Disclaimer: Grr! How many times do I have to say it? Yo no poseo Avatar: el Ultimo Airbender -.-

A/N: I'd like to thank the following: imacowgirl, whiteoka-alina united, pepipanda, thereviewer, w.i.t.c.h fan in ut,Aipom4, FireCherryBlossom, NaruSasuNarulover, TealCrystalCAT, IndianGoddessGirl, Lionheart-92, RedPenClubBLGGGG. These people either reviewed, put Taking Over Me on their alert list, or favorite the story I personally thank you! And thank you to everyone else who's left a review. At ninety, going on a hundred!

Katara squealed, laughing as she flopped onto the bed, lying on her back and holding the picture up in the air. Memories flowed back to Katara, the popsicles, the races… and the fun they used to have! The time she woke up after a sleepover and was greeted with a pie to the face, the cream dripped all onto the floor and made a HUGE mess. Or the time when she sat on Zuko's lap and they slid down the water slide together in the same tube, and he almost killed her for screaming in his ears.

Then, her face fell slightly. How was he supposed to remember her? Zuko probably couldn't. . . no matter how much she wanted him to. It was so long ago, and a lot had happened since then. A past friendship seemed so irrelevant, now. She raised her eyes from the picture, staring at the navy blue wall in front of her. Katara loosely held the picture to her chest, her heart breaking at the thought of such a valuable friendship, gone, tossed out the window like it was some worthless toy. Tiny water droplets splashed onto the frame, the Tai Chi master's shoulders jumping up, and down. Katara shook her head violently, ridding her head of the negative thoughts and brushin the tears away. She was a big girl, now. There was no need for crying anymore. She once again smiled at the picture, seeing how they were pretending they were about to smooch. Katara's eyes were closed, and she was leaning towards Zuko with her foot up, lips in position for a little smooch on the cheek, NOT for French-kissing. Zuko intertwined one hand with Katara, then used the other hand to thumb-up the camera. He grinned, and seemed to wink right at her, now. Katara slid off the bed, walked over to the front wall by the door placed the photograph on her white study desk, so that every time she did her homework, she could be reminded of the relationship they once had. Katara ran downstairs, picking up her papers while Hakoda walked through the door. She gave him a quick "welcome home, Dad" before dashing back upstairs to finish said homework.

Hakoda and Sokka stared at her, puzzled. "I wonder what's gotten into her," Sokka wondered aloud. "She usually doesn't do homework by herself."

"Maybe you really got on her nerves this time, Sokka," the father laughed warmly, clapping his son on the back.

xXx

"Hey, Zuko!" Katara waved from a distance. She already had the two popsicles in her hands. Zuko seemed to slow down, staying the same distance away from her. She sighed and got up, chasing after him. Yet, she never seemed to get closer. Katara ran faster and faster, frantically trying to reach him. Suddenly, the floor slid out beneath her and she plummeted into a world of darkness.

She crashed on to the ground with a hard THUD! Sprawled out on her side, Katara used her arms to lift herself up, shaking from shock. She looked up and around her, blinking away the pain and confirming how pitch black it was. . .whatever "it" was. Not even her hand could be seen in front of her face. Faint cackles were heard from a far distance, almost resembling those of horrible witches. . .yes, there was definitely more than one. Appeared before the teenager were the two girls from earlier, and Mai. They pointed at her, laughing and bitching at her.

"Leave now, and don't EVER come back, or we will crush you!"

"You're ugly. Like, seriously, get out of my face."

"Go back to the slums, you worthless worm, and stay away from ZUKO!"

Her eyes stung but she dare not give into their harsh insults, trying to stand proudly, if she could find the ground beneath her feet. Then, Zuko walked up to her, his eyes warm and gentle. Those beautiful eyes that she wanted to get lost in, welcoming her. Instantly she found new strength, her face brightening at the sight of the young boy. However, he turned direction, his back to her, acting as if he had never saw her. He simply took his girlfriend away, looking back at her occasionally, but never looking RIGHT at her. Like she didn't even exist.

Was this destiny? Was this what was meant to happen?

Katara awoke with a jolt, wide eyes glued to the ceiling. She put a hand to her face, feeling the softness, and the wetness. Fingers gently touched her lips, tasting the saltiness of her tears. 'Why, Zuko?'

xXx

It was the dead of night, a rather cold, unforgiving night. All the lights in the house were dimmed, or nonexistant. Ursa darted in and out of rooms, and finally found a sleeping Zuko curled up on his side, his hand by his face and his lips parted gently, a warm flush on his cheeks. He stirred when he could smell the familiar perfume his mother warm. Eyes fluttering open, he sat up and looked at the dark figure that slowly made its way towards him. "Mommy. . .?"

Ursa hurried over with a most serious face, grabbed him by the shoulders and looked dead into his eyes."My love, listen to me," she pulled him close to her cushioning bosom, holding tight. "Everything I have done, I have done to protect you. Zuko. . . never forget who you are!" Ursa placed a small kiss on the top of her son's head, her eyes closing gently and water falling from those same golden orbs. Zuko reached out to her, trying to touch her. But her visage slowly pulled away from him, fading into the background.

"Mommy? Mommy!" he screamed, throwing off the blankets, jumping out of bed and running to her, knocking and shoving everything out of his way. She glanced over behind her shoulder, pulled up her hood to mask her face, and as soon as she turned around, she vanished into thin air. Zuko fell to his knees, buried his face into the floor, and trembled as he screamed on the inside, over, and over, and over. The tears poured endlessly down his cheeks. Why, Mother? Why did you leave me? He sat up slowly and wrapped his arms around his knees, pulling them tight to his chest. He hid his face into his knees, wanting to die, ending the pain that swallowed him.

A warm, reassuring hug came from behind. He turned his head slightly, and saw a small girl wrapped around him. She had her face in his neck, a relaxed expression, but tears rolled down her chubby cheeks. Mai? No, it couldn't have been Mai. Mai doesn't have warm, caramel skin. Or ocean eyes that are as bright as the sun. A foreign name came to mind.

Katara…

Raging, unmerciful fire engulfed them, the smell of alcohol filling the air. The reassuring friend slowly dissipated, as if she had never been there, leaving Ozai, his father, standing in front of him. He had a little bottle in his hand, his eyes glazed over from drink. "Whaaaaa, you want NOW, son? Come to play with ol' Daddy, huh?" He took another sip of the drink, swiveling around in a circle and leaning his weight on one hand on his desk. "Go. . .AWAY!" He lazily threw the bottle at Zuko, who ducked to avoid, however some of the contents found its destined path towards him and splashed onto his face. "You disrespectful boy! Hold STILL!" He lumbered over to him, grabbing onto surfaces to steady himself, though very unsuccessful. He knocked over his cigarette that he had set on the edge of his desk, and the lit end tumbled into the carpet. Scrambling to get away, Zuko tried to flee, though he tripped over himself and crashed onto his cheek on the floor. Fire engulfed the alcohol-covered side of his face, searing it to an unimaginable degree. Burning flesh now mixed with alchohol, creating a foul odor in the room that could be remembered for a lifetime. Zuko thrashed and screamed in scalding, hot pain, as if someone had took a branding mask and pressed it firmly to his face. He cried for his mother, rolling in his agony. Why, oh why, did this pain not stop? Why did his Dad drink after Mom left? Why did he beat only his son? WHY?

Zuko sprung up to attention, his eyes dilated, his chest heaving for needed oxygen. Goosebumps had hardened up and down his muscled arms, hairs stood straight up, and his entire being trembled at a memory he had tried so hard so push back, now finally resurfacing. That day, shortly after this blue-eyed princess moved, his mother left. Then, months afterwards, his father came back from the bar down the street, smoking until the whole apartment smelled of cigarettes. Uncle Iroh had found out what had happened, and demanded he took care of his nephew, for he knew his brother would never give up his precious daughter, Azula. Nor did she need another place. . .she was perfectly fine just where she was. She was always the preferred child of Ozai's, and the father didn't even try to sugar-coat it. After some rather disappointing bouts, Iroh drove Zuko to his house. Zuko had lived there ever since, but, unfortunately, he still went to school with his sister. Everyday was like Hell to him, a burning place he could never escape. And Zuko had come to dislike burning places.

That girl…who was she? Why, did every night since he had been adopted, she appeared in his dreams? Why was she always the angel in this fiery inferno in which he could not escape? Zuko's eyes slowly slid shut, deciding that these questions could be answered in the morning.

A/N: I actually like this chapter. Very intense and emotional. Please review!