th, 2010 at 1:17 PM

jane-elliot.livejournal.com

It's Marriage of Convenience Week (my personal favorite theme week) here at Epic Recs! Arranged marriages, forced marriages, forced bonding, accidental bonding, and plain-old marriage of convenience are all covered under this theme, so bring on the recs!

Things to keep in mind:
-Recced stories can be any length, any fandom, and any pairing, as long as they fit the theme
-You don't need to write a review (unless you want to). All that you need to include are title, author, and link to the story (all parts if there are more than one).
-Stories as a single file are preferred, if available.

That said, have at it!

Today's Topic: Marriage of Convenience

Previous RR topics can be found here.

Comments

( Leave a comment )

elayna88.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 14th, 2010 08:24 pm (UTC)

I clicked on the "here" word and got this message:

Error
Sorry, one or more specified tags do not exist.

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jane-elliot.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 14th, 2010 08:52 pm (UTC)

Arg! I swear, every time LJ gets an upgrade, this template goes wonky.

At any rate, the problem should be fixed now. Thanks!

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lolitakun.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 14th, 2010 09:28 pm (UTC)

Close to Home, by iesika (R)

Okay, maybe it's a bit of a stretch but this needs to be recc'd RIGHT NOW- it's just that good :-D
Title: Close to Home
Fandom: DCU
Pairing: Tim/Kon, Kon/Cassie (peripheral), Kon/OMC
Categories: Casefile, Drama
Length: Epic (~65,000 words)
Warnings: homophobia, hate crimes, violence, religious fanaticism (including evolution vs. 'intelligent design'), slight spoilers for Red Robin #1 and Adventure Comics #1 (it's pretty AU though), Clark being kind of a (well-intentioned) douchewaffle

Author on LJ:

iesika
Website: Masterlist of Fic and Art (http://iesika.livejournal.com/52161.html)

Author's Summary: A murder mystery at Smallville High drives Kon to brush up on his detective skills – and his undercover work. He might need to call in some help. Good thing his best friend is an expert at both.
Review:
I loved, loved, LOVED this fic. There's a great case, great characterization, and some fantastic OCs. The case is juicy and fascinating- an openly gay student is murdered in the school locker room, and it looks like a meta did it. The OCs are amazing- they were well-rounded and likable, and they didn't conform to a lot of the typical 'gay high school student' clichés. Also, Kon founds an LGBTS alliance- how can anyone resist that? I loved

iesika's characterization of Kon- he's flawed, but you can definitely see the qualities of a superhero in him, that lead him to do the things he does- and not just because he's Superman and Luthor's lovechild/clone. His relationship with Superman is full of delicious, delicious tension, with Kon's resentment of being held to Superman's standards, and Clark's familial fatheadedness and emotional constipation.
And Tim, oh Tim- you are what I love best about this fic. His interactions with the Kent family and Kon in particular are solid gold- and it goes double for his characterization. His coup as 'Tim Wayne' at the prom is so good I won't spoil it- you'll just have to read it for yourself, and trust me- it's so worth it. :-D
My verdict? Worth reading two or three times in succession. And it needs a sequel! And maybe a sequel to the sequel!
Close to Home (http://iesika.livejournal.com/77886.html/) (Masterpost)

I kinda miss being a reccer- I find these awesome fics and my squee outlet is incredibly limited. >:p

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jane-elliot.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 14th, 2010 10:26 pm (UTC)

Re: Close to Home, by iesika (R)

This sounds great, thanks!

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meishali.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 15th, 2010 11:18 pm (UTC)

Re: Close to Home, by iesika (R)

Ooo, I totally loved this fic, especially the scene with Tim on a motorbike. HOT!

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lolitakun.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 15th, 2010 11:22 pm (UTC)

Re: Close to Home, by iesika (R)

I know, right? :D
WHY IS THERE NOT A SEQUEL? D':

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aewnaur.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 15th, 2010 12:30 am (UTC)

Of Convenience by Annenburg

Title: Of Convenience
Pairing: Kirk/Spock
Rating: R (...ish?)
Summary: Kirk needs to get married for political reasons. Spock offers himself as the logical choice. Written for the st_xi_kink meme.

http://annenburg.livejournal.com/2436.html

is finished and has a sequal but i'm sorry i didn't find a master post for the fic and i don't know how to make the pretty link.. however it is a very good fic and well worth the time if you are a fan of the Reboot verse kirk/spock..

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jane-elliot.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 15th, 2010 12:32 am (UTC)

Re: Of Convenience by Annenburg

Ooo, thank you! (I love this theme:)

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jorockz.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 15th, 2010 09:58 am (UTC)

Re: Of Convenience by Annenburg

That story is on the K/S archive which gives a Print option so it's one page.Sorry, I'm in a hurry so I can't c&p the link, but I agree with aewnaur, it's great :)

Jo

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jane-elliot.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 15th, 2010 03:42 pm (UTC)

Re: Of Convenience by Annenburg

Thanks!

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green-grrl.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 17th, 2010 02:32 am (UTC)

Re: Of Convenience by Annenburg

I sucked this right down--yum! Thanks for the rec!

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silviakundera.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 15th, 2010 03:15 am (UTC)

arranged/forced marriage recs

[Supernatural - Sam/Dean; warning, brothers pairing duh]
When It Crackles by lyra_wing
http://lyra-wing.livejournal.com/117308.html
(22,400 words) Season 2 era. "A cult is rumored to be guarding the Fountain of Youth. Oh, and while investigating it, Sam and Dean get roped into getting married. Yep." The case is actually pretty cool, like a good episode of the show, and the Sam/Dean romance is good as well.

[Harry Potter - Draco/Neville]
Theft of Assets, Destruction of Property by Helen
http://helenish.talkoncorners.net/theft.html
(23,000 words) AU post OoTP. One of those Harlequinesque Big Misunderstanding style stories, but. you know. Better. ;) Before I caved and read it, I saw this rec'd a bunch of times but was like, 'er, forced marriage fic about Draco baking?' and scrolled by -- BUT turns out it is so not really about that at all. My personal summary of the story would be: In which Lucius tries to strip Draco of value & dignity, and yet Draco finds inner strength and purpose by grasping what joy & accomplishment that's left for him to find. Also, Neville is kind of a hero and also kind of a dick - but luckily not unforgivably so. "Lucius breaks Draco's arm in two places when he catches him kissing Matthew in the barn over Christmas break in fifth year. Matthew works with the horses and smiles at Draco when he finds him hiding out in the empty stalls, avoiding the house. He has long warm fingers which he hooks in Draco's waistband when he kisses him and Draco never sees him again."

[Bandom, Panic! - Jon/Tom; warning for AU RPS]
A Marriage of Convenience by Jae
http://jae-w.livejournal.com/158412.html
(40,000 words) "Regency AU. Jon was not opposed to marrying to his advantage in principle, but he'd never thought to wed himself to the season's scandal."

[SGA - Rodney/Ronon]
In the Hands of Yes by Hth
http://web.archive.org/web/20070814052418/hth.gatefiction.com/handsofyes.htm
32,834 words of Aliens Made Them Get Married. The rare 'established relationship' forced marriage fic. I love Ronon in this SO MUCH.

[Smallville - Clark/Lex]
Omiai
http://members.shaw.ca/waytoomuchplor/omiai.htm
(115,000 words) Arranged marriage AU, in which Lex is still basically Lex & Clark is mostly still Clark but he and Clark never met in Smallville. And now wacky-legal-will-hijinks cause a forced marriage. Less horrible than it sounds. Really!

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jane-elliot.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 15th, 2010 03:25 am (UTC)

Re: arranged/forced marriage recs

Squeee! I love this theme so much:) Thanks!

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(Anonymous) wrote:

Feb. 19th, 2010 09:35 am (UTC)

Re: arranged/forced marriage recs

The way back machine link doesnt appear to be working (atm) does anyone have an alternative link? Ronan/Rodney is one of my fav pairings =)

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jane-elliot.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 19th, 2010 04:07 pm (UTC)

Re: arranged/forced marriage recs

I can't get a link for Hands of Yes at work, but I believe it's on AO3.

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jenna_marianne: kitten with mohawk (punk kitten)

jenna_marianne wrote:

Feb. 15th, 2010 03:16 am (UTC)

American Idol RPF
A Matter of Inconvenience by astolat (NC-17)
http://archiveofourown.org/works/41762
Kradam Regency AU. -- Kris just laughed. "Do you get—we're talking twenty thousand pounds at least just to clear the debts?" "Yes," Anoop said. "There's a way." "Who do I have to kill?" Kris said, dryly. "Not kill," Anoop said. "Marry." (Adam/Kris)

Woke Up Married by celli (R)
http://archiveofourown.org/en/works/2277 or http://celli.livejournal.com/931319.html
"Archie, we got married at--at Elvis's Chapel O' Love and Rainbows. And you're fine with that?" (Archuleta/Cook)

Rearrangement by anonymous (R) [WIP, last updated chp.5a 11/16/09]
http://community.livejournal.com/aianonlovefest/437.html?thread=644789#t644789
"The term of the marriage must be no fewer than five years during which time you are not to be apart for any overnights except in the instances outlined in this section. Your monthly stipend will be increased to this amount, and at the end of the arrangement you are free to continue in your marriage or to divorce as privately as possible. This marriage will be a real marriage in the eyes of the public. You will not be seen with other men and you will act as partners at all times outside of your home. What happens in your home is up to your own discretion. Well, that of you and your husband." (Adam/Kris)

Untitled Regency AU by setissma (PG-13)
http://setissma.livejournal.com/748977.html
This is very loosely based on Pride and Prejudice, which is to say, Adam Lambert makes a terrible Elizabeth Bennet. Regency AU where Kris and Adam have an arranged marriage. (Adam/Kris)

Harry Potter
Good Faith by Meri (NC-17)
http://solo4.abac.com/CircuitArchive/goodfaith.html
After the defeat of Voldemort, the Ministry puts into action a Marriage law so that Halfbloods and Muggle-borns have to marry wizards and witches more integrated into wizarding society. "Draco Malfoy will use what ever means available to get what he wants. And he wants Harry Potter"

How Do You Mend a Broken Heart? by mahaliem (R)
http://hdworldcup.onnedhiel.net/teamepilogue/mend_a_broken_heart.html
In order to keep custody of his children, Draco needs to find a spouse that will shore up the Malfoy family's tattered reputation. But what starts off as a means to an end gets more complicated when Draco's target reawakens feelings in him that he hasn't had in a long while, and Draco starts to feel alive for the first time since his wife's death.

Iron Man
Palmer’s Kiss by vr_trakowski (PG-13)
http://vrtrakowski.4t.com/im/pk/PalmersKiss1.html
Tony takes advantage of serendipity.

House
A Modest Proposal by ignazwisdom (NC-17)
http://betweenthepages.org/ignaz/amodestproposal.html
Tritter's case against House still depends on subpoenaed testimony from Wilson. To save House from losing everything, the doctors of PPTH decide on an unusual solution, which in turn leads to unexpected consequences.

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jane-elliot.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 15th, 2010 03:27 am (UTC)

Thank you! *bounces*

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jenna_marianne: drawing of girl with brown hair and pink scarf (Default)

jenna_marianne wrote:

Feb. 15th, 2010 03:17 am (UTC)

Smallville (all Clark/Lex)
My Big Fat Alien Wedding by mahaliem (PG-13)
http://mahaliem.livejournal.com/182685.html
The story of Clark and Lex's courtship and wedding. -- "Although they didn't live happily ever after, during those times in which they weren't intent on killing each other, they were very happy indeed."

Omiai by Rose Emily (NC-17)
http://smallville.slashdom.net/archive/37/omiai.html
Disowned by Lionel, Lex secretly marries Clark for a year in order to gain the thirty million dollar bequest his mother left him. Clark, in return, gets a full scholarship to Met U. Secrets, plotting, interfering journalists, and Lionel.

Red Tape by Lenore / scribblinlenore (NC-17)
http://scribblinlenore.wordpress.com/home/smallville/red-tape/
Metropolis Mayor Lex Luthor convinces Superman to marry him since he is an "illegal alien." -- Outside the City Clerk’s office, a long line of lovebirds waited to make their devotion official. Some couples were dressed in jeans, others lounged casually against the wall finishing off their lattes. If not for the occasional poofy white dress, Clark could just as easily have been in line to renew his driver’s license.

Stocks and Bonds of Holy Matrimony by abi / justabi (PG-13)
http://www.smallville.slashdom.net/archive/41/stocksand.html
As a reporter, you would think Clark would pay more attention to what he says around them. But you would be wrong. -- "Clark, is there something you'd like to tell me?" "Good morning?" "Not quite what I'm looking for." "I'm an alien? You hit me with your car? Am I getting warmer?" "Stop making jokes. My phone has been ringing off the hook all morning. There is a picture of you and me on the front page of the Daily Planet." "That's great, Lex. I didn't think the benefit would be front page news, but that's wonderful." "The story is not about the benefit last night." "What do you mean?" "Since when have we been lovers eagerly awaiting the chance to legally wed in the state of Kansas?"

With This Ring by Henry Jones Jr / sabershadowkat (PG-13)
http://www.sabershadowkat.com/smallville/withthisring.html
Clark and Lex solve their women-problems by marrying each other.

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jenna_marianne wrote:

Feb. 15th, 2010 03:17 am (UTC)

Stargate Atlantis (all McKay/Sheppard)
Catch-19 by mmmchelle / Chelle (NC-17)
http://community.livejournal.com/mcshep_match/7221.html
The IOA wants to replace John with a non-American. Rodney has a plan.

The Convenient Husband by Brighid / Mz. B. Stone / mz_bstone (NC-17)
http://community.livejournal.com/sga_flashfic/156116.html
A marriage of convenience has some very inconvenient complications for Rodney, as he deals with the fact that he's still in love with John Sheppard.

Marriage of Inconvenience by Kat Reitz and Tzigane (NC-17)
http://www.caffiends.net/viewstory.php?sid=432
Forced into a arranged marriage when they're young, John and Rodney meet again ten years later. Can they fix the mistakes of the past?

No Refunds Or Exchanges by astolat / shalott (NC-17)
http://intimations.org/fanfic/stargate/No%20Refunds%20Or%20Exchanges.html
Rodney McKay is stationed at a mostly safe and, apparently, not too classified Atlantis and is in desperate need of a maid. Unfortunately, any and all support personnel are immediately sucked up by the severely understaffed labs, so Rodney goes for the obvious second choice: mail-order bride, but fails to specify much more than tall and high IQ. He's surprised by John, who was willing to do just about anything to get to Atlantis after a dishonorable discharge from the Air Force.

The 'Oh' Thing by Chelle (PG)
http://community.livejournal.com/casa_mcshep/19154.html
Living together changes everything. – After Rodney and Keller break up, Rodney suggests he and John marry because the regs have changed and he wants someone to come home to. When John points out they aren't sleeping together, Rodney observes that apparently married people don't have much sex either, so they move into a suite. John then slowly begins to find himself growing more and more physically comfortable with Rodney. The guys are both kinda dense.

Rules of Engagement by velocitygrass (NC-17)
Pt.1: http://velocitygrass.livejournal.com/62709.html
Pt 2: http://velocitygrass.livejournal.com/62879.html
In order to secure lab time to do research for his Nobel and to make himself seem more personable, Rodney asks John to enter a marriage of convenience.

The Spare by Rachael Sabotini / wickedwords (NC-17)
http://www.mediafans.org/rachael/sga/atlantis_thespare.html
John, several steps removed from the crystal throne, agrees to a contracted marriage to Rodney, science minister of a neighboring country. And then they fall in love.

Weddings, Plural, and a Yak by Speranza (NC-17)
http://www.trickster.org/speranza/cesper/weddingsplural.html
By the eighth time John Sheppard married Rodney McKay, they were old pros at the wedding thing, having weathered not only an Ouishan blood wedding, but also a twelve-hour Avalonian handfasting, a Malanese necklace exchange, and a Thurtu joining ceremony that invoked a fire god and featured seven kinds of cake.

Star Trek: The Original Series

The Bonding Contingent by Bats / batsrgr8 (NC-17) [Warning: has some spelling & formatting issues]
http://www.kardasi.com/KSOF/Stories/bonding_contingent.htm
Unknown to each other, they must marry for political reasons Kirk and Spock must marry to seal a contract between Vulcan and Earth...with Jim's ship, they protect the treaty that trades water for kirillium, allowing each planet to survive. But some traditionalists on either side don't like it. (Kirk/Spock)

Star Trek: Deeps Space Nine
Opacity of Paradise by thehoyden (R)
http://thehoyden.livejournal.com/215286.html
Garak comes up with a plan that protects and benefits him and Bashir. -- "So essentially, we have terrible secrets, we're lonely, let's get hitched?" (Bashir/Garak)

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jane-elliot.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 15th, 2010 03:30 am (UTC)

Thank you, thank you! This is the best RR *ever*:)

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lothy.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 15th, 2010 03:26 am (UTC)

Star Wars:

Drive You Mild (http://www.obaona.com/fanfiction/driveyoumild.htm) by Obaona
"How would two powerful, individualistic people unite? Emperor Luke Skywalker, meet Jedi Knight Mara Jade." Long, single file.

As the summary suggests this is totally AU, so you should be able to read it without having read any of the Expanded Universe - you'll miss some of the foreshadowings that run through it but that's probably all.

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jane-elliot.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 15th, 2010 03:31 am (UTC)

This one's going in my read now file:) Thanks!

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lothy.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 15th, 2010 03:35 am (UTC)

Enjoy!

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elspethdixon.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 15th, 2010 06:16 am (UTC)

Oh God, I love this trope (as the zillion Harlequin regencies I've read solely because they contain it can attest).

All the good fannish ones I can think of off the top of my head have already been recced, but I do have one other bandom one:

A Marriage of Convenience (http://jae-w.livejournal.com/158412.html) by

jae_w. 40,000 word Regency AU involving this one guy from Panic at the Disco and some other guy he was in a band with before that and numerous other people who are all musicians of some kind but whose names I only know from fic. If you can get past an alternate version of Regency England allowing gay marriage for their aristocracy without any explanation for how this affects the inheritance of titles and law of primogeniture, it's awesome. (and really, most slash version of this trope have at least a few small "don't look at the logic, don't look!" issues in order to pull the marriage part off).

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jane-elliot.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 15th, 2010 06:43 am (UTC)

Thanks!

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eponymousanon.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 15th, 2010 07:31 am (UTC)

Ha! One of my bookmarks on delicious hasn't already been recced in here!

Title: Stay
Author: Gypsyflame (written for HP Cross Gen Fest)
Prompt Number: 18
Rating: NC-17
Main Pairing: Sirius/Draco
Summary: War is coming, and Narcissa is scared for Draco. So she turns to the only person she can think of – Sirius Black.
Warnings/Kinks: Dubious consent; may be considered underage (Draco is 16)
Word Count: 23,589
Author's Notes: This fic takes place immediately following OotP. It’s AU in that Sirius didn’t die; otherwise, it’s compliant with OotP canon. Some lines are taken directly from HBP. Many thanks to my always-excellent beta, without whom I would be completely lost at sea.

http://community.livejournal.com/hp_cross_fest/24300.html

It's an AU in which Narcissa has Sirius marry Draco in order to keep him safe.

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jane-elliot.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 15th, 2010 03:42 pm (UTC)

Thanks!

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green-grrl.livejournal.com wrote:

Feb. 16th, 2010 04:45 am (UTC)

SGA - John/Rodney

Torch's Title of the Story (http://www.strangeplaces.net/torch/titlestory.html)
The one with the chaperone and the quaint local customs and the museum and the virgins and the plot device and the ceremony and the user manual.

SG-1 - Jack/Daniel

maab_connor's Ordinary is All Perspective (http://community.livejournal.com/jd_ficathon/22518.html)
They touched each other, so Aliens Made Them Get Married.

Merlin - Merlin/Arthur

pennyplainknits's Lord Drake's Bequest (http://community.livejournal.com/harlequinmerlin/1855.html)
AU. To my great-nephew Arthur I bequeath Tintagel Distribution, wholly and without reserve, save for one condition. You must marry, and stay married, for a period of no less than six months.

Harry Potter - Snape/Harry

Dementor Delta's Dumbledore's Folly (http://inkstain.inkquill.com/isf/archive/33/dumbledoresfolly.html)
Dumbledore wills his old family home to Harry and Snape, and it appears the only way out of the bequest is for them to Court.

Diana Williams' A Convenient Marriage (http://inkstain.inkquill.com/isf/archive/13/aconvenient.html)
In order to escape Lucius Malfoy's challenge, Harry must marry Snape.

Isolde's Between a Rock and a Hard Place (http://archive.skyehawke.com/story.php?no=475&chapter=1)
After a naming ceremony gone awry, it's discovered that only marriage to Snape will save Harry from a disastrous connection to Voldemort.

Leela's The Betrothal Contract (http://www.thebejeweledgreenbottle.com/2009%20Mixed%20Games/Fic%20Cauldron/cauldron-leela_cat.html)
On Harry's twenty-fifth birthday, he gets an unexpected and unwanted gift along with his godfather's estate. He's betrothed to Severus Snape. And Black family contracts don't take no for an answer.

Meri's Sanguis-Vinculum (http://www.walkingtheplank.org/archive/viewstory.php?sid=501&chapter=1)
An accident with a blood spell leaves Harry and Snape with an unbreakable, increasingly intimate bond.

Rakina's Janus Nonogenus (http://www.walkingtheplank.org/archive/viewstory.php?sid=2448)
Ten years after Voldemort's death, a deeply embedded curse is killing Harry, and the spell-craftre doesn't have much choice.

Regan V's Consolation Prize (http://archive.skyehawke.com/story.php?no=11626&chapter=1)
Snape Vows to help Harry against Voldemort in return for a favor later. Harry never expected it to be marriage.

Smallville - Clark/Lex

Danceswithgary's Without You (http://danceswithgary.livejournal.com/35019.html)
When Clark realizes he's bonded to his archnemesis, he'd rather die than force Lex, but the AI has other plans.

Edited 2010-02-16 04:46 am (UTC)

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RR -- Marriage of Convenience

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