Stay (A Cary Agos FanFic)

Stay

Nala stared at her TV, with one of her favourite Christmas movies barely audible as she tried to overhear her boyfriend's phone conversation. The brick walls of their brownstone kept the sound from bouncing around the way it did when she was growing up in a cheap skyrise apartment. They were having a great time getting into the holiday mood just a few days before one of Nala's favourite days of the year. Cary had been working a big case for the past few weeks that he was able to close right before Christmas. Gardner and Co. had been gracious enough to give their employees a rare couple weeks off, and Nala intended to take full advantage of it. She was nearly giddy with thoughts of eggnog, carols, gifts, and mistletoe. Christmas. She freakin' loved Christmas. Even though she'd been with her lawyer boyfriend for almost three years, this would be their first time really savouring it together.

While she wasn't a lawyer, her consulting work kept her busy as well. Somehow, they both had jobs they couldn't necessarily clock out of, but that never got in the way of Nala's personal life. Not in the way it did with Cary's. She couldn't even count the number of missed dates, times he's shown up past close, or words she's held back to keep things okay between them. Nala knew he loved her, but she couldn't always feel it. Nevertheless, she wouldn't let that get in the way of Christmas for them.

Their first Christmas, they'd planned to fly out and see her family, but he got called in on a case at the last minute. He sent his regards and a few gifts, but she couldn't help the quiver in her voice when he'd called to make sure it was okay. Their second Christmas, Nala hosted to avoid the same kind of unfortunate situation, which worked. Kind of. Cary had made a mistake with some paperwork, and had to go in on Christmas to get it fixed. He'd made it for dinner, though, but Nala had to put off the gift card and surprise intimacy for when he wasn't knocked out from a full day of work and dense calories. This year, though, was going to be completely different. Well, she hoped it would, but judging by the scrunched brows on his face when he looked down to see who was calling him, Nala wasn't so sure.

"No, I will not ask Diane-. Look, I would appreciate it if you didn't call me again," she heard Cary's voice get louder as he walked back into the living room. Nala quickly increased the volume on the TV, then adjusted herself to look like she'd been minding her merry business. She didn't look over until she felt the couch sink beside her.

"Sorry," Cary sighed, his arm finding its natural place around Nala's shoulder.

"Who was that," she asked, feigning disinterest as she directed her attention back to Home Alone.

"My dad," he started, "asking for... It doesn't matter" Cary's lip pressed into a thin line after the mention of his dad. "Mr. Agos," he told her if she ever slipped and called him Tom, was a man that kept himself busy. He never failed to mention the birthdays and anniversaries of his twenty-year-old girlfriend and business partners, but never called for Cary's. His son had become senior partner at Gardner and Co., but Mr. Agos' 'congratulations' was followed by some kind of request. She wondered if he'd ever checked on his son, if he even cared about how Cary was doing.

Nala cuddled into her boyfriend's side, and was pleased with herself when she felt his abdomen relax. He seemed a little less upset, and she could hear the smile in his voice when he hummed into her hair. "I'm sorry, Cary," she whispered into his chest. Cary smiled down at Nala, "it's nothing new..."

She stroked lazy circles into his hand before she asked, "what was he asking for?"

Cary tensed up, and she could feel his abdomen harden for a bit before he exhaled. He just shook his head and shrugged. Nala looked up to see him staring off into space. She hesitated to smile, "Cary-"

"Can we not talk about him?" It was a question, but it sounded more like a command with the way he stared down at her. Nyla sighed and moved away from him, and Cary's eyes filled with regret. He pulled her back into him, quickly apologizing with kisses to her forehead. "Let's not talk about him," he suggested, gently this time.