This is going to be a two (possibly three) shot. I had this idea for my story We are What we Are, but I decided to go a different way. However, I love this idea so I'm going to do it anyway, except I'm not going to use Sam, my character. I am going to use Missy's Diner though because I like the whole idea behind it. Alright I hope you guys enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi or its characters; however, I do own the idea for Missy's Diner, the characters that work there, Timothy Martin, and Christopher Callahan.

Eli walked along the sidewalk of downtown Toronto. He hadn't been back here in years. He had originally gone off to a great university in British Columbia to become a writer. However, after about a year, he met someone who would change his life. He had been walking down the street, a lot like today, when he heard yelling coming from an alley. Curiosity got the best of him as he went in search of the noise. He came across a boy, not much younger than him, being beaten by an older man. Eli quickly ran down the alley and yelled at the man.

"Hey leave him alone!" The older man turned and glared at Eli.

"This doesn't concern you. This is between me and him." He turned back to the boy in his tight grip. The boy looked utterly terrified. His wide eyes stayed locked on the face of the man holding him from running away. Eli saw the man lift his hand off the boy and form a fist. Eli sprang into action. He pushed the man away and punched him. Shocked, the man released the boy, who just stood there. The man started walking towards Eli, hatred evident on his face, when they all heard the sound of police sirens. They all took off running before the police could arrive. Eli decided to follow the boy. He followed him to an abandoned park where the boy laid down on the slide. Eli noticed that the boy had been carrying a backpack that now sat on the ground. He slowly approached him.

"Hey there." The boy lifted his head and looked up at him with a shocked expression.

"You followed me?"

"Well someone had to make sure you were okay."

"I'm fine." The boy tried to act tough. It reminded Eli a lot of himself.

"Really? Because as far as I remember busted lips and black eyes hurt like a son of a bitch." He smirked. The boy laid his head back down and ignored Eli. "I'm Eli." The boy looked back towards him.

"That's nice. Now leave."

"For someone who I just saved, you sure are being a little ungrateful." The boy scoffed.

"I could have handled it. Now go away."

"No."

"No what?"

"No you couldn't have handled it and no I'm not going away. Now what's your name?"

"It's Timothy."

"Nice to meet you. How old are you?"

"Does that really matter?"

"Yes it does."

"I'm sixteen."

"So let me guess, that was your father." Timothy looked up at Eli with another shocked expression.

"How did you-"

"Lucky guess." Eli honestly had no idea how he knew. It was just there in his gut. He had learned to trust those gut feelings. "Where's your mom?"

"She died. A couple years ago I was out with some friends of mine. I was mad at my dad so I stayed out way later than I should have. I refused to answer my phone so my mom got worried and went out to look for me. It had been really cold and there was ice on the road. She hit a patch and the car slid off the side of a bridge. She was trapped in the car in the river." Timothy looked so far away when he spoke. "That's when the beating started. It was my fault. He knew it. I took away the love of his life. How could he let me go unpunished?" Timothy's sarcasm and tough act had now turned to pain.

"When I was about your age, I was dating this girl named Julia. She was my first love. One night we got into a fight. I said horrible things to her, and she left on her bike. She got hit by a car and died. I felt so guilty because I thought it was my fault. It took time and the love of friends to realize that it wasn't my fault. Just like your mother's death wasn't your fault. Even if it was, you still wouldn't deserve to get beaten by your own father." Timothy had started crying.

"But I killed her. If I hadn't of been out so late, she wouldn't have had to come find me. It's my fault."

"Did you make the bridge icy?"

"No but-"

"No buts. It is not your fault. It was natures fault." Eli stayed quiet while Timothy cried. He looked up when he felt something hit his head. Neither had noticed that the clouds had turned dark like it was about to pour down rain. "Look we should get inside. Come with me."

"Where are we going?"

"Well I'm not letting you go back to your father's house so you're going to stay with me in my apartment." Timothy got up and followed Eli home. They had lived together for the past three years. After hearing Timothy's story, Eli knew that he wanted to help those like him. He changed his major and decided that some day he would open up a group home. That's why he was back in Toronto. The caregiver of the group home had recently died. One of Eli's professors was friends with him and told Eli that they would need a new caregiver. He and Timothy moved back. Timothy was now nineteen and ready to attend the University of Toronto in the fall. It was summer now.

As Eli thought about how much Timothy had grown and how proud he was, he stopped walking. He looked up and saw where he was. He smiled as he walked into the old diner.

"Eli Goldsworthy! You haven't changed a bit!" They aging waitress ran up to him and wrapped him in a big hug.

"Suze, how are you?"

"I'm good. I've missed you though. It's been four years."

"I know. I've missed everyone here too."

"Can I get you something to eat?"

"Sure. Then if you get a break, come join me."

"We're pretty busy today so hopefully I'll get one soon. Cheeseburger, no tomato?" Eli nodded. He was a little grateful that she hadn't asked him if he wanted fries. That would've brought back too many memories. As she went back to put in his order, he sat down at the only empty table, which just happened to have been their table. A few minutes later, Suze came back with his food. She gave him another quick hug before diving back into work. He was almost halfway done when he heard Suze yell.

"Clare! This must be my lucky day." Eli froze. Could it really be her? He slowly turned around. Sure enough, Clare Edwards was standing by the door. She looked exactly the same. Her hair was still short and curly, and she still had those curves that he had always loved. She was still so beautiful.

"What do you mean Suze? I come in here once a week." Suze lifted her eyebrows and walked away, towards Eli. Clare looked confused as she followed Suze with her eyes. Then she saw him. Eli Goldsworthy. Staring at her. He looked the same. His hair was slightly shorter, and he was actually wearing blue jeans instead of dark skinny jeans. Her mouth was parted, which made him smirk. She realized what she was doing and composed herself. She walked over to his table.

"Wow I haven't seen you in four years." He motioned for her to sit.

"Yeah well I've been away at college."

"You still could've talked to me."

"Clare, we stopped talking after we broke up before I went to college."

"Okay good point. So how have you been? You still look like the same Eli." She smiled.

"I've been really good. I'm actually back in town to stay." Suze brought Clare a cheeseburger and a separate plate of fries with honey mustard. They both gave her a questioning look.

"Clare I knew what you were going to order and you both know you wanted fries." Suze smiled and walked away. Clare and Eli laughed and began eating.

"So why are you back in Toronto?"

"Well it's a bit of a long story."

"We've got a lot of fries to eat so we've got time." She dipped a fry in the honey mustard and popped it in her mouth. Eli softly smiled.

"Okay well you asked for it." He told her the story about Timothy and the group home.

"Wow. That's amazing Eli. K.C. used to live in that group home. It's really a great place for kids who need it." She grabbed another fry with her left hand. Eli noticed that her purity ring was now replaced by a diamond engagement ring. He felt his heart break, but he didn't let it show.

"So he's the lucky guy?" He asked her and pointed at the ring. Clare blushed and looked down.

"His name in Chris Callahan. We met during my first year at U of T. He just graduated and is working at his father's law firm." Eli nodded.

"So when's the big day?" She slowly lifted her eyes to meet his.

"Saturday." He lifted his eyebrows in shock.

"This Saturday? As in four days away?" She nodded. "Did Adam know?"

"No I lost touch with Adam about a year ago when he moved to New York with Fiona."

"So next week you're going to be Mrs. Clare Callahan." She nodded. They both sat in silence and finished their food. The quiet was interrupted by Eli's phone ringing.

"Hey Timothy. What's up?"

"Nothing man. I'm at the group home and there's some paperwork you need to fill out. The sooner the better."

"Alright I'll be there in a little bit."

"Alright see you when you get here. Later."

"Bye." He hung up and looked at Clare. She clearly had been listening.

"Is something wrong?"

"No Timothy just has some papers for me to sign."

"Oh well you should go then."

"Yeah." They both got up. Eli left some money for the bill, which Clare had fought him about paying. They walked outside.

"Okay well I'll let you get to the group home. It was good seeing you again." She turned to walk away but was stopped by his hand on her elbow. She turned back to face him.

"Would you like to come with me?" She smiled then nodded.