As the holiday season came to a close, Junia and Rufus settled back into their daily routines. But something was different between them – their love had grown even stronger since New Year's Eve.

One day, Rufus surprised Junia with a special dinner at their favorite restaurant. They sipped wine and laughed as they reminisced about their time together.

After the meal, Rufus took Junia's hand and led her to a quiet corner of the restaurant. There, he got down on one knee and pulled out a small box.

"Junia, I love you more than anything in this world," Rufus said, opening the box to reveal a beautiful diamond ring. "Will you marry me?"

Junia's heart skipped a beat as she stared down at the ring, tears streaming down her face. She had never felt so loved and cherished in her life.

"Yes, Rufus," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I will marry you."

Rufus slid the ring onto her finger, and they embraced each other tightly, their hearts filled with joy and happiness.

Over the next few weeks, Junia and Rufus excitedly planned their wedding, choosing a date and venue for their special day. They both knew that it would be a Christmas wedding – a celebration of their love and the holiday season that had brought them together.

As they walked hand in hand through the streets of Rome, Junia couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude for Rufus. She knew that he was the one she wanted to spend the rest of her life with, and she couldn't wait to start their new journey together.