Favorite Fictional/Historical Couples

[Ebony AKA AngieJ]

All right, all right.

In honor of the Valentine's Day holiday that just passed, I'd like to 
start a thread about pairings.  But NOT Harry Potter ships.  
Surprised?

I'm a matchmaker by nature.  I pair off people in real life and in 
fiction.  If there are no pairings, I'll match 'em up anyway.  If I 
don't like the pairings, I'll fiddle around with them until they suit 
me.

My favorite pairings by far are friendships that become romances.  
Yes, I believe in platonic friendships.  I also believe that they can 
be the best foundation for lasting love.  I'm not much for the "love 
at first sight" thing, although I'm sure it exists.

Here's a list of my favorite couples of all time.  What are yours?

1) Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice)
2) Jacob and Rachel (Bible)
3) Simon de Montfort and Eleanor Plantagenet (daughter of Prince John 
from the Robin Hood legends, historical figures)
4) Almanzo Wilder and Laura Ingalls (Little House books)
5) Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe (Anne of Green Gables)
6) Tish and Fonny (James Weldon Johnson's *If Beale Street Could 
Talk*)
7) Every movie couple ever played by Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan
8) Raymond and Nicole (E. Lynn Harris' *Invisible Life* Chronicles--
yes, Ray was bi, but I really wanted him to pick the girl in this 
case--I always said her personality was *much* better suited for him 
than the man he ended up with, and that was proven in the later 
books!)
9) Czar Nicholas and his wife Alexandra
10)  Desiree Clary and Bernadotte (historical figures, ancestors of 
the current Swedish royal family--I *love* the book by Annemarie 
Selinko!)
11)  Alvin Maker and Margaret Larner (Card's *Alvin Maker* series)
12)  Jo and Laurie (Little Women--yes, I *know* she was happy with 
the Professor, but I was never convinced by the Amy Thing, sorry)

I think I have about twenty... but can't remember any more at the 
moment.

I'm sure it's no huge secret which HP pairs I'd love to add to my 
list.  And will add, no matter what happens.  :-)

--Ebony