I used some of my free time yesterday to dip into this year's Yuletide collection. It brings back a lot of memories of doing that on the old website many many years ago, often on an iffy internet connection from my parents' apartment in Seoul because I was visiting them for the holidays. A lot has changed since then. This year's reading often reminded me of how long it's been since I've revisited some texts, and I'm realizing how much I miss both reading and re-reading, because my experience of things I've re-read is so much richer. 

Anyway, a few stories for you from my quick scan:

Honeymoon in Apple-Green, with Paintbrush  by china_shop (The Dempseys Series - Jennifer Crusie)
Sophie and Phin on their honeymoon. Warm and witty, and all the references make me want to go re-read Welcome to Temptation.

After death, life by isabeau (Chronicles of Prydain - Lloyd Alexander)
A sharp Achren character study. Fic is often especially wonderful for revisiting female characters who are given, for one reason or another, only brief attention by the canon. Much as I love Gwydion the comments on the sons of Don felt very, very correct.

Sophie Hatter and the Infinite Bag by ASpellBinds (Howl's Moving Castle - Diana Wynne Jones)
Things go awry when Sophie tries to make Michael a birthday present. And it does so in the way that's totally true to book!Sophie and the interplay between Sophie and Howl (that mix of affection of exasperation) is spot on.

There's a Story in Which My Eyes Shut by SpaceJackalope (Lymond Chronicles - Dorothy Dunnett)
A gorgeous, resonant series of Francis's dreams over the course of the series that hurts and comforts in much the same way as the original novels. I know I'm missing some details in this one because it's been a million years since I read the books; maybe you will catch more of them.

Outsourcing by Daegaer (Saiyuki Gaiden)
I didn't realize how much I had missed this canon until I read this and was struck by my deep affection for all the characters (but in this story, especially Kenren). It made me laugh in very much the same way that the manga does.

What Yuletide stories have you been enjoying?