An AU meeting of Rick and Kate. Late season 3/early season 4 timeframe, characters are still the same but they never crossed paths during the Tisdale case. I do not own or profit from these beloved characters.

Captain Kate Beckett still can't figure it out. Two days ago, Richard Castle was just a name on a bookshelf. And then he crashed her case and claimed he knew her. Said they were in a relationship. Not only that, he took two bullets to the chest—saved her life. And he did it because he loves her? How the hell is that possible? A 7x06, "The Time of Our Lives" AU.

This is the ninth story in the Different Road Taken AU. Set weeks after the departure of Elena Markov, our favorite friends and residents try to enjoy just another ordinary day . . . if there could ever be one. This story adheres to the new ratings system, and is rated M - not for sexual content, but for language and story themes. It is not for those under the age of 16.