My top stories on AO3 2022
Happy New Year!
This appears to be the year of shakeups on my list! There were a few years where the top 10 stories remained the same, but two stories swapped places. Last year, stories 1-5 remained ranked the same. While the 6-10 rankings were the same five stories, they swapped positions. For 2022, only the top two stories remained ranked the same. Two stories dropped off the top 10 list and two more took their place. All stories in the 3-10 positions in 2021 have changed in 2022.
Top 20 AO3 NCIS stories based on Kudos:
I now have 102 stories posted, so these are roughly the top 20%.
1) SOLD! with 1035 kudos, 11/05/2017 -
(started in 2010 - completed 2017) [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (263,069 words)
This continues to hold the # 1 slot.
My first and only story to get over 1000 kudos!
It's hard to believe I started writing this one back in 2010 and finally completed it in Nov 2017. This has far more hits, kudos, comments and everything else than anything else I have posted over at AO3. While I was first writing it, I thought it was far too Tony-centric for most people to enjoy, but it does seem rather popular. It's a Gibbs/DiNozzo where there isn't much more than brief mentions of Gibbs for the first 20 chapters. Tony is tortured, then has a very up and down relationship with Gibbs, who isn't sure he wants to be involved with a slave. I can't imagine I would ever write anything that would surpass this story. I'm okay with that.
2) Ziva David Is Not My Lover with 683 kudos, 05/23/2016 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (5871 words)
This story continues to hold the # 2 slot.
I wrote two Tony leaving NCIS stories in May 2016. Personally, I prefer the other one You Don't Waste Good, but I often like some of my underdog stories, LOL. This is an alternate take on Tali being Tony and Ziva's child. I know a lot of people hated the cannon exit story, which is probably why this one is so popular. In this, it's found that Ziva had stolen Tony's sperm donation and had herself impregnated.
3) Vanished with 573 kudos, 06/16/2021 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (18,433 words)
This is my only story made it into the top 20 the year it was written (2021), ranked at 19. This year, it's jumped up to the # 3 slot! Last year it was part of the "200" kudos club and now is made it into the "500"+ kudos club!
While I did start writing Melancholy Man first, however, as I already had artwork done for it, I wanted to make sure I had a summary to submit for the NCIS Big Bang art claims. So I stopped writing MM and started on this one. I've noticed how stories based on the Dead Air episode seem popular, so I thought I'd put my only little twist on it. And hey, it's in the top 20 the year it was written!
When Ziva and McGee turn off the monitors, Tony is abducted. The FBI's BAU team (Criminal Minds) is brought in to investigate. Fornell tries to run interference between Gibbs and Hotch. Gibbs doesn't care who the case is assigned to, he wants Tony found ASAP and has no intention of sitting around doing nothing.
This was the 3rd of 3 summaries claimed, but Red_Pink_Dots did a great job, inspired by the Bull artwork.
4) Table For Two with 487 kudos, 07/31/2016 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (18656 words)
This dropped from the # 3 slot to the # 4 slot.
Like Call Me Tony and Pencis: When Tony Met Jethro before it, this was a second Big Bang story. I wrote this in 5 days. Somehow my second Big Bang stories, the ones I spend 3-5 days writing, go over better than the ones I agonize over for months. LOL. Gibbs Team (Stan, Vivian and TAD Tim) are investigating a series of murders. The only link they find is that the victims were all customers of male escort, Tony DiNozzo. Gibbs goes undercover as a client of Tony's to draw out the killer. I was happy with this and Rose_malmaison did some lovely artwork to go along with it.
5) Melancholy Man with 467 kudos, 08/11/2021 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (28,219 words)
This story was tied for # 32 last year (the year it was written). It has jumped to the # 5 slot. Last year it was part of the "200" kudos club and now is made it into the "400"+ kudos club!
This is my second Big Bang story of the year, inspired by a piece of artwork I originally created for the RB. However, Muse made grabby hands and wanted to keep this one. This is my favorite of my 2021 stories. In this story, Gibbs appears to turn on Tony, so Tony leaves. And Gibbs goes after him, determined to bring Tony back to DC. Like Vanished, which was also written last year, this story has made it into the top 10 in its second year.
6) Call Me Tony with 460 kudos, 09/10/13 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (11,784 words)
This story has dropped from the # 4 slot.
This one is my second entry for the 2013 NCIS Big Bang. It was one of 2 bunnies that kept bugging me all summer while I was trying to write my Big Bang story. A couple weeks after finishing my first story, I began writing this one. It was written in 3 days. It was never intended to be a Big Bang story. I originally thought it would wind up being 3000-5000 words, but it kept growing and once it topped the 10,000 minimum WC for the Big Bang, I figured why not? This one has Tony working undercover when Gibbs takes a fancy to him. First time/first meeting fic.
7) Healed By Moonlight with 436 kudos, 12/09/2018 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (35,176 words)
This story has jumped from the # 8 slot last year, to # 7 this year. It has been on a steady rise. It is now officially my most popular SeSa story.
This is the first of my 2018 stories to make the list. I still feel the three stories I wrote in 2018 are three of the best I've ever written, so I'm glad to see one of them getting enough kudos to be in my top 10 list. I am not a fan of supernatural things or MPregs. I never would have suspected I would write either of those things and in 2018, I wrote each. And could not be more pleased with the results. So this one has shapeshifters and vampires, oh my! It is also a crossover with Criminal Minds. I loved making Tony and Morgan buddies. In this, Tony is kidnapped and both his NCIS team, plus the FBI's BAU team search for Tony. In the 2019 Happy Holidays Challenge, one of my Christmas wishes was for artwork for this story and I'm so thrilled that Starwatcher307 did an amazing job, and created artwork that was very close to what I imagined, without us ever discussing it!
8) Paw Prints with 435 kudos, 12/23/16 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (6183 words)
This one dropped two ranks from #6 last year.
The original idea was just Tony seeing kitten paw prints in the snow. I was planning to use it for the Happy Holidays Challenge, but I really needed to write my SeSa story. So this got put on hold. I went from intending to use it as a theme story, then as a stocking stuffer. Then we had one Santa drop out of this year's SeSa, and it happened to be the same recipient (with a similar request) as the stocking stuffer I was going to use the story for. So, it became a last-minute SeSa story. It was intended to be the year following The Cabin Christmas Story , so the stories are (very) loosely connected. I mention the Millers as the neighbors of Gibbs' cabin in both stories. They're only mentioned in last year's story, but make an appearance in this one. Tony does find some kittens, then Gibbs helps to find them a home with the Millers. Tony takes a special liking to the runt of the litter Binx (named after a character played by Sean Murray in Hocus Pocus). Of course, I always had a soft spot for this one. Come on. KITTENS!
9) Pencis: When Tony Met Jethro with 431 kudos, 08/09/14 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (12,529 words)
This one dropped from the # 5 slot it held for a few years, now down to # 9.
This one is my second entry for the 2014 NCIS Big Bang. Like Call Me Tony in 2013, this was just a bunny that was bugging me. It came to me quickly and was written over 3 days. Since it wound up over 10K words, it became a Big Bang story. This is a different take on how Tony and Gibbs meet. Gibbs is a Marine and Tony is a teenager who was kidnapped by terrorists while traveling with his father in the Middle East.
10) It All Started With A Burrito with 402 kudos, 12/20/2015 [DiNozzo/McGee] (11,425 words)
This one dropped three slots from # 7 to # 10. It has also joined the 400+ kudos club!
I'm still shocked and stunned to see this one in the top 10 (as I'm known as being a Gibbs/DiNozzo writer)! It's by far my most popular Tony/Tim story. This was my NCIS SeSa story from 2015 and was my most popular SeSa story for a few years. It's now my 3rd most popular SeSa story. It was another one that I really struggled with as my muse wanted to write The Cabin Christmas Story . I'm floored to see it's here. It's the only non-Gibbs/DiNozzo story to make it to the top 10. It's my only non-Gibbs/DiNozzo SeSa story and has the most kudos of any of them! I was really struggling, so to jump-start the story, I borrowed from one of my own requests, the beginning of the episode Stakeout where Tony throws a burrito at Tim, then they go at it (wrestling - although the camera cuts, so imagine what you like!). In this story, Tim and Tony begin to realize that their relationship is moving from friendship to romantic. It was a struggle, and my beta had me cut/re-write a couple scenes. But I was pretty happy with it in the end.
11) Lost At Sea with 383 kudos, 01/19/2020 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (13,110 words)
This story has held onto the #11 slot.
Wow! This is my first story in a few years to make the top 15 the year it was posted. If I had known it would be so popular, I might have used it for the 2020 Big Bang Challenge!
So this story, this was a bunny from early 2014. I've been on a kick the last couple of years to try to finish up some of my WIPs. I have gone from 7 WIPs to 1. Yes, only ONE left. Perhaps I'll wrap that up one year. For this one, I was thinking more Tom Hanks Castaway. However, before I got to writing this, NCIS put out "Twenty Klicks" with McGee and Gibbs being in a helicopter crash and having to survive. It's not the same, but I had my bunny months before that aired. I'll give credit where credit is due, but that episode did not inspire this story at all. It did cause me to put the story on the back burner because of the similarities.
Then last year, I decided to dust that little bunny off and work on it. I didn't think much of it, but it turned out to be pretty popular.
12) The Gypsy Prince with 371 kudos, 12/30/2017 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (7,898 words)
This story remains at # 12.
This was written in 2017 as a stocking stuffer for Cutsycat. It's a story I had a lot of fun writing and was quite happy with the result. I'm glad to see it in the top 15. It actually got over a hundred hits in the first few days, but it wasn't enough to make the top 15 list the year it was posted. Abby takes Gibbs to a psychic for a reading - and the following months turn out quite interesting as the psychic's prediction comes true. And it features a really cool cat or two!
13) Holding On 368 kudos, 08/14/2019 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (43,276 words)
This story remains at # 13.
In 2019, this one debuted # 32. In 2020 it got into the top 20 at # 19. Last year, it made the top 15.
It seems like I often get ideas for Big Bang stories in the fall. I probably heard the song on the radio and couldn't get it out of my head. And I thought I could build a BB story around it. In October, I got the visual of sad Tony standing on a beach. That image stayed with me, and I eventually wrote it. This is a mostly Tony-centric story with a cool twist. It features LaSalle and Pride from NCIS: New Orleans. Basically, Tony and Gibbs had a relationship, and Tony was heartbroken when Gibbs was in the explosion and no longer remembered they were together. When Tony's Mustang explodes, he calls in a favor to be sent undercover and to be officially pronounced dead. Eventually, Gibbs finds out Tony is alive, this one also has an interesting twist at the end. I often don't have a clue how my stories will end until it hits me. And when it hits, I know, *THAT* is how this story is supposed to go. I thought this one might be too depressing for many, but I suppose it also has a message of hope.
14) The Contract with 367 kudos, 08/10/14 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (31,130 words)
This one dropped five slots from #9 to # 14.
Written for 2014 NCIS Big Bang, hosted by ncis_bang. Like Playing Those Mind Games Forever the year before, I really struggled with this one. Tony's dad is forced to sign over custody of Tony to a friend to cover gambling debts. Tony is released, but one day the man comes back intending to reclaim him. It's my second most-read story, after SOLD!. Actually, when I really think about it, this truly was a second Big Bang story for me in 2014. Although it did take months to write. My first go was abandoned and finally finished the following year as a second Big Bang story.
15) When Dreams Come True with 361 kudos, 12/18/16 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (18,224 words)
This one also dropped five slots and is now # 15.
This was my 2016 SeSa story. The first one, my original assignment. I panicked when I saw I drew rose_malmaison. We email at least weekly, if not daily. We chat about writing. She betas a couple stories each year for me. How was I going to HIDE that I'm her Secret Santa? I think I stalled by telling her I was stumped for a plot, LOL. Then this weird thing happened. My beta for this story emailed me that she wasn't going to get the beta done. I saw her email the morning of the 24th. Stories GO LIVE at 5:00am on the 25th. PANIC! Then another Santa dropped out, never posted her story (she'd said she was struggling and might have to drop out). However, I had a Happy Holidays story I was writing for that same recipient. All I had to do was finish it. So...I finished writing Paw Prints for cutsycat and asked Rose to beta for me, telling her that my beta had dropped out that morning. True story...for my other story. This one I had written for Rose. So then I remembered jane_x80 had once offered to beta if I needed. So I emailed her, and she did a super fast last-minute beta on this story. Rose betad the other one. Somehow I got them both edited and posted in time.
So, this is Stripper!Tony who messes with his dad by hiring male strippers for Senior's party. Then Tony and Tim go undercover as male strippers. Tony disappears and the team have to track him down. I liked the idea, but I think it sounded better in my head than it wound up written out. But it seems that some people like it!
16) Operation Black Cat with 334 kudos, 11/17/2019 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (20,954 words)
This one was # 80 the year it was written, but it's always tough for stories posted in December to get very far. It made it to the top 20 in 2021, and has jumped up two slots from last year, from # 18 to # 16, but has now joined the "300" kudos club.
This was my SeSa for 2019. I drew Cutsycat, and we both like cats. It's a fair bet she'll like something with a kitty cat in it. And she likes Trent Kort. This story has both! I worked in Tony surveilling Kort at the airport and a cat hops into his car. I had so much fun creating this kitty cat! He does his share of messing with Tony, and of course, while Tony is frustrated with him at first, he worries about him when the cat disappears.
17) The Cabin Christmas Story with 332 kudos, 11/15/2015 (posted 12/22/2015) [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (4712 words)
This one has dropped from slot # 11 in 2019 to tied for 14 in 2020. In 2021 it dropped another slot to # 15. It's now dropped two more slots to # 17, but it's still in the top 20! It has also joined the "300" kudos club.
This one amazingly jumped into my top 10 list within one week of being posted! I was totally stunned by that! It continues to slip. It's held the # 9 slot for two years, but seems to slip each year since then. It is my 2015 story with the most kudos (but not the most hits). I was really struggling with my ncis_sesa that year. This is the story my muse wanted to write. I finally gave in and wrote this, but held onto it in case we had a drop out Santa and no Back-up Santa to claim it. Since this was Gibbs/DiNozzo and had a bit of holiday cheer in it, I figured it would work for a few of the requests. As it turned out, no one dropped out this year. YAY! Why didn't I use this for my SeSa? Because my recipient wanted a different pairing (DiNozzo/McGee) and had other requests (don't feel bad for my recipient, her Tony/Tim request has held the # 6 slot for a couple of years, It All Started With A Burrito). However, IF I had pulled a recipient who had requested a Gibbs/DiNozzo holiday-themed story, they would have gotten this. I had a brief thought that IF my Santa had dropped out, I might have to use this as a story for me, LOL! No one would ever guess that I had written it, if I was the recipient! Tony agrees to spend Christmas with Gibbs at the cabin. When Tony fails to return from a walk on a snowy day, Gibbs goes out to search for him. Rose_malmaison also created beautiful artwork for this story! The art was added 01/23/2016. This is also loosely tied to one of my 2016 SeSa stories, Paw Prints.
18) On Your Six, Boss with 331 kudos, 02/14/2010 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (4,906 words)
This has one more slot from # 17 to # 18, but has now joined the "300" kudos club.
This was my first standalone NCIS story, written in early 2010. It has risen to the ranks to finally make the top 15 in 2019. It is an alternate take of Gibbs and Tony's first meeting. Gibbs goes to Baltimore looking for a new partner, and offers the job to Tony.
19) The Right Choice with 328 kudos, 10/31/20 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (6391 words)
This one jumped from slot #29 last year to # 19 this year. It's joined both the top 20 and also the 300+ kudos club!
The artwork this story was based on was offered for the 2019 Reverse Bang Challenge. I didn't claim it, but it was on my list. It was not claimed as part of the challenge. Early 2019 was very rough for me as both of my parents were declared demented. I spent much of my time caring for them, while also keeping up my own house and a full-time job, often working overtime. I was exhausted and couldn't think about fanfic during that time, but I kept thinking about the artwork. About a year and a half later, I completed the story and asked the artist if I could still use the artwork. She was agreeable! This story is about when Ziva wanted Gibbs to choose between her and Tony. As the title indicates, Gibbs made the right choice.
20) Broken 317 kudos, 09/09/16 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (33,683 words)
This story has dropped from the # 14 slot last year to # 20. Although, it has made joined the "300"+ kudos club.
This was my Big Bang story from 2016. My first one. The one I struggled over for months. While Table For Two was my second Big Bang of that year, which I wrote in 5 days or so. At any rate, I'm super proud of this one as it is my first Crossover with Criminal Minds and NCIS: New Orleans. I think it turned out really well, and am very happy with my portrayals of the characters from all three series. In this one, Tony gets kidnapped from a vacation in New Orleans. Tony getting kidnapped stories seem to be popular ones! In this one, he is beaten and raped. Gibbs immediately heads to New Orleans when he finds out Tony is missing, but Fornell catches up to him at the airport and insists on getting the FBI's BAU team involved. Pride and Fornell try to keep Gibbs out of Hotchner's way. I later wrote a prequel for this, which I finished writing this year. It's called Fragile, and is mostly Tony/Hotchner - when Tony was just out of high school and in need of training.
2022 quick reference:
Notes:
In 2022, I wrote and posted 3 stories, and artwork for 3 stories
# 73 - 07/23/2022 Two Roads on AO3 - written for the 2022 Big Bang Challenge hosted at ncis_bang [122 kudos]
This is my 2022 Big Bang story and my 100th NCIS fanfic written! I was very happy with how it turned out and believe it to be one of my 10 best NCIS fanfic stories. Red_Pink_Dots created amazing artwork for this one. While it is based in the later seasons, it is focused on Tony and his relationships. It will make sense even to someone who stopped watching the series years ago. I do hope more people will give it a chance.
# 99 - 12/19/2022 Holiday Spirits on AO3 - written for the 2022 Happy Holidays Challenge hosted at ncis_discuss [41 kudos]
This one was written for the "Snow" theme for the HHC. It is a crossover with the US version of Ghosts. Because the B&B wasn't opened until the fall of 2022, I had to set this in the current year. I decided to make it a loosely based sequel of Two Roads as the time frame fits. However, you do not have to read Two Roads to read this story. All you really need to know is that Gibbs and DiNozzo are an established couple. Neither works for NCIS anymore. Instead, they've opened their own investigative service and Gibbs decides to take Tony to the Woodstone B&B as a holiday gift.
# 101 - 11/19/2022 Tango & Spears on AO3 written for the 2022 NCIS Secret Santa at ncis_sesa [36 kudos]
I know this was posted late in the year, but it had a disappointing showing for a SeSa story. I challenged myself again by writing my first Gibbs/Fornell (they're intimate, but not serious), and Tony/Kort (although it was in their teens, so long ago and not at all serious), but it winds up with Gibbs and Tony trying to make a serious go of a relationship. I think it got a whopping 2 kudos and 1 comment the first day. I imagine this is destined to be my least popular SeSa story ever.
Art for 3 stories:
I created art for 3 stories this year. All three were put up for claim in the NCIS Reverse Bang.
# 9 - Artwork for A Thousand Words by by Enthused_fish [40 kudos]
# 12-TIE - Artwork for Probie 101 by Phoenixrising01 [33 kudos]
# 12-TIE - Artwork for Apparition by Fulltobursting [33 kudos]
Top 3 Art pieces by kudos:
And because, why not? My top 3 (of 13) pieces of artwork by kudos:
# 1 - From 2021 - Artwork for Melancholy Man by Jacie3 [97 kudos]
# 2 - From 2021 - Artwork for The Sound of Silence by by phoenixrising01 [63 kudos]
# 3 - From 2021 - Artwork for The War Within by Cutsycat [59 kudos]
Now, what do you imagine 2023 will bring?
Top 16 AO3 PopSlash stories based on Kudos:
It's interesting to see the change in the kudos for these older stories. I've only moved about 1/3 of my PopSlash stories over to AO3, so 2/3s of the stories don't even have a chance to make the list at this point. When I first started posted the older stories to AO3, I had several with only 1-2 kudos. It's nice to see a few of them slowly breaking out of the pack. I started by posting my favorites over here, but if any PopSlash fans have a favorite of mine that isn't on AO3, please let me know. I'd be happy to move any of them over. It's just not a priority.
1) The Bassk Club 51 kudos, 12/22/03
[Multiple pairings, includes: Chris/Justin, JC/Lance, Lance/Justin, Joey/Justin, (implied) Chris/Joey, JC/Joey] (26,051 words)
This remains # 1 . I'm still baffled it's my most popular PopSlash story these days. This was the 4th fandom story I ever wrote. I'm actually surprised to see it having the most kudos. It did not make my list of Author's favorites, LOL. Lance runs a kink club and purchases Justin and Lance from a pimp.
2) Chris' Cave 50 kudos, 12/18/03
[Multiple pairings, includes: Chris/Joey, Chris/JC, Chris/Justin, JC/Justin, JC/Joey, Lance/Justin, Joey/Justin] (20,418 words)
In 2014, this was the # 1 story, in 2015 it was tied for 1st. In 2016 it slipped to # 2 and remains there. This was my first ever fanfic written. I always thought it would be my favorite. It may still be my favorite popslash story, but one of my NCIS stories has taken over my favorite fanfic slot. It's an AU (as most of my popslash is). Maybe it's futuristic. Sort of a caveman thing only much more thoughtful and articulate. Primitive society where young men are thrown out of their clans once they show signs of becoming mature (or at least sexually mature). Five young men find each other and begin a bachelor clan of their own.
3) Lion Around 36 kudos, 10/19/08 [Chris/JC] (4342 words)
This remains in # 3. This story is also near and dear to my heart. It's one of the few stories I have that ever won an award and it won two for the 2008 Pop!Tober Challenge, Best Love Story and Reader's Choice . One of my favorite things about it is that it comes full circle. I'm not one that plans my stories out much, nor do I do much editing. I start writing and whatever comes out is what you get. I'm surprised how often the perfect ending just comes to me. I absolutely love how this one turned out. JC is heartbroken when Chris leaves him, but finds his heart through a plushie lion Chris gave him.
4) Mighty Wind 35 kudos, 03/16/04
[Multiple pairings, includes: Chris/Joey, Chris/JC, Chris/Justin, JC/Lance, JC/Justin, JC/Joey, Lance/Justin, Joey/Justin] (33,771 words)
This returns to the # 4 slot. This is the sequel to Chris' Cave . I love it almost as much as it's predecessor. In this one, I like the growth & development of Lance. He changes from a shy kid into a leader & a hunter, able to stand up for himself & care for others. And of course, I love the horses! And Justin finally gets to see his mom again. And I love Chris' dedication, really how dedicated they all are, to JC.
5) A Centaur’s Journey 29 kudos, 12/22/08 [Chris/Joey, Joey/Kelly] (15,458 words)
This moves up to # 5, up from # 6 last year. This is one of my favorite of my PopSlash stories. This was a backup assignment for the 2008 PopSlash Secret Santa. I've always mentioned that I wrote this 15K story in 3 days. While I suppose that is correct, I didn't get the assignment until Friday night, and finished writing Sunday afternoon. So it was, in fact, written within 48 hours. I worked a bit Friday night, and a lot on Saturday and Sunday. I had 3 betas go over it (it was last minute and I was afraid someone might not come through). They all sent the files back the following day, and I remember staying up all night long editing. It was my fault that SeSa was a little late going live that year. I hope it was worth it. Someone actually guessed that Ninjetti had written this. I much admire him as a writer, so that always thrilled me that someone thought he had written this. Still does! This is a magical story (to me anyway). A mixture of fantasy and Greek mythology/history with Chris as a zephyr intrigued with the earthbound beings, especially a centaur soldier (Joey) who is traveling home on leave after being injured in battle. Traveling with Joey is another injured soldier, Lance, a human archer. Chris engages his friends JC (a dream nymph) and Justin (a sunbeam) to assist him in courting Joey.
6) Crazy For You 26 kudos, 01/11/2004 [Chris/JC] (5304 words)
This moved up from slot # 7 last year. This one is made its debut on the list in 2019. I have always loved this one. It's so much fun! It's fun and full of craziness that is Chris and cute adorableness that is JC.
7) The Proof Isn’t Always In The Pudding 25 kudos, 12/11/07 [JC/Lance, Brian/Nick] (25,371 words)
This dropped from the # 4 slot. Written for 2007 MTYG PopSlash SeSa. It is my first PopSlash SeSa story to make this list. The most notable thing to me is that, I don't know anything, really, about BSB beyond their names. I actually did a lot of research to try to get them right in this. I think it turned out pretty well. I was quite proud of it when I wrote it. College AU meets murder mystery.
8) Stranded: Where Time Stands Still 24 kudos, 09/23/08 [Lance/Justin, Chris/Joey, JC/Chris/Joey] (23,103 words)
This was in a 6-way tie last year for 8th, and is now alone in the # 8 slot. I've always liked this one. It was originally intended for a PopSlash Big Bang. But here's what happened. Back then I was incredibly impatient to post stories. If they were done, I wanted to post them that day or the following day. I'd written this in about 3 weeks and was ready to go. And I had to sit on it. About a month after it was done, the mod posted a posting schedule. This was the first big bang I had ever signed up for and it originally said that stories were to be posted Nov 1st. But this new post had it alphabetically not by pen name (Jacie), but by journal name (syncalot), so that put me not posting until December. I knew people would be writing their SeSas then and it wouldn't get read. I tried to talk the mod into giving me an earlier slot and she refused. I mean, I was DONE and many others were still struggling to write, but she wouldn't even discuss giving me an earlier slot even when I pointed out what she posted for the challenge was a go-live date of Nov 1st. She never explained that all stories wouldn't be posted on that date. This was her first challenge as mod (as far as I could tell) so there wasn't a previous year to go to and see that everyone posted on different dates. She basically said if I didn't like it, I could drop out. So I dropped out before entering the story for the art claim. A lot of people dropped out, and those who didn't said they got little or no reads or feedback. I still do not regret dropping out. Anyway, I really liked this story, and wound up posting it for Halloween. I consider it a *ghost* story. But it's one you almost have to read twice to really catch it. JC, Lance and Justin find themselves stranded on an uninhabited island and later find that two others, Chris and Joey, had been shipwrecked across the island years before. I had some good feedback from a couple people and still really like this story.
9) Sunshine, Dreams And Unseen Things 22 kudos, 03/23/04 [Chris/JC]
This was in a 6-way tie last year for 8th, and is now alone in the # 9 slot. This is the sequel to Roadways . I had originally thought of doing a third installment, but never did. I guess too many other bunnies got in the way!
10) Roadways 20 kudos, 02/19/04 [Chris/JC]
Last year was in a 3-way tie for 14-16. Now it is alone at # 10. Another one of my favorites. Probably one of my better-written popslash stories. Chris picks up two hitchhikers, JC and Lance, while on his way to California.
11) 2424 18 kudos, 08/04/08 [Lance/JC, Chris/Joey] (6583 words)
I have really come to love this story. I lost the original version, which was much more detailed, in a computer crash. But I was writing this for a Basez Day challenge and had to get it done. I am quite please with how it turned out. It's different, alternating between Lance and JC. In this one, I really like the futuristic world. JC and Lance aren't allowed to be a couple due to their society's rules, but their love is too strong. They won't give up on their relationship. I love Lance's determination in this story. I like that he won't give JC up for anything.
12-TIE) Superstar 17 kudos, 02/03/04 [Lance/Justin, Lance/JC] (6875 words)
This was in a 6-way tie last year for 8th, and is now in a 2-way tie for the # 12 slot. This is the beginning of one of my favorite series. As usual, my muse was doing everything in its power to get Chris and JC together, LOL. Lance is thrilled when he finds out his boyfriend knows his idol, JC Chasez.
12-TIE) Falling Star 17 kudos, 04/03/04 [Chris/JC] (6955 words)
This was in a 6-way tie last year for 8th, and is now in a 2-way tie for the # 12 slot. New to the list in 2019. This is the second story in the Star Series. It is the sequel to Superstar, wherein JC goes on vacation, Chris plots, Joey cooks, Lance obsesses and Justin tries to forgive.
14) Thanksgiving: TrickC Style 16 kudos, 11/24/05 [Chris/JC]
This was tied for 14 last year. The third (and final) story in the Thankful Series. Another favorite of mine. Very sweet Chris.
15-TIE) Shining Star 15 kudos, 04/04/04 [Chris/JC] (4510 words)
Last year was in a 2-way tie for # 14. Now it is in a 2-way tie for # 15. This is the third story in the Star Series, following Superstar & Falling Star.
JC takes Chris out to Lunch.
15-TIE) Hidden In Plain View 10 kudos, 03/05/05 [JC/Justin, Lance/Joey] (4514 words)
This one dropped off the list last year, but is back and tied for # 15 I like the whole atmosphere in this one, the tenderness, the vulnerability. And Lance & Joey *sneaking* around together *G*.
Year In Fic 2022 on LJ
Year In Fic 2022 on DW
This appears to be the year of shakeups on my list! There were a few years where the top 10 stories remained the same, but two stories swapped places. Last year, stories 1-5 remained ranked the same. While the 6-10 rankings were the same five stories, they swapped positions. For 2022, only the top two stories remained ranked the same. Two stories dropped off the top 10 list and two more took their place. All stories in the 3-10 positions in 2021 have changed in 2022.
Top 20 AO3 NCIS stories based on Kudos:
I now have 102 stories posted, so these are roughly the top 20%.
1) SOLD! with 1035 kudos, 11/05/2017 -
(started in 2010 - completed 2017) [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (263,069 words)
This continues to hold the # 1 slot.
My first and only story to get over 1000 kudos!
It's hard to believe I started writing this one back in 2010 and finally completed it in Nov 2017. This has far more hits, kudos, comments and everything else than anything else I have posted over at AO3. While I was first writing it, I thought it was far too Tony-centric for most people to enjoy, but it does seem rather popular. It's a Gibbs/DiNozzo where there isn't much more than brief mentions of Gibbs for the first 20 chapters. Tony is tortured, then has a very up and down relationship with Gibbs, who isn't sure he wants to be involved with a slave. I can't imagine I would ever write anything that would surpass this story. I'm okay with that.
2) Ziva David Is Not My Lover with 683 kudos, 05/23/2016 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (5871 words)
This story continues to hold the # 2 slot.
I wrote two Tony leaving NCIS stories in May 2016. Personally, I prefer the other one You Don't Waste Good, but I often like some of my underdog stories, LOL. This is an alternate take on Tali being Tony and Ziva's child. I know a lot of people hated the cannon exit story, which is probably why this one is so popular. In this, it's found that Ziva had stolen Tony's sperm donation and had herself impregnated.
3) Vanished with 573 kudos, 06/16/2021 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (18,433 words)
This is my only story made it into the top 20 the year it was written (2021), ranked at 19. This year, it's jumped up to the # 3 slot! Last year it was part of the "200" kudos club and now is made it into the "500"+ kudos club!
While I did start writing Melancholy Man first, however, as I already had artwork done for it, I wanted to make sure I had a summary to submit for the NCIS Big Bang art claims. So I stopped writing MM and started on this one. I've noticed how stories based on the Dead Air episode seem popular, so I thought I'd put my only little twist on it. And hey, it's in the top 20 the year it was written!
When Ziva and McGee turn off the monitors, Tony is abducted. The FBI's BAU team (Criminal Minds) is brought in to investigate. Fornell tries to run interference between Gibbs and Hotch. Gibbs doesn't care who the case is assigned to, he wants Tony found ASAP and has no intention of sitting around doing nothing.
This was the 3rd of 3 summaries claimed, but Red_Pink_Dots did a great job, inspired by the Bull artwork.
4) Table For Two with 487 kudos, 07/31/2016 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (18656 words)
This dropped from the # 3 slot to the # 4 slot.
Like Call Me Tony and Pencis: When Tony Met Jethro before it, this was a second Big Bang story. I wrote this in 5 days. Somehow my second Big Bang stories, the ones I spend 3-5 days writing, go over better than the ones I agonize over for months. LOL. Gibbs Team (Stan, Vivian and TAD Tim) are investigating a series of murders. The only link they find is that the victims were all customers of male escort, Tony DiNozzo. Gibbs goes undercover as a client of Tony's to draw out the killer. I was happy with this and Rose_malmaison did some lovely artwork to go along with it.
5) Melancholy Man with 467 kudos, 08/11/2021 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (28,219 words)
This story was tied for # 32 last year (the year it was written). It has jumped to the # 5 slot. Last year it was part of the "200" kudos club and now is made it into the "400"+ kudos club!
This is my second Big Bang story of the year, inspired by a piece of artwork I originally created for the RB. However, Muse made grabby hands and wanted to keep this one. This is my favorite of my 2021 stories. In this story, Gibbs appears to turn on Tony, so Tony leaves. And Gibbs goes after him, determined to bring Tony back to DC. Like Vanished, which was also written last year, this story has made it into the top 10 in its second year.
6) Call Me Tony with 460 kudos, 09/10/13 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (11,784 words)
This story has dropped from the # 4 slot.
This one is my second entry for the 2013 NCIS Big Bang. It was one of 2 bunnies that kept bugging me all summer while I was trying to write my Big Bang story. A couple weeks after finishing my first story, I began writing this one. It was written in 3 days. It was never intended to be a Big Bang story. I originally thought it would wind up being 3000-5000 words, but it kept growing and once it topped the 10,000 minimum WC for the Big Bang, I figured why not? This one has Tony working undercover when Gibbs takes a fancy to him. First time/first meeting fic.
7) Healed By Moonlight with 436 kudos, 12/09/2018 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (35,176 words)
This story has jumped from the # 8 slot last year, to # 7 this year. It has been on a steady rise. It is now officially my most popular SeSa story.
This is the first of my 2018 stories to make the list. I still feel the three stories I wrote in 2018 are three of the best I've ever written, so I'm glad to see one of them getting enough kudos to be in my top 10 list. I am not a fan of supernatural things or MPregs. I never would have suspected I would write either of those things and in 2018, I wrote each. And could not be more pleased with the results. So this one has shapeshifters and vampires, oh my! It is also a crossover with Criminal Minds. I loved making Tony and Morgan buddies. In this, Tony is kidnapped and both his NCIS team, plus the FBI's BAU team search for Tony. In the 2019 Happy Holidays Challenge, one of my Christmas wishes was for artwork for this story and I'm so thrilled that Starwatcher307 did an amazing job, and created artwork that was very close to what I imagined, without us ever discussing it!
8) Paw Prints with 435 kudos, 12/23/16 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (6183 words)
This one dropped two ranks from #6 last year.
The original idea was just Tony seeing kitten paw prints in the snow. I was planning to use it for the Happy Holidays Challenge, but I really needed to write my SeSa story. So this got put on hold. I went from intending to use it as a theme story, then as a stocking stuffer. Then we had one Santa drop out of this year's SeSa, and it happened to be the same recipient (with a similar request) as the stocking stuffer I was going to use the story for. So, it became a last-minute SeSa story. It was intended to be the year following The Cabin Christmas Story , so the stories are (very) loosely connected. I mention the Millers as the neighbors of Gibbs' cabin in both stories. They're only mentioned in last year's story, but make an appearance in this one. Tony does find some kittens, then Gibbs helps to find them a home with the Millers. Tony takes a special liking to the runt of the litter Binx (named after a character played by Sean Murray in Hocus Pocus). Of course, I always had a soft spot for this one. Come on. KITTENS!
9) Pencis: When Tony Met Jethro with 431 kudos, 08/09/14 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (12,529 words)
This one dropped from the # 5 slot it held for a few years, now down to # 9.
This one is my second entry for the 2014 NCIS Big Bang. Like Call Me Tony in 2013, this was just a bunny that was bugging me. It came to me quickly and was written over 3 days. Since it wound up over 10K words, it became a Big Bang story. This is a different take on how Tony and Gibbs meet. Gibbs is a Marine and Tony is a teenager who was kidnapped by terrorists while traveling with his father in the Middle East.
10) It All Started With A Burrito with 402 kudos, 12/20/2015 [DiNozzo/McGee] (11,425 words)
This one dropped three slots from # 7 to # 10. It has also joined the 400+ kudos club!
I'm still shocked and stunned to see this one in the top 10 (as I'm known as being a Gibbs/DiNozzo writer)! It's by far my most popular Tony/Tim story. This was my NCIS SeSa story from 2015 and was my most popular SeSa story for a few years. It's now my 3rd most popular SeSa story. It was another one that I really struggled with as my muse wanted to write The Cabin Christmas Story . I'm floored to see it's here. It's the only non-Gibbs/DiNozzo story to make it to the top 10. It's my only non-Gibbs/DiNozzo SeSa story and has the most kudos of any of them! I was really struggling, so to jump-start the story, I borrowed from one of my own requests, the beginning of the episode Stakeout where Tony throws a burrito at Tim, then they go at it (wrestling - although the camera cuts, so imagine what you like!). In this story, Tim and Tony begin to realize that their relationship is moving from friendship to romantic. It was a struggle, and my beta had me cut/re-write a couple scenes. But I was pretty happy with it in the end.
11) Lost At Sea with 383 kudos, 01/19/2020 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (13,110 words)
This story has held onto the #11 slot.
Wow! This is my first story in a few years to make the top 15 the year it was posted. If I had known it would be so popular, I might have used it for the 2020 Big Bang Challenge!
So this story, this was a bunny from early 2014. I've been on a kick the last couple of years to try to finish up some of my WIPs. I have gone from 7 WIPs to 1. Yes, only ONE left. Perhaps I'll wrap that up one year. For this one, I was thinking more Tom Hanks Castaway. However, before I got to writing this, NCIS put out "Twenty Klicks" with McGee and Gibbs being in a helicopter crash and having to survive. It's not the same, but I had my bunny months before that aired. I'll give credit where credit is due, but that episode did not inspire this story at all. It did cause me to put the story on the back burner because of the similarities.
Then last year, I decided to dust that little bunny off and work on it. I didn't think much of it, but it turned out to be pretty popular.
12) The Gypsy Prince with 371 kudos, 12/30/2017 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (7,898 words)
This story remains at # 12.
This was written in 2017 as a stocking stuffer for Cutsycat. It's a story I had a lot of fun writing and was quite happy with the result. I'm glad to see it in the top 15. It actually got over a hundred hits in the first few days, but it wasn't enough to make the top 15 list the year it was posted. Abby takes Gibbs to a psychic for a reading - and the following months turn out quite interesting as the psychic's prediction comes true. And it features a really cool cat or two!
13) Holding On 368 kudos, 08/14/2019 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (43,276 words)
This story remains at # 13.
In 2019, this one debuted # 32. In 2020 it got into the top 20 at # 19. Last year, it made the top 15.
It seems like I often get ideas for Big Bang stories in the fall. I probably heard the song on the radio and couldn't get it out of my head. And I thought I could build a BB story around it. In October, I got the visual of sad Tony standing on a beach. That image stayed with me, and I eventually wrote it. This is a mostly Tony-centric story with a cool twist. It features LaSalle and Pride from NCIS: New Orleans. Basically, Tony and Gibbs had a relationship, and Tony was heartbroken when Gibbs was in the explosion and no longer remembered they were together. When Tony's Mustang explodes, he calls in a favor to be sent undercover and to be officially pronounced dead. Eventually, Gibbs finds out Tony is alive, this one also has an interesting twist at the end. I often don't have a clue how my stories will end until it hits me. And when it hits, I know, *THAT* is how this story is supposed to go. I thought this one might be too depressing for many, but I suppose it also has a message of hope.
14) The Contract with 367 kudos, 08/10/14 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (31,130 words)
This one dropped five slots from #9 to # 14.
Written for 2014 NCIS Big Bang, hosted by ncis_bang. Like Playing Those Mind Games Forever the year before, I really struggled with this one. Tony's dad is forced to sign over custody of Tony to a friend to cover gambling debts. Tony is released, but one day the man comes back intending to reclaim him. It's my second most-read story, after SOLD!. Actually, when I really think about it, this truly was a second Big Bang story for me in 2014. Although it did take months to write. My first go was abandoned and finally finished the following year as a second Big Bang story.
15) When Dreams Come True with 361 kudos, 12/18/16 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (18,224 words)
This one also dropped five slots and is now # 15.
This was my 2016 SeSa story. The first one, my original assignment. I panicked when I saw I drew rose_malmaison. We email at least weekly, if not daily. We chat about writing. She betas a couple stories each year for me. How was I going to HIDE that I'm her Secret Santa? I think I stalled by telling her I was stumped for a plot, LOL. Then this weird thing happened. My beta for this story emailed me that she wasn't going to get the beta done. I saw her email the morning of the 24th. Stories GO LIVE at 5:00am on the 25th. PANIC! Then another Santa dropped out, never posted her story (she'd said she was struggling and might have to drop out). However, I had a Happy Holidays story I was writing for that same recipient. All I had to do was finish it. So...I finished writing Paw Prints for cutsycat and asked Rose to beta for me, telling her that my beta had dropped out that morning. True story...for my other story. This one I had written for Rose. So then I remembered jane_x80 had once offered to beta if I needed. So I emailed her, and she did a super fast last-minute beta on this story. Rose betad the other one. Somehow I got them both edited and posted in time.
So, this is Stripper!Tony who messes with his dad by hiring male strippers for Senior's party. Then Tony and Tim go undercover as male strippers. Tony disappears and the team have to track him down. I liked the idea, but I think it sounded better in my head than it wound up written out. But it seems that some people like it!
16) Operation Black Cat with 334 kudos, 11/17/2019 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (20,954 words)
This one was # 80 the year it was written, but it's always tough for stories posted in December to get very far. It made it to the top 20 in 2021, and has jumped up two slots from last year, from # 18 to # 16, but has now joined the "300" kudos club.
This was my SeSa for 2019. I drew Cutsycat, and we both like cats. It's a fair bet she'll like something with a kitty cat in it. And she likes Trent Kort. This story has both! I worked in Tony surveilling Kort at the airport and a cat hops into his car. I had so much fun creating this kitty cat! He does his share of messing with Tony, and of course, while Tony is frustrated with him at first, he worries about him when the cat disappears.
17) The Cabin Christmas Story with 332 kudos, 11/15/2015 (posted 12/22/2015) [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (4712 words)
This one has dropped from slot # 11 in 2019 to tied for 14 in 2020. In 2021 it dropped another slot to # 15. It's now dropped two more slots to # 17, but it's still in the top 20! It has also joined the "300" kudos club.
This one amazingly jumped into my top 10 list within one week of being posted! I was totally stunned by that! It continues to slip. It's held the # 9 slot for two years, but seems to slip each year since then. It is my 2015 story with the most kudos (but not the most hits). I was really struggling with my ncis_sesa that year. This is the story my muse wanted to write. I finally gave in and wrote this, but held onto it in case we had a drop out Santa and no Back-up Santa to claim it. Since this was Gibbs/DiNozzo and had a bit of holiday cheer in it, I figured it would work for a few of the requests. As it turned out, no one dropped out this year. YAY! Why didn't I use this for my SeSa? Because my recipient wanted a different pairing (DiNozzo/McGee) and had other requests (don't feel bad for my recipient, her Tony/Tim request has held the # 6 slot for a couple of years, It All Started With A Burrito). However, IF I had pulled a recipient who had requested a Gibbs/DiNozzo holiday-themed story, they would have gotten this. I had a brief thought that IF my Santa had dropped out, I might have to use this as a story for me, LOL! No one would ever guess that I had written it, if I was the recipient! Tony agrees to spend Christmas with Gibbs at the cabin. When Tony fails to return from a walk on a snowy day, Gibbs goes out to search for him. Rose_malmaison also created beautiful artwork for this story! The art was added 01/23/2016. This is also loosely tied to one of my 2016 SeSa stories, Paw Prints.
18) On Your Six, Boss with 331 kudos, 02/14/2010 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (4,906 words)
This has one more slot from # 17 to # 18, but has now joined the "300" kudos club.
This was my first standalone NCIS story, written in early 2010. It has risen to the ranks to finally make the top 15 in 2019. It is an alternate take of Gibbs and Tony's first meeting. Gibbs goes to Baltimore looking for a new partner, and offers the job to Tony.
19) The Right Choice with 328 kudos, 10/31/20 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (6391 words)
This one jumped from slot #29 last year to # 19 this year. It's joined both the top 20 and also the 300+ kudos club!
The artwork this story was based on was offered for the 2019 Reverse Bang Challenge. I didn't claim it, but it was on my list. It was not claimed as part of the challenge. Early 2019 was very rough for me as both of my parents were declared demented. I spent much of my time caring for them, while also keeping up my own house and a full-time job, often working overtime. I was exhausted and couldn't think about fanfic during that time, but I kept thinking about the artwork. About a year and a half later, I completed the story and asked the artist if I could still use the artwork. She was agreeable! This story is about when Ziva wanted Gibbs to choose between her and Tony. As the title indicates, Gibbs made the right choice.
20) Broken 317 kudos, 09/09/16 [Gibbs/DiNozzo] (33,683 words)
This story has dropped from the # 14 slot last year to # 20. Although, it has made joined the "300"+ kudos club.
This was my Big Bang story from 2016. My first one. The one I struggled over for months. While Table For Two was my second Big Bang of that year, which I wrote in 5 days or so. At any rate, I'm super proud of this one as it is my first Crossover with Criminal Minds and NCIS: New Orleans. I think it turned out really well, and am very happy with my portrayals of the characters from all three series. In this one, Tony gets kidnapped from a vacation in New Orleans. Tony getting kidnapped stories seem to be popular ones! In this one, he is beaten and raped. Gibbs immediately heads to New Orleans when he finds out Tony is missing, but Fornell catches up to him at the airport and insists on getting the FBI's BAU team involved. Pride and Fornell try to keep Gibbs out of Hotchner's way. I later wrote a prequel for this, which I finished writing this year. It's called Fragile, and is mostly Tony/Hotchner - when Tony was just out of high school and in need of training.
2022 quick reference:
Notes:
In 2022, I wrote and posted 3 stories, and artwork for 3 stories
# 73 - 07/23/2022 Two Roads on AO3 - written for the 2022 Big Bang Challenge hosted at ncis_bang [122 kudos]
This is my 2022 Big Bang story and my 100th NCIS fanfic written! I was very happy with how it turned out and believe it to be one of my 10 best NCIS fanfic stories. Red_Pink_Dots created amazing artwork for this one. While it is based in the later seasons, it is focused on Tony and his relationships. It will make sense even to someone who stopped watching the series years ago. I do hope more people will give it a chance.
# 99 - 12/19/2022 Holiday Spirits on AO3 - written for the 2022 Happy Holidays Challenge hosted at ncis_discuss [41 kudos]
This one was written for the "Snow" theme for the HHC. It is a crossover with the US version of Ghosts. Because the B&B wasn't opened until the fall of 2022, I had to set this in the current year. I decided to make it a loosely based sequel of Two Roads as the time frame fits. However, you do not have to read Two Roads to read this story. All you really need to know is that Gibbs and DiNozzo are an established couple. Neither works for NCIS anymore. Instead, they've opened their own investigative service and Gibbs decides to take Tony to the Woodstone B&B as a holiday gift.
# 101 - 11/19/2022 Tango & Spears on AO3 written for the 2022 NCIS Secret Santa at ncis_sesa [36 kudos]
I know this was posted late in the year, but it had a disappointing showing for a SeSa story. I challenged myself again by writing my first Gibbs/Fornell (they're intimate, but not serious), and Tony/Kort (although it was in their teens, so long ago and not at all serious), but it winds up with Gibbs and Tony trying to make a serious go of a relationship. I think it got a whopping 2 kudos and 1 comment the first day. I imagine this is destined to be my least popular SeSa story ever.
Art for 3 stories:
I created art for 3 stories this year. All three were put up for claim in the NCIS Reverse Bang.
# 9 - Artwork for A Thousand Words by by Enthused_fish [40 kudos]
# 12-TIE - Artwork for Probie 101 by Phoenixrising01 [33 kudos]
# 12-TIE - Artwork for Apparition by Fulltobursting [33 kudos]
Top 3 Art pieces by kudos:
And because, why not? My top 3 (of 13) pieces of artwork by kudos:
# 1 - From 2021 - Artwork for Melancholy Man by Jacie3 [97 kudos]
# 2 - From 2021 - Artwork for The Sound of Silence by by phoenixrising01 [63 kudos]
# 3 - From 2021 - Artwork for The War Within by Cutsycat [59 kudos]
Now, what do you imagine 2023 will bring?
Top 16 AO3 PopSlash stories based on Kudos:
It's interesting to see the change in the kudos for these older stories. I've only moved about 1/3 of my PopSlash stories over to AO3, so 2/3s of the stories don't even have a chance to make the list at this point. When I first started posted the older stories to AO3, I had several with only 1-2 kudos. It's nice to see a few of them slowly breaking out of the pack. I started by posting my favorites over here, but if any PopSlash fans have a favorite of mine that isn't on AO3, please let me know. I'd be happy to move any of them over. It's just not a priority.
1) The Bassk Club 51 kudos, 12/22/03
[Multiple pairings, includes: Chris/Justin, JC/Lance, Lance/Justin, Joey/Justin, (implied) Chris/Joey, JC/Joey] (26,051 words)
This remains # 1 . I'm still baffled it's my most popular PopSlash story these days. This was the 4th fandom story I ever wrote. I'm actually surprised to see it having the most kudos. It did not make my list of Author's favorites, LOL. Lance runs a kink club and purchases Justin and Lance from a pimp.
2) Chris' Cave 50 kudos, 12/18/03
[Multiple pairings, includes: Chris/Joey, Chris/JC, Chris/Justin, JC/Justin, JC/Joey, Lance/Justin, Joey/Justin] (20,418 words)
In 2014, this was the # 1 story, in 2015 it was tied for 1st. In 2016 it slipped to # 2 and remains there. This was my first ever fanfic written. I always thought it would be my favorite. It may still be my favorite popslash story, but one of my NCIS stories has taken over my favorite fanfic slot. It's an AU (as most of my popslash is). Maybe it's futuristic. Sort of a caveman thing only much more thoughtful and articulate. Primitive society where young men are thrown out of their clans once they show signs of becoming mature (or at least sexually mature). Five young men find each other and begin a bachelor clan of their own.
3) Lion Around 36 kudos, 10/19/08 [Chris/JC] (4342 words)
This remains in # 3. This story is also near and dear to my heart. It's one of the few stories I have that ever won an award and it won two for the 2008 Pop!Tober Challenge, Best Love Story and Reader's Choice . One of my favorite things about it is that it comes full circle. I'm not one that plans my stories out much, nor do I do much editing. I start writing and whatever comes out is what you get. I'm surprised how often the perfect ending just comes to me. I absolutely love how this one turned out. JC is heartbroken when Chris leaves him, but finds his heart through a plushie lion Chris gave him.
4) Mighty Wind 35 kudos, 03/16/04
[Multiple pairings, includes: Chris/Joey, Chris/JC, Chris/Justin, JC/Lance, JC/Justin, JC/Joey, Lance/Justin, Joey/Justin] (33,771 words)
This returns to the # 4 slot. This is the sequel to Chris' Cave . I love it almost as much as it's predecessor. In this one, I like the growth & development of Lance. He changes from a shy kid into a leader & a hunter, able to stand up for himself & care for others. And of course, I love the horses! And Justin finally gets to see his mom again. And I love Chris' dedication, really how dedicated they all are, to JC.
5) A Centaur’s Journey 29 kudos, 12/22/08 [Chris/Joey, Joey/Kelly] (15,458 words)
This moves up to # 5, up from # 6 last year. This is one of my favorite of my PopSlash stories. This was a backup assignment for the 2008 PopSlash Secret Santa. I've always mentioned that I wrote this 15K story in 3 days. While I suppose that is correct, I didn't get the assignment until Friday night, and finished writing Sunday afternoon. So it was, in fact, written within 48 hours. I worked a bit Friday night, and a lot on Saturday and Sunday. I had 3 betas go over it (it was last minute and I was afraid someone might not come through). They all sent the files back the following day, and I remember staying up all night long editing. It was my fault that SeSa was a little late going live that year. I hope it was worth it. Someone actually guessed that Ninjetti had written this. I much admire him as a writer, so that always thrilled me that someone thought he had written this. Still does! This is a magical story (to me anyway). A mixture of fantasy and Greek mythology/history with Chris as a zephyr intrigued with the earthbound beings, especially a centaur soldier (Joey) who is traveling home on leave after being injured in battle. Traveling with Joey is another injured soldier, Lance, a human archer. Chris engages his friends JC (a dream nymph) and Justin (a sunbeam) to assist him in courting Joey.
6) Crazy For You 26 kudos, 01/11/2004 [Chris/JC] (5304 words)
This moved up from slot # 7 last year. This one is made its debut on the list in 2019. I have always loved this one. It's so much fun! It's fun and full of craziness that is Chris and cute adorableness that is JC.
7) The Proof Isn’t Always In The Pudding 25 kudos, 12/11/07 [JC/Lance, Brian/Nick] (25,371 words)
This dropped from the # 4 slot. Written for 2007 MTYG PopSlash SeSa. It is my first PopSlash SeSa story to make this list. The most notable thing to me is that, I don't know anything, really, about BSB beyond their names. I actually did a lot of research to try to get them right in this. I think it turned out pretty well. I was quite proud of it when I wrote it. College AU meets murder mystery.
8) Stranded: Where Time Stands Still 24 kudos, 09/23/08 [Lance/Justin, Chris/Joey, JC/Chris/Joey] (23,103 words)
This was in a 6-way tie last year for 8th, and is now alone in the # 8 slot. I've always liked this one. It was originally intended for a PopSlash Big Bang. But here's what happened. Back then I was incredibly impatient to post stories. If they were done, I wanted to post them that day or the following day. I'd written this in about 3 weeks and was ready to go. And I had to sit on it. About a month after it was done, the mod posted a posting schedule. This was the first big bang I had ever signed up for and it originally said that stories were to be posted Nov 1st. But this new post had it alphabetically not by pen name (Jacie), but by journal name (syncalot), so that put me not posting until December. I knew people would be writing their SeSas then and it wouldn't get read. I tried to talk the mod into giving me an earlier slot and she refused. I mean, I was DONE and many others were still struggling to write, but she wouldn't even discuss giving me an earlier slot even when I pointed out what she posted for the challenge was a go-live date of Nov 1st. She never explained that all stories wouldn't be posted on that date. This was her first challenge as mod (as far as I could tell) so there wasn't a previous year to go to and see that everyone posted on different dates. She basically said if I didn't like it, I could drop out. So I dropped out before entering the story for the art claim. A lot of people dropped out, and those who didn't said they got little or no reads or feedback. I still do not regret dropping out. Anyway, I really liked this story, and wound up posting it for Halloween. I consider it a *ghost* story. But it's one you almost have to read twice to really catch it. JC, Lance and Justin find themselves stranded on an uninhabited island and later find that two others, Chris and Joey, had been shipwrecked across the island years before. I had some good feedback from a couple people and still really like this story.
9) Sunshine, Dreams And Unseen Things 22 kudos, 03/23/04 [Chris/JC]
This was in a 6-way tie last year for 8th, and is now alone in the # 9 slot. This is the sequel to Roadways . I had originally thought of doing a third installment, but never did. I guess too many other bunnies got in the way!
10) Roadways 20 kudos, 02/19/04 [Chris/JC]
Last year was in a 3-way tie for 14-16. Now it is alone at # 10. Another one of my favorites. Probably one of my better-written popslash stories. Chris picks up two hitchhikers, JC and Lance, while on his way to California.
11) 2424 18 kudos, 08/04/08 [Lance/JC, Chris/Joey] (6583 words)
I have really come to love this story. I lost the original version, which was much more detailed, in a computer crash. But I was writing this for a Basez Day challenge and had to get it done. I am quite please with how it turned out. It's different, alternating between Lance and JC. In this one, I really like the futuristic world. JC and Lance aren't allowed to be a couple due to their society's rules, but their love is too strong. They won't give up on their relationship. I love Lance's determination in this story. I like that he won't give JC up for anything.
12-TIE) Superstar 17 kudos, 02/03/04 [Lance/Justin, Lance/JC] (6875 words)
This was in a 6-way tie last year for 8th, and is now in a 2-way tie for the # 12 slot. This is the beginning of one of my favorite series. As usual, my muse was doing everything in its power to get Chris and JC together, LOL. Lance is thrilled when he finds out his boyfriend knows his idol, JC Chasez.
12-TIE) Falling Star 17 kudos, 04/03/04 [Chris/JC] (6955 words)
This was in a 6-way tie last year for 8th, and is now in a 2-way tie for the # 12 slot. New to the list in 2019. This is the second story in the Star Series. It is the sequel to Superstar, wherein JC goes on vacation, Chris plots, Joey cooks, Lance obsesses and Justin tries to forgive.
14) Thanksgiving: TrickC Style 16 kudos, 11/24/05 [Chris/JC]
This was tied for 14 last year. The third (and final) story in the Thankful Series. Another favorite of mine. Very sweet Chris.
15-TIE) Shining Star 15 kudos, 04/04/04 [Chris/JC] (4510 words)
Last year was in a 2-way tie for # 14. Now it is in a 2-way tie for # 15. This is the third story in the Star Series, following Superstar & Falling Star.
JC takes Chris out to Lunch.
15-TIE) Hidden In Plain View 10 kudos, 03/05/05 [JC/Justin, Lance/Joey] (4514 words)
This one dropped off the list last year, but is back and tied for # 15 I like the whole atmosphere in this one, the tenderness, the vulnerability. And Lance & Joey *sneaking* around together *G*.
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