Twelve Days of Quartet

https://link.tospotify.com/3o5haJczPbb

The Royal Opera House was very busy all year round, but nothing could beat the hustle and bustle in the run up to Christmas. This year there was a diverse programme and one of the high points would be a variety show on Christmas Eve. Opera stars would sing well known Christmas carols, as well as parts of Bach's Christmas Oratory. The Orchestra would play pieces from the nutcracker, there would be dancers, soloists and the children's choir. A star studded evening, with a charity ball planned afterwards. The highlight of the season and tickets went fast.

Rehearsals had been underway since mid-November and the rehearsals for this particular variety show were the reason that Cissy Robson had finally returned to London. She'd been touring Europe for the past two and a half years, very successfully in fact. But now it was time to return home. Back to the stage that had once made her famous. Back to colleagues and friends who had been there from the very beginning. It felt so good to be back. Somehow, everything felt different in London and yet oh so familiar. The city never ceased to amaze her, it was young and old, fast and slow, at the same time. As if all the opposites of the world met here and got along for just a little while.
Speaking of opposites getting along, Cissy wasn't the only one back in London.

Wilf had come from Edinburgh. He had accepted the part in the concert as soon as he heard that Cissy would be back. His good friend Cissy. Actually, more than good friend. He had a massive crush on her. She was his complete opposite, soft and sweet where he was being tough, gentle and kind where he was cynical. Smart, polite, witty, where he was sometimes silly, sometimes outright blunt. In short, she was just wonderful and when they were together, she was the only good thing about him. Or at least that's how it felt to Wilf. Why had there never been anything more than friendship between them? Probably because they were such good friends and neither of them wanted to risk that. That special, unique bond where they could go months without talking and then one of them called and they picked up just where they had left. Cissy gave him advice on his many relationships, he made her laugh. It was perfect but it just wasn't enough.

Wilf had no idea that Cissy felt the same way about him. That giving him advice about other women made her feel peculiar and deep down she knew that this was essentially self sabotage. What if he met his soulmate without even considering her? But she always banished these selfish thoughts. Her friend's happiness should be her first priority after all, right?
And so those two oh so attracting opposites were reunited in the city where opposites seemed to attract even more than they usually did.
Rehearsals went well. Exceptionally well but as it always was, now that the date of the actual performance was coming up, people were stressed. Cissy knew that Wilf didn't do well with stress, he'd get moody and irritable and nobody wanted that, so she started to look after him a little more. This worked reasonably well but unfortunately this only increased her yearning for this little bit of "something more" and it made her nearly lose her mind. They could be so good together, if only... She dreaded seeing him bring yet another gorgeous blonde to the ball after their show. Wilf always had the hottest dates to every event, it had always been that way. He hadn't mentioned anyone yet, but Cissy was convinced that it was only a matter of time. She was surprised when she walked into his dressing room that day and Wilf looked even more delighted than usual to see her.
"There's my sugar plum fairy." He grinned and got up to give her a hug. She smelled so cozy and wintery, with a hint of vanilla. Today was the day. Today he would ask her to be his date for the ball and either win her heart or ruin their friendship forever. Wilf sincerely hoped for the first outcome.
"Wilf, dear, do you really have a different Christmas themed nickname for me every day?" Cissy teased and he nodded.
"I sure do." Her laughter was so incredibly melodious in his ears. He wanted her. Oh god, how he wanted to her to be with him always. He had to shoot his shot before she returned to Europe, he couldn't let her go. Not for a second time. Wilf knew that he should have asked Cissy out all those years ago when he first noticed his feelings for her. Cissy's voice disrupted his spiralling thoughts, which was probably a good thing.
"You might want to save those cute nicknames for your date for the ball." she teased and wanted to wiggle out of his arms, but instead of letting her go, Wilf only pulled her closer. It was now or never.
"I'm glad you brought it up, dear. How about I take you to the ball. Unless you have prior commitments, but if you don't, I'd love to take you out." Cissy blushed a little. How kind of him. If he only knew how much this meant to her.
"That's such a nice idea, although I'm sorry you couldn't find a date. I'd love to go with you as friends." But Wilf shook his head.
"I think I haven't made myself clear enough. Cissy, I don't have a date because I always planned on asking you. I don't want to go as friends. I want to be your date. I want this to be a date, hopefully the first of many dates. I want to give you a ball like the ones that you always dreamt of. I will only have eyes for you, dance with you, bring you spiced punch in crystal glasses and all those things. Cissy Robson, I have been in love with you for years and while it has taken some time for me to come to terms with the fact that I do indeed have feelings that aren't hungry or... You know..."
"Horny." Wilf blushed, which he rarely did. Cissy knew him too well.
"Anyway, I can now say openly and proudly that I am deeply in love with you and that if... If you even feel a little bit for me I would be the happiest man on earth. So... Come to the ball with me. I'll make it worth your while." His heart almost jumped out of his chest. Laying his feelings bare was unfamiliar to Wilf and it felt strange. Cissy said nothing for what felt like an eternity, then she planted the softest little kiss on his cheek.
"I think I might feel the same way about you." She whispered. "Take me to the ball, Wilf. There's nothing I want more." She smiled and they kissed, in a way that Wilf rarely kissed, a soft, innocent kiss, just enough to make both of them feel lightheaded, almost dizzy and drunk with love. For Wilf Bond, Christmas came early that year