AN: Story one in the Life series, Prequel to Berlin Bound. I hope you all enjoy.

This takes you back right to the beginning when and where it all began. Show's Mr T, Dom's prison years, Lots of Dom and Letty moments and everything else in between and will end just before The fast and the furious starts. It's pretty much my take on how the gang came to be and how they all got caught up in the heists.

S/N: Dom and Vince are 18, Letty is 15 and Mia is 12.

27th November- Los Angeles, United States

High School

Dom's POV

"Hell yeah man last ever day of school." Vince hollered at me as he walked into the school grounds. I grinned bumping fists with him as greeting.

"We still have a lifetime of work to look forward to." I joked grinning as he rolled his eyes, shrugging me off.

"Yeah whatever man, at least your dad was nice enough to give us a couple of days off." I snorted shaking my head.

"Only because I begged." I pointed out as he laughed happily.

"Hey Dom." I grinned at the girl who passed me by as she smiled flirtatiously.

"Man… I'd tap that." Vince said quietly as I laughed.

"She's alright." I played off coolly while Vince chuckled.

"You sly dog." He boomed, shaking my shoulders as we walked further into the school ground.

"Hey brothers, what up?" We both nodded to Hector as he walked towards us, his crew walking along behind him.

"Sup Hector?" I asked, slinging my bag to the floor while V dropped his straight down.

"Graduation party is tonight, you boys coming?" He asked knowingly as we grinned nodding our heads.

"Hell yeah man wouldn't miss it for the world." Vince spoke up grinning from ear to ear with excitement. It was still ten minutes till the bell so we hung with Hector and his crew joking around for a bit before class.

"Oh I forgot to tell you guys, my cousin tells me there's going to be another race." Hector spoke as we made our way to class. The news immediately peaking my interest.

"Where at?" I questioned.

"Same place as usual, the railway crossing." He replied, nodding his head to a guy we passed.

"When is it?" Vince asked hopefully. With any luck it would be Saturday night and dad would be over at a mates place for the night or at the tracks. Sneaking out while he was home was too risky, we had learnt that the hard way.

"Friday night." He answered looking to me for confirmation. Without skipping a beat I swore.

"Damn dad's home." I groaned turning to Vince who sighed dejected by the news.

"No biggie yous should stay at mine. We can go from there." Hector offered while Vince and I nodded in thought.

"Let us think about it." I replied as he nodded.

"No worries man just let me know yeah, so I can let Victor know." He said as we agreed before parting ways, heading off to class.

27th November- Los Angeles, United States

High school

Letty's POV

I sighed leaning against the school fence as I waited for Mia to arrive. It was after school and this was our meeting spot so we could catch the bus home together. It sucked this year because we were in different parts of the school, only getting to see her before and after school and on a good day occasionally during lunch. Doing a sweep of the grounds again, looking out for the small brunette but I came up empty so I turned away. She was always late. Knowing her like I did she would be still in the class room asking the teacher questions about some assignment. I groaned feeling bored as I watched kids fleeing out of the school grounds eager to get home.

'Home' I shuddered at the thought of the word. It wasn't the first time this week I was glad to be going to the Toretto's after school. After a shitty day I wasn't in the mood to go home and deal with my parents.

"Oi Leticia." I groaned as I recognized the voice calling my name. Turning around I noted I was correct in my guess as I saw a group of guys making their way towards me. Leading the pack was Dom, Mia's older brother. He wasn't bad, on the eyes at least, but when it came ot his attitude there was only so much you could handle in one go.

"What?" I muttered letting him know I clearly wasn't in the mood for his shit.

"Thought I'd be nice and offer you a lift, but hey if you don't want it it's no loss to me." Dom snapped as he turned a glare my way. Rolling my eyes I weighed the pros and cons of accepting his offer.

"Yeah I mean I'm sure we can find other girls to take home." Vince hinted as everyone laughed. I fake mimicked his words, letting out a fake laugh along with it watching as he sent me a glare while Dom and a few of their mates tried to smother their laughs.

"Mia's not here yet." I turned seriously to Dom subtly telling him we would take the lift. He let out an annoyed sigh as he shrugged.

"Whatever, we can wait. Dad will kill me if we don't." Dom muttered to himself and the others. Rolling my eyes as they started talking shit, I took another look around letting my bag slip off my shoulder and fall to the floor at my feet. Ignoring the boys was a tough job but I somehow managed to do it as I waited impatiently for Mia to arrive.

"About time Mia." Dom huffed as she came running over, slightly out of breath. I watched as he and Vince said goodbye to their friends while I picked up my bag, slinging it over my shoulder. Mia gave me an apologetic smile as we followed behind Dom and Vince to where Dom's car was parked.

"Sorry I had to speak to the teacher about my assignment." She explained to her older sibling.

"Always the bookworm." Vince teased.

"Well someone in the family has to be smart; I still don't know how you two managed to pass and graduate." She snapped while I smothered a snort behind my hand. The girl had appoint, neither of these clowns were book smart and I knew for a fact they had only just scraped through in order to pass.

Climbing into the back seat with Mia I scrunched my nose up at the smells that hit me. Mia let out a squeak of displeasure as she sat on what looked to be a pair of panties.

"Eww Dom gross." She whined as she used a book to flick them to the floor.

"Was wondering where they got to." Dom said seriously while Vince snorted with laughter.

"Do you ever clean your car?" I asked disgusted as I shoved a dirty T-shirt to the floor as well.

"Hey just be thankful I'm giving you a ride." He spoke looking at me in the rear view mirror. I muttered under my breath, folding my arms as I had to listen to Dom and Vince's conversation about the hot girls they'd bedded this year.

Mia gave me a small smile of sympathy as I caught her eyes. I sighed heavily as I turned to look out the window. It was no secret that I had a crush on Dom and had for a while. It had been a disaster when he had first found out but I managed to somehow play it cool; at least for a while. Now unfortunately Dom and Vince had taken to rubbing it in my face by talking about either all the girls they wanted to crew or had screwed while I was in ear shot. It pissed me off but that's exactly why they did it, not so subtly letting me know it wouldn't happen. I wasn't stupid I knew I had no hope in hell with Dom; it was just an innocent crush so I hated when they made a big deal out of it.

"Guys come on seriously." Mia whined obviously having heard enough.

"You're more than welcome to get out and walk." Dom muttered.

'Don't tempt me.' I thought silently as I turned my gaze to the front of the car.

"I'll tell dad." Mia warned making Dom sigh but keep quiet at the threat.

"Man why did we have to offer to take them home?" Vince whined quietly from the passenger's seat of the car.

"I was in a good mood at the time." Dom muttered darkly, sparing me a glance in the mirror.

"I haven't said a word, why are you looking at me like that?" I snapped.

"Why do you have to be such a bitch for?" Vince snapped at me before Dom could respond.

"The only bitch I see is the one whining about not getting a chance with Teresa." I snapped back.

"Hey I might not have gotten with her but at least I'm getting some elsewhere. What about you Letty? I don't see any guys lining up to sleep with you" He mocked turning in his seat to smirk at me.

"Dude she's underage so it's considered a good thing that no one's lining up to get with her." Dom mumbled getting in before I could as he spared me a glance in the mirror. I rolled my eyes before staring moodily out the window for the rest of the drive. I vaguely heard Vince agree before I blocked them out completely.

Pulling in the Toretto's driveway Mr T was waiting for us like usual. Mia was the first to hop out of the car and I didn't want to stay in there any longer than necessary so I was quick to jump out too. I watched as Mr T dropped Mia a kiss on the head, pulling her in for a hug as he asked about her day. Casting a look over my shoulder and down the street to where my house stood in silence I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. An arm wrapped around my shoulders and a kiss was dropped to my head too as I looked up to Mr T. I gave him a small smile as he sent both Mia and I off inside before he started speaking with Dom and Vince. Not wanting to hang around and listen I followed Mia up to her room.

"You okay?" She questioned.

"Yeah I'm fine, why?" I asked looking at her weirdly.

"I don't know you've been kind of… weird the last few weeks. I thought something might be up." She shrugged as she explained quietly.

"Mia you worry too much." I spoke brushing off her concern.

"Letty." We both looked up as we heard Dom's voice and a quiet knock on the door before it opened.

"Yeah?" I asked quietly, still annoyed about what had been said in the car.

"Dad wants to talk to you about something." He said with a shrug while I was left frowning. Walking down the stairs behind Dom I began to wonder what Mr T could possibly want to talk to me about.

'Was I in some kind of trouble? Had Vince and Dom said something to Mr T about the incident in the car?' I wondered as I stepped out onto the porch with Mr T.

"Uh you wanted to speak to me Mr T?" I asked worriedly. You never wanted Mr T to be mad at you, it wasn't a pretty sight.

"Letty, how many times have I told you to call me Tony?" I smiled softly as I let out a small laugh.

"Right, sorry." I apologized.

"I've been speaking to your mum." He started looking at my reaction. It was hard to keep my face blank and not react. Based on his search of my face he was looking for exactly that, my reaction to the news.

"Oh?" I asked quietly looking away from him and over towards my house.

"I just wanted to remind you that you're more than welcome here anytime; day or night." He explained nonchalantly as I sent him a small smile.

"Thanks Mr T... er Tony." I said honestly while he nodded with a small smile of his own.

"So in saying that I was wondering if you were still interested in learning the ropes at the garage?" He asked knowingly while I looked at him shocked.

"Are you serious?" I asked hopefully.

"Would I offer it to you if I wasn't?" He teased lightly while I nodded eagerly.

"It will give you a chance to get out of the house a bit more. I know I never let Dom or Vince start at the garage until they were sixteen but I'm making you an exception." He explained, his serious tone underlying warning. Thrilled and filled with excitement I nodded and thanked him excitedly. His warm smile and laugh was enough of a distraction for what I was sure would come next.

"Letty has he ever hit you?" He asked me seriously. Thrown by the change, but expected, path of conversation I shook my head slowly.

"Is that the honest truth?" He asked seriously and I nodded, looking him dead in the eye.

"He just yells at me a lot but he hits mum. It never used to be a lot but over the past week things have changed, every fight ends in him punching her. Mum said it's his drinking, he's been drinking a lot more lately." I whispered as I sent another look down the street.

"Don't worry about you're mum, I'll help her. I just wanted you to know that you're always welcome here and if you ever need help, I want you to come to me okay?" I nodded and he pulled me in for a hug.

"Thanks Tony." I said quietly.

"Anytime. You're one of my own and I protect what's mine." He spoke making me giggle a little.

"Now you can start tomorrow after school at the garage. I'll let Dom know later that he's to bring you with him." I sighed quietly but I nodded to Mr T. Having to deal with an angry Dom over this was going to be a small price to pay for this job experience.

"Now run along, dinner will be ready shortly." I smiled at Tony as I walked back into the house feeling happier then I had been in months.

R&R

Princess of Darkness17