Disclaimer: I own nothing. Everything pertaining to Step by Step and the characters belong to their rightful owners. This is merely for entertainment purposes. So enjoy!

Pairing: Cody and Dana

Setting: mid-season 1, this is set post episode 8 "Just For Kicks," we'll say it's been a month or two since Cody saves Dana from those thugs at the bar. She is slowly but surely starting to fall for Cody, even if she doesn't realize it herself yet. Now it's Cody's 19th birthday and she decides she should get him something special as a thank you for coming to rescue. This is the first chapter of many more to come,

Chapter 1

"Nineteen Candles"

Frank and Carol are in the kitchen alone together canoodling by the stove. They are about to get mushy and start kissing when Dana enters and clears her throat loudly in order to make her presence known.

"Ahem!" Dana folds her arms across her chest and regards her mother and step-father.

Frank jumps and reluctantly stops hugging Carol.

"Oh gees." Frank sighs.

"Dana, honey…" Carol attempts to fix her mussed up hair. "I didn't hear you come in."

"It's my own fault. I should have knocked before I entered the kitchen." Dana scoffed sarcastically. "Where we all eat."

"Did you need something Dana?" Carol asked.

"Yeah or are you just here to interrupt us?" Frank asked getting a soda can from the fridge.

"That's just a bonus." Dana regarded her step-father. "But I do need a ride to the mall."

"Alright, just let me grab my coat and we can go." Carol said patting her daughters shoulder as she started to walk to the coat rack.

"Um actually…Frank would you mind taking me?" Dana asked turning to Frank.

"Me?" Frank asked dropping his soda to the ground.

"Frank?" Carol asked. This was the first time Dana had asked to do something with Frank.

"Yeah…is that alright?" Dana asked looking between the both of them.

"Well that's fine." Carol was delighted. "That's better than fine, it's great, it's wonderful!" Carol hugged Dana and patted her head. "My daughter and my husband are finally bonding, I'm so happy."

"Uh maybe we should do this another time." Dana muttered as she was practically being suffocated from her mother squeezing her so tight.

"No no no." Carol insisted releasing her hold on Dana and patting her shoulder once more. "This is good. It will give the two of you the chance to bond."

"I'll go get my purse." Dana said going upstairs. As soon as she was out of ear shot. Frank pleaded with Carol.

"Oh gees honey, don't make me go to the mall with Dana."

"Frank this is a big deal. She asked you to take her. And you're going." Carol ordered handing him the car keys. "Just be grateful it wasn't Karen. Last year she maxed out my credit card on Black Friday."

Frank shuttered at thought, Dana could be really uptight sometimes but at least she wasn't a shopaholic like Karen.

Dana and Frank spent the entire twenty minute drive to the mall in a complete and awkward silence. But now that they had arrived and he had safely parked his truck he had to ask.

"So Dana, why did you want me to take you to the mall instead of your mom?" Frank asked trying to break the ice.

"Because…I…" Dana struggled to speak. "Wow this is going to be harder to say than I thought." She tried again. "Because…I…..need….your help." She finally blurted it out.

"You need my help?" Frank was shocked.

"Don't make me say it again." Dana groaned.

"No I'm just surprised. You don't normally come to me for advice." Frank went on.

"Who said anything about advice? I just need your help picking out a gift." Dana explained.

"Well okay. Who's the gift for?" Frank asked.

"It's…..for…." Dana once again struggled to form her sentences.

"Dana the mall closes in eight hours. And if we're going to keep talking at this rate I'm going to need a hot pretzel." Frank started to walk towards the food court.

"It's for Cody." Dana stated. This got Frank's attention and he stopped dead in his tracks and turned back around to Dana.

"Cody?" Frank asked.

"Yes." Dana confirmed.

"Cody Lambert? My nephew: Cody Lambert?" Frank was bewildered. Of all the people in the world Dana wanted to buy a present for Cody.

"Yes that Cody. His birthday's coming up. And after the incident at Jake's, I just wanted to get him something. I figured I owe him that." Dana explained.
"Wow Dana, that's really nice." Frank complimented her.

"I'm a very-nice-person." Dana took offensive to what Frank had just said and took three steps towards Frank to close the distance between them.

"Of course you are." Frank said putting his hands up in defense. " So what did you have in mind?" He asked.

"Well I already know he has a van and cheese wiz." Dana stated.

"I'm sure we can find something that he will love. Let's go." Frank assured Dana and the two of them began the search for Cody's perfect birthday present.

Dana had finished wrapping Cody's gift. A part of her wondered why she bothered wrapping it. It was an acoustic guitar in a guitar case, the shape of the gift was a dead-giveaway as to what it was. But then again, it was Cody...

Topping it off with a big red bow, Dana smiled and took it downstairs and went outside. The light was on in Cody's van so she went over and knocked on the door.
"Cody, it's me Dana." She called out.

"Dana!" Cody jumped up and hit his on ceiling of his van. He winced in pain for a moment but then opened the sliding door. "Dana, wasn't expecting you, but welcome to 'Chez-Codeman,'" He smiled and nodded his vigorously. "Me van es sue van." He ushered Dana inside.

"Uh thanks Cody." Dana said sitting down next to him on his waterbed. "I just wanted to give you this. Happy birthday." She handed him his present.

"It's my birthday! Whoa!" Cody smiled and then paused. "How old am I again?"

"Nineteen…well you'll be nineteen tomorrow." Dana told him.

"Dudesy, that is so cool! So what did you get me?" Cody asked examining the large gift that was obviously in the shape of a guitar. But instead of belittling him Dana simply smiled.

"Open it and see…" She said. Cody ripped through the paper and found the brown leather-bound guitar case.

"Whoa! A guitar case!" Cody smiled and then unlocked the three notches. "And look there's a guitar inside too!" Cody was super excited.

"It's an acoustic. So you don't need an amp or any wires, you just play." Dana explained.

"This is like the best gift I've ever gotten in my entire life!" Cody strummed a chord. "Thanks Dana-burger." Cody leaned over and gave Dana a hug.

"You're welcome." Dana hugged Cody back. But fearing that their contact was lingering too long Dana patted him on the back and pulled herself away. "Well enjoy." Dana stepped out.

"Goodnight Dana." Cody started strumming some more.

"Goodnight Cody." Dana went back into the house and she could hear Cody playing the guitar and singing the Dana song…'Dana-Dana-Dana-Dana-Dana-Dana…"

"Oh Dana there you are." Karen just got off the phone in the kitchen. "Guess what, Robby just called for you."

"Robby Hill? From my AP English class?" Dana asked taking the post-it from her sister.

"He wants to take you out tomorrow night." Karen informed her.

"He does?" Dana asked.

"I was just as surprised as you are. Usually when boys call wanting a date, they're looking for me." Karen said flipping her long brown hair. Dana just rolled her eyes at her conceited sister.

"Oh I can't tomorrow. It's Cody's birthday." Dana groaned.

"So? You don't even like Cody." Karen said shrugging her shoulders.

"I don't-not like Cody. He's a cheese-head." Dana admitted. "But he can be a very sweet and funny, charming in his own weird way…cheese-head." Dana spaced off for a moment.

"Oh my gosh! You LIKE HIM!" Karen squealed.

"What? No! That's not what I said, in fact that's the opposite of what I just said." Dana retorted in denial.

"This is amazing! He is so NOT the type of a guy you usually go for!" Karen went on. "Most of the time you pick successful, driven geeks who turn out to be jerks."

"I don't like Cody." Dana said again. "It's just his birthday. Don't read too much into it. Okay?" Dana said throwing her hands up in the air.

"Okay, but you know it wouldn't kill you to try something new." Karen said as she went upstairs to their bedroom leaving Dana alone in the kitchen. Dana pulled back the white curtain on the glass window and stole one last look at Cody before she too went upstairs to go to bed.

TBC…