Sam was only six years old when he met Gabriel Novak.

He was seven when they declared one another best friends for life under the willow tree in his backyard.

At 9 years old they spent the summer holidays under that willow tree, one day they decided that they would marry each other one day and spent the whole afternoon planning their future wedding.

At 10 they sat under their willow tree and promised to always be together, and to always be friends.

When he was 13 Sam felt his heart shatter when he found out Gabriel was going to the school dance with Kali.

At 14 he had to force a smile as Gabe gushed about his feelings for Kali.

At 15 he tried to move on with sweet Jess.

At 16 he comforted a heartbroken Gabe after he broke up with Kali. Sam had recently gone through break up himself but refused to let himself have any hope for being with Gabe.

At 19 Sam felt his heart shatter all over again when they parted ways for college, and slowly fell out of touch, breaking the promises that had been spoken under the willow tree during a summer years ago by two young boys that thought their friendship would last forever.

At 21 Sam returns home for Christmas break, despite the passing time the willow tree still made his heart ache. He mourns the friendship he had lost.

At 22 he sits under the tree at Christmas break once more, a golden haired man sits beside him.

At 23 Sam spends the long summer afternoons under the willow tree once again, where the two broken, regretful hearts began to mend.

It was under this willow tree, at age 24, that Sam held Gabriel's hand and whispers the promises they had once made before saying 'I love you.'

When he was 25, Sam smiled at his golden eyed fiancé as Gabe said 'I do.'

At 28 Sam lay under their willow tree watching his husband nap in the heat of the summer afternoon with a small smile on his face, the memories of their times under this willow tree and beating the darks times together playing across his mind.

At 30 he listened as Gabriel read their adopted kids to sleep in playful voices.

At 36 Sam stood with his older brother Dean, Dean's husband Cas and Gabe while all their kids played under the willow tree.

At 47 he watched his kids go off to college with pride.

At 60 Sam sat under the willow tree with Gabe and promised he'd always love him no matter not, the two spent the afternoon hugging under the tree.

At 61 Gabriel's diagnosis came in. Sam cried the day away under their willow tree.

At 70 he repeated the words they'd whispered under their tree in the past as he watched the life fade from Gabe's eyes in that sterile white hospital room.

When he was 80 Sam sat under their willow tree with hallow eyes as he held a photo of the two of them when they were younger close to his chest, he made one last promise to his Gabe when he said 'I'll see you soon.'

At 81 Sam closed his eyes one last time and opened them to find himself 22 again and under their willow tree with the warm sun filtering through the branches as Gabriel smiled brightly at him.