I still don't own Degrassi…

Clare:
I was frantically looking around the big mall for Lizzie. I went to all of her favorite stores looking for her but had no such luck. I sighed aloud and decided to go to the last place I had any hope in finding her: the fountain.
I ran there quickly hoping to find her, but let out a groan of frustration when I noticed that the fountain was empty. I sat on the bench and rolled my eyes as I saw the little heart that had "E + C" written in the middle. I felt tears of both stress and nostalgia build up in the corner of my eyes as I sat alone on the bench with thoughts of my famous ex-lover that I haven't heard from in over six years. I just couldn't believe he was a famous author now. I knew he had it in him, that's for sure. He was always such a talented writer. He always edited my essays and assignments for me in high school, and with his help, I would always get the best grades in the class. I was proud of him; I just had a bitter taste in my mouth as I thought about how he has proven to be so successful. He was rich and famous in New York, where I am here in Toronto, a broke waitress. I didn't even get to finish school like I always wanted. I got pregnant my first year in university by a guy who never gave a damn about me and then I dropped out, feeling more than humiliated. I never got an education, so I could never get a good job. My life was probably a complete disaster compared to his.
More often than I would like to admit, I think about what would have happened if I said yes to Eli's proposal. Or at least what may have happened if he hadn't broken up with me that awful night and fled the country the following day. Maybe Lizzie could have been his daughter. Maybe Lizzie could have a supportive dad and a functional family. Maybe I would be happy... I shook my head and cleared my throat.
I had to stop obsessing over Elijah Goldsworthy and find my 5 year old daughter who is probably completely terrified all alone in a huge mall. Just then, I heard the familiar laugh of my baby girl and looked over to the noise. What I saw terrified me completely.
Lizzie was sitting at a table in the frozen yogurt store with a mysterious man. She was eating her yogurt while laughing, completely disregarding stranger danger! The man she was with had his back turned to me and I had no idea who he was so I started freaking out. I ran over there as fast as I could and loudly said, "Eliza!"
She looked up at me and her face broke put into a huge smile as she ran up to me to hug me. I crouched down to her level to hug her back and said, "Eliza, I was worried sick about you!"
"I'm sorry I ran away from you, Momma, but I was fine. This nice man was helping me find you!"
Just then, I looked up at the mysterious man and was met with the bright green eyes I had become accustomed to so many years ago. I slowly pulled out of the hug with Lizzie and eyed him in awe as he walked up to me. "Hello, Clare." He said in his deep, husky voice and smirked at me.
"Eli." I said, still in shock at the sight of Eli Goldsworthy in front of me. I was so sure I would never see him again. Suddenly, looking into his beautiful green eyes, all of my resentment toward him vanished. The memories of all of the countless nights I spent crying myself to sleep just disappeared and I felt like I was transported back into my high school years. I bit my lip and swallowed the lump in my throat as I grabbed Lizzie's hand and said to her, "Lizzie, It's time to go home." I started walking away, dragging Lizzie along with me. I knew I couldn't get involved with Eli again. It had caused me so much pain as a teenager and I didn't want history to repeat itself. As much as I wanted to run up to him, grab him, and kiss him senseless, I knew that just wasn't a possibility right now.
I didn't look back until he ran up to me and tugged on my arm, making me turn around to face him. "Can we talk?" He asked me sweetly. I rolled my eyes and sighed, contemplating his offer.
I looked down at Lizzie smiling up at me waiting for me to reply. "Lizzie," I started. "How would you like to go to grandma's house tonight?" Her smile brightened and she nodded frantically. I looked back over to Eli and I couldn't help but see the hope in his eyes. "You want to talk? Meet me at the Dot at 5:00. I'm gonna go drop Lizzie off at my mom's house so we can be alone." Lizzie's smile dropped a bit but I squeezed her hand reassuringly and smiled at her to let her know it was nothing personal.
"I'll be there!" Eli said enthusiastically. I nodded at him and turned around, facing the exit of the mall. I watched as Lizzie smiled at him and waved goodbye before catching up with me and grabbing my hand.
Eli:
I had been sitting at the diner waiting for Clare ever since I left the mall. I was so happy she was even giving me the time of day after all I did to her in the past. Sure, she wasn't here yet and she could still bail on me, but I had a good feeling she would show up. The first reason being that Clare was always a very punctual girl who stayed true to her word no matter what. The second reason being that I could see the curiosity in her eyes. She wanted to get to know me again just as much as I wanted to get to know her.
I was staring at the salt and pepper shakers on the table but was broken out of my trance as the little bell on the door rung, signaling someone's entrance. I looked up and saw Clare. We never broke eye contact as she walked up to me and sat down across from me at the table. Her lips stretched into a small smile as she whispered, "Hi." She then blushed and looked down at her lap.
I couldn't help but smirk at her. It had been six years and she hadn't changed a bit. "Hey, Clare." We looked at each other and smiled. The silence was awkward and unnatural. Clare and I always had something to say to each other. We never had awkward moments of silence. It was starting to scare me. "How have you been?" I asked out of impulse, just trying to break the silence.
She raised her eyebrows and tried to smile but I could see right through her facade. "I've been well. You?"
"Not bad."
"Not bad?" She said playfully. "You would think famous author Elijah Goldsworthy would have more to say than not bad."
I smirked sadly at her and looked down as I said, "Yeah, I could say I've been awful, horrible, and incredibly depressed the past six years, but that seems a bit more pathetic than not bad."
Her smile vanished as she sighed. "Well you are the only one who's had troubles this last six years."
"I can imagine," I joked.
"What is that supposed to mean?" She asked, clearly offended.
"No!" I stated, "I just meant, you know... You have a daughter now, but no ring on your finger. That either means that you had a baby all alone, or that you were once married and got divorced. Either way, it doesn't sound like a piece of cake or anything..."
"Yeah," She sighed and cleared her throat. "I've always been alone. Lizzie's never even met her dad and I haven't seen him since the day I told him I was pregnant. It's been hard, to say the least, but it's been worth it. Lizzie is my reason for living. She is the world to me."
I nodded in agreement. "She's really amazing, Clare. Sweet, smart, and adorable. She's like the spitting image of you."
Clare finally smiled at me and quietly muttered, "Thank you." She looked into my eyes and brought her hands from her lap onto the table letting them rest there. "So tell me about you!" Her enthusiasm seemed fake as she blinked rapidly.
"Well," I started. "I went to New York for college then my English professor made me publish a short story. A professional publisher saw it and asked told me he loved my work. He asked me to write a novel so I did. That's pretty much the only thing I've actually done since leaving Toronto."
She smiled genuinely at me and whispered, "I am so proud of you. I always knew you could do it."
"I'm sorry." I said blurted out. A look of confusion on her face forced me to clarify. "I'm sorry for leaving you. I'm sorry for yelling at you, and proposing to you, and asking you to do the impossible. I'm just really sorry. I screwed everything up. I should have talked to you about it. Not ran off to New York the next day." I saw tears in Clare's eyes, but I couldn't stop now. "The last 6 years, I've been lonely and miserable and the only person I have to blame is myself. I ruined everything. And to make matters worse, I can't get you off of my mind, so every second of every day, I'm reminded of what an idiot I am."
I didn't realize I was crying until I felt Clare's hand reach up to brush my tears away. "I forgive you, Eli." She held my hand with her left hand and wiped away her tears with her right. "I just want to know why. Why did you just leave like that?"
I shook my head in shame. "I was humiliated, Clare. I asked you to marry me, and you turned me down. I was convinced you no longer loved me, so I took off. I had to get away. It was once I got to New York when I realized that I could never stop loving you. Ever."
"Eli," She said softly. "I was a junior in high school. I was barely seventeen. We couldn't get married. But of course I loved you. I was so upset when you left. What was I supposed to do?"
I sighed. "I don't know, Clare. But I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry, too. I should have been better at explaining that I did want to marry you eventually, I just wasn't ready at the time."
Hearing that was so bittersweet to me. I felt happy that her rejection six years ago wasn't because she stopped loving me, quite the opposite, but it killed me inside to know that I screwed everything up. "What now?" I asked her tentatively.
She sighed. "Tomorrow, Adam is having a big birthday party...Be my date?" She shyly looked up at me and my lips curled up into a big smile as I nodded frantically.
"Does this mean you'll take me back?"
She smirked at me and said, "Not so fast, Eli. You have to earn me back. And it won't be easy."
"It may not be easy, but it will be worth it. I would do anything for you, Clare. No matter how long it takes." I squeezed her hand as she smiled at me. "So your daughter's name sounds very familiar. Eliza. Almost sounds like Elijah."
"I wonder why." She flashed me a sly smile before getting up out of the chair and heading towards the exit of the Dot. I stopped to admire the way she walked with such confidence and a wave of thankfulness washed over me. I'm so happy she's back in my life, even in a trivial way. She turned back around to face me and asked, "You coming?"
I smirked and caught up with her. For not talking in six years, we sure haven't missed a beat. Moving back to Toronto has officially been the best thing that has happened to me in a long time.

A lot of you asked me to make this more than a two shot, but nope. I like the way it is. It leaves the rest up to your imagination. I love that you liked it though! I got so much positive feedback so thank you so much!

You can also look forward to more of me on fanfiction. Since school is out, I will have more time to write!