The days leading up to Christmas were filled with joy and excitement for Junia and Rufus. They spent their time exploring the city, trying new foods, and enjoying each other's company. They even went ice skating in a nearby park, holding hands and laughing together.

On Christmas Eve, Rufus invited Junia to attend a midnight mass at a local church. Junia was hesitant at first, as she had never been to a church service before, but Rufus reassured her that it would be a beautiful experience.

They arrived at the church, and Junia was awestruck by the grandeur of the building. The service was conducted in Italian, and Junia didn't understand much of it, but she felt moved by the hymns and the beauty of the decorations.

After the service, Rufus took Junia to his family's home for a traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner. Junia was nervous, as she had never met Rufus's family before, but they welcomed her with open arms.

The dinner was a feast of seafood, pasta, and other traditional Italian dishes. Junia felt like she was part of the family, and she enjoyed learning about their Christmas traditions.

As they sat around the table, laughing and telling stories, Junia felt a sense of warmth and belonging. This was what Christmas was supposed to be - a time for family, for love, for new beginnings.

Later that night, as Rufus drove Junia back to her apartment, she felt a sense of contentment. She had found someone who shared her love for Christmas and who had welcomed her into his family. Maybe this was the start of a new tradition, a new family, a new love.