Love You More
by Julia H.

"Two B. Two B. Two B."

"Or not to be."

"Huh?" Tommy whipped around, eyes wide. There was a girl following him up the stairs. _She probably heard me muttering...._ His mouth crooked into a lopsided grin. "Oh!" Tommy wanted to boot himself for sounding like an idiot. "Shakespeare. Right."

The girl nodded, her grin widening. "You're a new face around here. I'm Jess Wright." She stuck out her hand.

Tommy shook it, hoping she didn't notice how sweaty his palms were. "Tommy Oliver. You don't sound British."

"Nope, I'm a good old American gal. Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona." She puffed back a lock of brown hair that fell in her face. "You looking for number 2B? It's right up here." Jess scooted past him and led him up the stairs to the second floor. "Second flat on the left." Her eyes twinkled. "You wouldn't happen to be looking for Katherine Hillard, would you?"

Feeling the heat rise in his cheeks from the girl's gaze, Tommy nodded. "Uh, yeah."

"Good." With a wink, Jess turned and disappeared into 2E, just down the hall.

Tommy took a deep breath and rang the buzzer before his nerve ran out. He heard footsteps approaching the door, and the sound of something scraping against metal. Figuring there was a peep hole, he mustered a nervous smile.

There was the sound of a muted scream, then the unlocking of several deadbolts and chains. Kat threw the door open and stood staring at him with a wondrous expression. "Tommy?!" She threw herself at him, hugging him tightly.

Relieved, but still nervous, Tommy hugged her back, holding her almost like a china doll.

"Come in!" Kat took hold of his wrist and pulled him in. Shutting the door, she re-set all the locks and chains.

"Great city, huh?" Tommy asked wryly.

"Well...." Kat grinned. "It's a little rough, but no worse than Sydney. Come in and sit down."

They sat on the couch, half-facing one another.

"What are you doing in London?" Kat tucked a long wisp of blonde hair behind her ear. "I thought you'd be with your uncle, racing."

Tommy shrugged. "I got offered an opportunity to train in Formula One racers here and couldn't pass it up. John said to go for it since season was basically over."

"Formula One, huh?" Kat shook her head. "They go pretty fast."

Seeing the worry in her sky blue eyes, Tommy smiled reassuringly. "They also have the best safety record." Their gazes met and locked. As she looked away, he asked, "How's the ballet school? You didn't say much in your e-mails."

"Good." Kat sighed. "It's hard, but I'm learning so much."

Tommy listened with only half his attention as she told him about how her days usually went. _She looks thinner. A little tired._ A gentle smile tugged at his lips as he watched her hands gesturing as she spoke. He could have listened to her soft accent forever. _I didn't realize how much I missed her until now._

So long,
I've been looking too hard, I've been waiting too long
Sometimes I don't know what I will find,
I only know it's a matter of time
When you love someone, when you love someone

When the offer had come to go to London, it had almost been too good to be true. Tommy had spent a long afternoon out in the desert, hiking around, and thinking about what he really wanted in his life. It was something he hadn't done since passing the Turbo powers on to TJ. Events had just happened, and carried him along.

He had wanted this to be a conscious decision, since it was a big one. Tommy had been at turning points several times in his life, but none of them had left him feeling as exhilarated, and nervous as this one. Even gaining the White Ranger powers hadn't. All of those had been challenges that affected him alone. This involved another person's life.

It feels so right, so warm and true, I need to know if you feel it too

Tommy looked at Kat, just drinking in the sight of her white skin, blonde hair and azure eyes. She was even more beautiful than he remembered. It wasn't just her physical beauty that drew him though. Kat was an amazing person, even without adding in the fact she had been a Ranger. She had done so much for the community of Angel Grove on her own time ö designing the home for Habitat for Humanity, training the Police dog·. She was always giving of herself to others.

Maybe I'm wrong, won't you tell me if I'm coming on too strong

The whole breakup with Kim had left Tommy badly shaken. He had been so certain of how he felt for her. So sure they were meant to be together. _What did I do wrong? Was there something I didn't do that I should have?_ His confidence in the arena of dating and girls had never been one hundred percent, and Kim leaving him like she had, just undermined it all that much more.

This heart of mine has been hurt before,
This time I wanna be sure

Kat was different. Tommy knew that, but the doubts and fears were still fresh in his mind. What he felt for Katherine was the real thing. He didn't doubt that at all.

I've been waiting for a girl like you to come into my life
I've been waiting for a girl like you, and a love that will survive
I've been waiting for someone new to make me feel alive
Yeah, waiting for a girl like you to come into my life

But would she feel the same way?

"Tommy?" Kat asked, looking at him with a funny smile. "Are you all right? You look so distant."

_Do it! Before you lose your nerve!_ Tommy took a deep breath and reached out to take Kat's hand in his. "I'm fine." He smiled, the lopsided grin that made him look so endearing. "I just have to ask you something·and I don't know where to begin."

Covering his hand with hers, Kat smiled reassuringly. "How about just saying it?" She couldn't remember seeing him this nervous since their first date. He had fidgeted through the whole beginning of the movie, before finally working up to holding her hand.

Tommy nodded. Her smile was warm, the look in her eyes encouraging him to continue. Taking hope, he threw caution to the wind. "Katherine, ever since you came into my life you've been trying to make me happy. You set me up with Heather, you risked your life to bring me back after Prince Gasket brainwashed me, and you've always been there to listen or just offer a smile and encouraging word." He took a deep breath. "Watching you get on the plane to London was one of the hardest things I've ever done, because I wasn't sure when I'd see you again, or if you'd ever want to see me again. Katherine Hillard, ·." Tommy knelt, and lifted his eyes to meet hers. "I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Kat's eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open slightly. Tears filled her eyes, seeing the hopeful expression on his face. Her throat choked up, as tears of joy spilled down her cheeks. "I love you too, silly!"

"Really?" Tommy's face lit up, happiness radiating from him.

Kat smiled, and pulled on his hands, urging him up. He needed little prodding to rejoin her on the couch, reaching out to pull her closer.

Kat's hands slid under his jacket, and she ran her hands up his back, tracing the contour of muscles. Tommy gently traced her cheek with a knuckle, an amazed expression on his face. "I didn't have a clue how you would respond."

"Let me show you." Kat drew him closer, her eyes dropping shut as their lips met.

Finally they had to break apart to draw a breath, and Tommy's grin was wider than before. "Wow." He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. Gathering her hands in his, Tommy sat back. "You are an incredible woman, Katherine."

"I think you're pretty awesome, myself," Kat said with a wink.

"Oh!" Holding her hands in one of his, Tommy dug into his jacket pocket and pulled out a square, velvet box. Seeing how her eyes widened, he smiled like a kid on Christmas morning. "I don't know if this is exactly what you've dreamed of." Tommy opened the box, turning it to show her.

Her eyes got huge. "Tommy·.," Katherine breathed. "It's absolutely gorgeous!" She shook her head. "Are you sure·.?"

"Hey." Tommy lifted her left hand and kissed it. "I'm positive." He took the ring out of the box it was nestled in, and gently slipped it on her ring finger. It was a perfect fit. "That looks ·." Seeing his ring on her hand left him speechless.

"It's beautiful." Eyes filled with more happy tears, Kat leaned forward to pull him into a passionate embrace.

The jewelry box feel to the ground, forgotten.

Tommy broke the embrace off, surprising Katherine. She looked at him quizzically . "Tommy·?"

He let out a long sigh. "Kat, I have a feeling you're the kind of lady who always dreamed of getting married wearing a long white dress, in a church full of friends." He smiled wryly. "If you keep kissing me like that, it's going to be difficult to keep that in mind."

Kat blushed, biting her lip as she lowered her eyes to stare at a spot on his chin. "You're right." Slowly she looked up. "So, when should we set the date?" A grin curved her mouth. "Soon, I think."

Tommy's grin answered her as he nodded. He raised her hand and kissed it. "I love you."

"Love you more."

I've been waiting for a girl like you to come into my life
I've been waiting for a girl like you, and a love that will survive
I've been waiting for someone new to make me feel alive
Yeah, waiting for a girl like you to come into my life

It was a beautiful day, full of sunshine, laughter, promises and love. Katherine, radiant in a white satin gown, and roses in her hair, took Tommy's breath away every time he looked at her. He couldn't believe that the beautiful, poised woman standing next to him was actually agreeing to be his wife.

_My wife._ Tommy shook his head and smiled as David Trueheart came up and threw an arm around him in a brotherly hug.

"What's up, bro?" David followed his brother's gaze to the vision in white standing in a circle of chatting ladies. "You have a beautiful wife, Tommy. Inside and out, she's a class act."

Tommy nodded. "Yep. I'm a lucky guy." _Don't I know it!_ He grinned, feeling like the luckiest man alive. Looking around the room, he spotted his friends. Rangers, teammates, school friends, people from the racing world, and family had filled the church. The huge Reception Hall was almost at capacity.

"Man, this is the social event of the season!" Jason Lee Scott grinned as he walked up. "I can't believe how packed this place is!"

"I can." Kimberly Hart stood next to Jason, smiling. It had been a surprise to her when Tommy had called saying he wanted to clear the air between them. His announcement had been an even bigger surprise, but seeing the couple together, she couldn't imagine either of them with anyone else. "You're the glam couple of the year."

"Haaa!" David elbowed his brother. "Hear that, model man?"

"Laugh it up," Tommy responded good-naturedly. "They've been takin' shots of you too, bro." He saw Kat heading his way and left his friends to meet her half way.

Kimberly sighed as the couple embraced, then headed for the dance floor. "They really do look incredible together, don't they?" Tommy, in a tuxedo, looked better than she'd ever seen him.

Jason nodded, slanting a glance at her. "You okay?" The film of tears in her eyes hadn't gone unnoticed.

"Yeah." Kim nodded, smiling a little sadly. "I gave him up." She shrugged. "It's good to see him so happy."

"Come on." Jason put his arm around her. "Let's go find Emily and hit the dance floor."

David watched them walk off, shaking his head. He smiled at Katherine and Tommy as they danced past and sighed. They were a handsome couple ö one dark and one fair ö and they looked incredibly happy. Spotting Tanya Sloan and Adam Park talking to an attractive Asian girl, David straightened his tux and headed in their direction.

Katherine sighed in her sleep, turning her head as something tickled her face. She recognized the scent of roses, and inhaled as it touched her face again. "Mmm·smells wonderful."

"Rise and shine Mrs. Oliver."

The voice, so cheerful and warm, brought a smile to Kat's face. She opened her eyes slowly, her smile widening as she looked up at Tommy. "Hey handsome."

Tommy tucked the deep crimson rose behind her ear and drank in the picture Kat made laying there. Her hair spread like a golden halo on the pillow, eyes the deep blue of a summer sky and lips the color of cotton candy.

Kat took hold of his hand as he tucked the rose behind her ear. The new silver band on his finger gleamed in the morning sunshine. "That was a pretty incredible night." She reached up to caress the side of his face.

"I'll say." Tommy's smile widened, his dark eyes reflecting the happiness he felt. "You are amazing."

A rosy blush colored Kat's face even as she smiled. Reaching up with both arms, she pulled him down to her, tangling one hand in his hair. "I had a wonderful sensei." She grinned as Tommy's laugh rumbled in his chest. "But I really think I need to practice until I get it right·." Kat's eyes sparkled like sapphires. "Don't you agree?"

His answer was a passionate kiss that stole her breath away. Tommy kissed her eyelids. "I love you."

"Love you more."

You're so good, when we make love it's understood
It's more than a touch or a word can say
Only in dreams could it be this way
When you love someone, yeah, really love someone

Now I know it's right, from the moment I wake up till deep in the night
There's nowhere on earth that I'd rather be than holding you tenderly

I've been waiting for a girl like you to come into my life
I've been waiting for a girl like you, and a love that will survive
I've been waiting for someone new to make me feel alive
Yeah, waiting for a girl like you to come into my life

Won't you come into my life·
Ooooh, it's so good·..

THE END (or the beginning, depending on how you look at it! ^.^)