Tom Glavine: 
Greg Maddux: 
John Smoltz: 
Steve Avery: 
Title: Bittersweet
by purpleatheist
Rating: PG-15
Summary: Glavine is a little down on New Year's Eve of 1993.
Notes: This fits into any of the M/G universes. This is an idea stolen from
Alex's Maltby/Osgood New Year's Eve story except morphed. Blame her for
the bunny, and my muses for being so damn depressed all the time.
It was 11:59. Tom Glavine took another sip of his champagne. It was
bittersweet. It always did have that taste, to him. They had been so close
to the sweetest of sips in '91 and '92, but it was always just out of
reach. They could celebrate winning the NL pennant those two years,
celebrate another division title in 1993, but it hurt to come so close
three times straight and never quite reach the top. So champagne hurt. But
that wasn't really what was bothering him. He turned his attention to the
television as the 30-second countdown began. Smoltzy had on local news
coverage, and the cameras were panning the sizeable crowd at Peachtree
Center as they watched the excitement.
Glavine watched the crowd. Everyone looked happy. Everyone looked...paired up.
He sighed as the camera hustled off two men with their arms around each
other. Dekalb County's gay population was way up there, one of the largest
in the nation, but the rest of the city sure pretended not to notice.
His wife sat down beside him as the other people in the room - mostly other
Braves, the Atlanta locals, and their wives or girlfriends - counted
down from 10.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 1994 flashed on the screen as everyone clapped. His wife turned
to him, kissing him. "Happy 1994," she said, smiling.
He managed a return smile as Smoltz raised his champagne glass in a toast. "To
everyone here and not here. To the whole world. To the Atlanta Braves-"
"Yes, because we belong right up there with the world," Steve Avery quipped.
"To the Atlanta Braves, may we reign another year!" That brought on a chorus
of cheers.
"Excuse me," Tom muttered to his wife, and stepped out on Smoltz's balcony,
overlooking the Chattahoochee River. He hit memory 3 on his cell phone and
waited. The familiar voice relaxed him immediately.
"Maddux residence."
"Hey."
"Tommy! Hey, hold on a second." Glavine could hear conversation in the
background, then a few clicks. After a moment Greg came back on the
line. "Sorry. I can talk now. God, it's been forever..."
"I know. I needed to hear your voice."
"All too happy to oblige, here. So how are you? Family ok?"
"I'm good. They're good." He paused, feeling Greg's skepticism. He could read
his silence as easily as his words. Tom hadn't realized just how well he
knew the man until that moment. "Ok, well, I...I suck, actually. It's like
I can't even fucking LIVE without you, Greg. I miss you so much. It's a
physical pain. I don't think I can make it until February to see you
again."
"Why didn't you call me before now?"
"I was afraid you wouldn't...I mean...I guess I'm just confused, Greg. What
are we? More than friends with benefits? I was afraid you wouldn't feel
the same?"
Maddux laughed softly. "And whatever reason have I given you to doubt that? I
love you, too, Tommy."
"Is it really love?"
"I'm afraid so." His tone left no doubt that he was, indeed, afraid.
"Is that bad?"
"I don't know yet. I know that it's not bad to want to see you again. To hear
your voice. To kiss you. I do miss you, Glav, so much. I'm glad you
called."
"I...I love you."
He sighed. "God...you don't know how much I wish I could hug you right now..."
"I have some idea, yes," Glavine looked behind him as Smoltz came out on the
deck. "Look, I gotta go. Happy New Year."
"We got a couple hours to go out here. But thanks."
"Oh, right. I forgot. I...well..."
"I know. Love you too, Tommy. Talk to you soon. And I mean that - very soon.
Don't wait two fucking months before you call me again."
"No, I won't. Bye." He ended the call, feeling better, and looked at
John. "What?"
"You left in a hurry."
"Just needed some fresh air. My brother called." He waved the phone.
"Ah. Ok." The powerful right hander clapped his friend on the shoulder and led
him back into the house. "It's too cold out here. Come on."
Tom could still hear Greg's soft voice echoing in his head, and it brought a
small smile to his face as he and Smoltzy returned to the party. Soon.