Present Day
Twenty-third of December, New York City
TYLER
Just as the snow kept falling on the ground, Miles and I decided to take a walk around the park. Even in the cold weather, we couldn't resist the beauty of the winter wonderland surrounding us.
The trees were dusted in snow, their branches hanging low under the weight of the sparkling flakes. The lakes were frozen over, a sheet of ice reflecting the sunlight as it peeked through the clouds. And in the distance, we could see people skating on the frozen water, their laughter echoing through the frosty air.
"It's been a while, Miles," I said, trying to break the silence as we walked side by side, our footsteps leaving imprints in the freshly fallen snow.
Miles looked at me and smiled, his teeth slightly visible under his scarf. "Yeah, it has," he replied, his voice warm and familiar. I couldn't help but be taken aback by his mesmerizing smile, his hazel eyes still holding the same sparkle that I remembered.
We had been together in high school, but after graduation, we drifted apart. It had been years since we had seen each other, but somehow fate had brought us back together in this wintry setting.
As we continued our walk, we caught up on each other's lives, sharing stories and memories from the past. It felt like no time had passed at all, and we quickly fell back into our old routine of laughter and easy conversation.
As I stood in front of him, all those memories came flooding back. His dark hair was tousled by the cold wind, those hazel eyes that always seemed to sparkle, and that infectious smile that could light up a room. He was still the same handsome guy I knew from years ago.
"Since when did you come back?" he asked, looking away from me. But I never took my eyes off him, for I was driven by his beauty just like the first time we met.
"A month ago," I replied, trying to keep my emotions in check. I didn't want him to see how much I'd missed him.
He nodded his head in response, glancing at me while we continued to walk around the cold and frozen park. It was as if time stood still, and we were back to being carefree kids again.
"So, how was your life going?" I asked, breaking the momentary silence between us.
He just shrugged his shoulders, a small smile playing on his lips. "I'm now an artist, and I specialize in songwriting for famous artists," he said, making me smile. I remembered how he used to write the most beautiful lyrics, and I was glad that he pursued his passion.
"And you?" He asked, glancing at me with curiosity.
"Well, you must've known already. I'm a professional soccer player in the country, and I am now the CEO of my father's business," I replied, expecting a surprised reaction from him. But to my surprise, he just smiled widely, as if he had always known that I would reach this level of success.
"Mr. O'Malley!" A young boy's voice rang through the park, cutting through the peaceful afternoon air. Miles, must've recognized the boy, and he was running toward our direction, his small figure barely visible in the distance.
Miles smiled and prepared himself for the hug he knew was coming. He must've grown close to this boy and the boy had a special place in his heart.
"Jared, be careful!" Miles warned, but the boy was too excited to pay attention. He ran full speed ahead and jumped into Miles' arms, wrapping his small arms tightly around his neck.
My heart melted as I saw the scene.
"Jared, what are you doing here? It's cold out here, you should head back to the foster house," Miles, told him. Jared's brows furrowed in confusion. 
"Please, just let me skate for a while, Mr. O'Malley. I promise I'll be careful," Jared begged, hoping to convince Miles to let him stay. He knew he wasn't supposed to leave the foster house without permission, but maybe he just couldn't resist the feeling of freedom he got when he was on the ice.
Miles hesitated for a moment, his eyes scanning Jared's determined face. "Go on," Miles finally said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I'll be waiting here. Just make sure you're back before dark." Jared's face lit up with excitement as he thanked Miles and quickly made his way towards the frozen lake.
As he reached the lake, he saw a group of kids already there, skating and laughing. Jared laced up his tattered skates and joined them on the ice.
Miles and I sat down on the cold bench, watching Jared as he clumsily tried to skate on the ice rink. His small frame was wobbling back and forth, his arms flailing as he desperately tried to keep his balance. I couldn't help but notice the determination in his eyes, despite the numerous falls he had already endured.
"Who is that kid?" I asked Miles, gesturing towards Jared.
Miles let out a heavy sigh and turned to me, his expression heavy with sadness. "His name is Jared, and he's 7 years old turning 8 tomorrow. He's been in the foster care system for a while now, but no one wants to adopt him."
My heart sank at his words. I couldn't believe that this sweet boy was unwanted and unloved. But what surprised me even more was the fact that all the other kids his age had found a family except for him.
"I wanted to help him, but I don't know how," Miles continued, his gaze never leaving Jared.
I could see the worry and concern written all over Miles' face. It was clear that he had developed a special bond with Jared and I couldn't imagine how difficult it must be for Miles to see his friend constantly being rejected by potential adoptive parents.
"He's a good kid you know," Miles nudged me, breaking my concentration. "He's smart, talented, he loves soccer just like you. Well, he's a fan of yours."
I turned to Miles, a puzzled look on my face. "A fan of mine? I highly doubt that, Miles."
Miles chuckled and nodded his head, gesturing towards the young boy. "It's true. I overheard him talking to his friends about you. He must not have recognized you sooner since you look different wearing a beanie."
I couldn't help but laugh at the thought of a young kid being a fan of mine. I wasn't a famous soccer player by any means, but I did have some success playing at a professional level. It was always my dream to play for my country, but an injury put an end to my career.
"That kid kind of reminds me of you in so many ways, Ty. His love for dogs, his passion for playing soccer, his kindness, his intelligence, he even has the same life experience as you."
I couldn't help but feel curious about this new kid who seemed to have similar qualities to me. "Tell me more," I asked Miles, glancing over at Jared and sighing deeply.
...
I never would have thought that someone like Jared could exist. He was the spitting image of me when I was his age. I had heard about him from Miles. Miles always spoke highly of Jared, saying that he was a kind and resilient boy who had been through a lot. He also mentioned that Jared reminded him of me, and that piqued my interest.
As soon as I saw Jared, I knew that Miles was right – we were indeed very similar. He had the same blonde hair the only difference was that his was curled and piercing gray eyes that seemed to hold a hidden sadness. But what caught my attention the most was his warm smile, it was genuine and full of hope.
As we walked towards the foster home, Miles filled me in on Jared's story. He was only 2 years old when he was taken in by the foster care system. His parents had passed away in a fire accident and he had no other relatives to take care of him. This had left Jared feeling alone and disconnected from the world. But despite the challenges he faced, Jared had a positive attitude and a heart of gold.
It was a chilly winter evening as Miles and I strolled down the streets of the city. The sun had already set, leaving the sky a deep shade of blue. The only source of light was the street lamps that adorned the sidewalks. The warm glow of the lamps was a comforting sight amid the biting cold.
As we walked, I couldn't help but notice how everyone around us was bundled up in thick coats and scarves, trying to shield themselves from the harsh winter weather. But despite the cold, the streets were still bustling with people. Some hurriedly walked towards their destinations, while others leisurely strolled, taking in the sights of the town.
Breaking the silence, I turned to Miles and said, "He's such a good kid." I was referring to Jared, who was walking ahead of us, his small hand in mine. Even in the frosty temperature, Jared had a smile on his face, his cheeks a rosy shade from the cold.
Miles smiled in agreement and replied, "Yeah, he is." He looked at Jared with pride and affection, like a parent watching their child.
As we walked through the front door of the foster home, Jared, proudly led us through the corridors of the foster home. He was still wearing his favorite red superhero cape, a symbol of hope and strength in his world that was constantly changing.
"And here we are! The foster home!" Jared exclaimed, throwing open the door to the common room. He turned to face us with his adorable smile and said, "Hey Mister," pointing his finger at me, "'are you that man I saw on TV?"
I couldn't help but chuckle at the innocent question. "Yeah, it's me. How'd you know?" I  asked, almost laughing at his curiosity.
Jared shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "Well, I'm a huge fan and I recognized you even with your beanie on," he replied proudly.
I grinned as I ruffled his hair with my hand. "Thank you, Jared. It's nice to meet a fan," I said, feeling grateful for his recognition and support.
"Hey Mister, do you want to know a secret?" Jared asked, with an evil smile as he looked at Miles.
I laughed, amused by his mischievous look. "Of course, I do. What's the secret?" I replied, playing along with his game.
Jared leaned in and whispered loudly, "Mr. O'Malley has a huge crush on you, and he never stops talking about you!"
I couldn't contain my laughter as I turned to Miles, who was blushing furiously. "Is that so, Mr. O'Malley?" I joked, earning a playful scowl from Miles.
"Okay, Jared. That's enough. Go inside now," Miles commanded, trying to hide his embarrassment.
Jared just chuckled as he ran towards the entrance. "Goodnight Mr. O'Malley and goodnight Mister! Thank you for walking me home!' he shouted before disappearing inside.
...
"I'm sorry about Jared, he just loves teasing me," Miles said as we walked out of the foster home. He ran a hand through his dark hair, a sheepish smile on his face. I couldn't help but stare at his hazel eyes, their warm, inviting color drawing me in like a magnet.
The snow was getting heavy and it was getting colder, but neither of us seemed to notice as we continued our conversation. "Kids don't lie, Miles," I said with a teasing glint in my eye.
Miles chuckled and blushed at the same time, his cheeks turning a light shade of pink. His reaction only confirmed what Jared had told me earlier - that Miles still thinks and talks about, and flatters my heart. 
"So, you've been thinking and talking about me most of the time, Miles?" I teased as I went closer to him. He was still avoiding my gaze, but I knew he'd give in soon enough.
Miles took a deep breath and closed his eyes as if trying to gather the courage to say something. "Tell me, did you keep your promise like I kept mine?" I asked, my tone gentler this time.
He opened his eyes and looked straight at me, his gaze piercing. "Yes Tyler, I kept my promise for so long that I cried every night for missing you so much! I waited for you to return and you have no idea how happy I am to see y–" Miles' words were cut off as I pressed my lips against his.
At first, it was a gentle kiss, a way for us to express our pent-up feelings for each other. But soon, it became more passionate, as if we were both longing for each other after being apart for so long.
Our lips moved in perfect sync, our bodies pressed close together as the snow continued to fall around us. Finally, we pulled away, our breathing ragged and our faces flushed.
Miles looked at me with a mixture of surprise and happiness in his eyes. "I...I didn't expect that" he stammered. I chuckled and brushed a stray snowflake off of his face. "I've been wanting to do that for a long time, Miles. I just didn't have the courage until now," I admitted.
Miles' face broke into a wide smile, his eyes shining with happiness. "'So, what does this mean for us?" he asked, his tone hopeful.
"It means that I've missed you too, Miles. And I don't want to spend another day without you," I replied, pulling him into a hug.
As we stood there, amid the winter wonderland that surrounded us, I realized that Miles was the missing piece in my life. And I was grateful that fate had brought us back together, against all odds.
From that day on, we were inseparable. We built a life together filled with love, laughter, and the occasional teasing from Jared. And every time I looked into Miles' hazel eyes, I knew that I never wanted to let him go. He was my home, my forever, and I was grateful to have found him.
...
After Miles and I got married, our little family became even more complete. We were happy and content, with our new addition Jared, who had quickly become like a son to both of us.
One day, I decided to surprise Jared with a puppy, in honor of our new family. We went to the local shelter and he immediately fell in love with a little black and white puppy. We adopted him on the spot and named him Jack.
As the years went by, Miles and I continued to build our life together. We supported each other's dreams and goals, and always made time for family. Jared and Jack became the best of friends, and we couldn't imagine our family without them.
My father, who had been single for a long time, surprised us all by marrying our butler Morris. It was a beautiful wedding, and we were all happy to see my dad find love again. Erin and Clark had been living together for a while now and recently got engaged. They were planning their wedding and we couldn't be happier for them.
Meanwhile, Charles and Klaus, a couple we had known for years, had been happily married for a long time. They were an inspiration to all of us, showing us that true love does exist and can stand the test of time.
Even some of our close friends had found love. Emily and Alexa had been living together for a while now but had not felt the need to get married. They were happy just the way they were. Our friends Jessica and Jackson, on the other hand, had gotten married shortly after us and now had two beautiful children, Stella and Scott.
As for Jacob, he had moved back to New York and was still in love with Erin from afar. Although it pained him to see her with someone else, he was happy that she had found love and was content with just being her friend.
Caleb, on the other hand, had not found love yet, but he did go on several blind dates. He remained close friends with Miles and continued to work with him as a songwriter. They were a great team and had achieved much success together.
Looking back on our journey, Miles and I realized that we had come a long way. From high school friends to falling in love, to starting a family, and now surrounded by loved ones who had found their happiness.
We were grateful for every moment and knew that our love would continue to grow stronger with each passing year. Life may have brought us all together in unexpected ways, but we were all grateful for the love and support we had for each other. Our little family had grown beyond blood and we knew that we would always have each other, no matter what.
-The End-