Whatever Chains (Sequel to Where Your Heart is - A Harry Styles fanfiction)

July, 2017.

"Happy birthday, love!"

His face freezes on my screen and I would be laughing at how silly he looks if I wasn't so frustrated right now.

It is bad enough already that he can't be wishing me a happy birthday in person, so the fact that the connection sucks makes it all even worse.

I guess it goes without saying we never took that gap year I suggested all those months ago.

That night we spent together at his house last Christmas made it abundantly clear that neither of us was willing nor able to go through another second of being apart. Let alone a whole damn year.

But this time we were determined to do it right. By the book. And the first thing we did, as the normal couple we were so committed to be, was going on a proper date.

At first things were quite crazy. As soon as people saw us together, and because for the first time in forever Harry actually confirmed he was officially dating someone, the news spread like wild fire and we were suddenly in the eye of a storm that took us several weeks, months even, to weather.

But we didn't really care that much. We both knew that come March his scheduled would become absolutely insane, so we were focused on taking the utmost advantage of our time together without letting anything else get in our way of doing just that.

So he settled in New York, more specifically in my apartment. And since Jasper insisted on shacking up at Jack's while Harry was there, we pretty much had the entire apartment to ourselves aside from the fewer times he would come to pick up a few things or to hang out.

We spend a lot of time talking, really communicating with each other. Which made me realize how little of that we had actually done in the past. And by the time March came around, although I was sad to see him leave, I wasn't scared. Neither of us were.

It hasn't been a walk in the park, though. Going from waking up next to him every morning to having to literally check a schedule I put on the fridge to keep track of where he is, or doing the math in my head so I don't call him too early or too late, is definitely not fun.

"Thank you, babe." I reply with a smile while looking at the watch and noticing that is the stroke of midnight. "Are you heading out or getting home?"

He's in France at the moment, promoting and attending the premiere of his movie. Three days ago he was in London. And three days from now he gets to be here for a good few days.

I'm really excited about that, the red crosses on that calendar in the fridge are sufficient evidence of that. But it's hard for me to be happy about it today when it's my birthday and he is miles away from me.

"Neither, actually. I just woke up so I could be the first to wish you a happy birthday." A wide smile flashes through his face as he rubs his eyes. "Am I? The first?"

"Yes. Yes, you are." I assure him the second Jasper burst into my room with a bottle of champagne and a cupcake with a lit candle atop of it. "And here comes the second, I suppose."

Jasper rushes to my side, awkwardly hugging me with his full hands as I wince at how close the flame is to my hair.

"Hey, Harry!" He exclaims, shoving me aside to get a good look at my computer, and I snort. "Has she told you yet? Can you please shrill some sense into her tick, beautifully red headed skull?"

I try to push him aside but he doesn't even bulge and I roll my eyes in annoyance.

"Well, it is quite thick... and beautiful, no doubt." Harry jokes winking an eye at me. "What is it?"