DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANYTHING (BESIDES O.C.)

Derek was doing his best to ignore that hurt look on her little pretty face. But she'd not take her brown eyes off him, showing all her disappointment.

Vanessa walked very close to Derek, embracing his waist. The girl gave him a condescending look, pressing her tiny jaw as his girlfriend was talking about some kind of anecdote that had happened in her beauty salon. For some reason, he knew that the child was holding her outburst.

He actually felt bad for Candy. She'd held out his temper with a smile, with barely concealed indifference. "Are you okay?" Derek asked softly, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm fine, uncle" she pushed his hand away from her. Derek didn't miss the sarcasm in her voice. How could a little girl have such a bad temper?.

"Are you tired, darling?" Vanessa told her, shaking her long lashes. Candy didn't seem happy with her childish voice tone. "I'm not a baby. You can talk to me like an adult"

She opened her eyes in surprise, staring open-mouthed at the girl. Then she drew a more than false smile on her face and touched her nose. "Oh, you're so sweet!"

"Thanks" Candy replied, giving her a hypocrite grin "I'm sooo happy, darling"

Derek had to fight a laugh. Spencer looked at him with a frown "Sarcasm?" he asked really confused.

"Yeah, kid"

"Oh" he simply replied, not knowing what else to say "She's funny"

-CANDY-

Dave Rossi opened the door and then stared carefully at the guests. He was shocked to see Vanessa there. Emily and her were like cat and dog. Morgan's girlfriend felt jealous of the other woman, and Prentiss decided to cut any kind of friendship with her. He was surprised again, seeing an adorable little girl next to Spencer.

"Hey guys"

"Hey yourself"

Dave blinked slowly, looking at that child walking into his home without any hint of shyness. Derek stood in the door. "Sorry I'm late"

"Who is she?" He pointed with his thumb to Candy.

Derek knew his friend would give him hell with the whole thing. But then, he needed his advice or, rather, his point of view. "She's Candy"

"Candy? Is that even a name?"

"I guess it's Candace" he replied, shaking his head "Anyway, she's my supposed daughter"

Dave frowned at him "What the hell?"

"She has come to my house this morning saying I'm her daddy"

"Really?" the older man asked, closing the door behind them. Then his serious expression turned into a weak smile. Later, that weak smile turned into a chocked laugh. And finally, that muffled laugh turned into a hearty laugh.

Derek glanced at him, hitting his shoulder faintly "Stop laughing, you asshole. This isn't funny!"

But he didn't seem quite ready to end his own fun. "Come on,where's your sense of humor?"

Wiping away a tear that had dropped for his lacrimal, Dave took a deep breath, trying to bring something useful. "It's ok, Morgan. Stuff like that happens more often than you think"

"Ever happened to you?"

Dave stopped in his tracks, looking up and down at his younger friend. "Absolutely not. I've never been so crazy about a woman to the point of forgetting something so important as using a condom"

He frowned at his words. Who was Candy's mom? Maybe he knew that woman. But then, if she was his daughter, he should know her mommy very well...

"Morgan, I need to talk to you" Emily grabbed his elbow and guided him to the living room, where everybody was sitting around the table. Vanessa looked at them, aware of every move, but Emily just ignored her warning looks.

"Where are you taking me?" he asked, seeing that they were walking away from people "I don't want Van-"

"What the hell is she doing at my birthday lunch?" she practically shouted, crossing her arms "You know I hate that woman"

Derek raised an eyebrown, a smug grin furrowing his face "Are you jealous, too?"

But his brunette friend wasn't in the mood. Emily slapped his nape, wiping out any sign of fun. Derek scowled at her, still rubbing the back of his neck "You hurt me"

"Take your Barbie away from here. NOW"

"She stays" Derek crossed his arms, making clear his decision. "Not your house anyway"

"But it's my birthday" she replied, increasingly pissed off. "She hates me, Morgan. Vanessa is a bitch and I don't want her around my friends"

"She's my girlfriend and I love her. I want her with me, so yeah, she stays"

"Don't be ridiculous, please" she scoffed, shaking her head slowly "You're just horny for her. You don't even know what the hell you're talking about"

Derek chuckled bitterly, fixing his eyes on the dark ones of his friend "So that's what you think about me? Do you think I can't feel anything for any woman?"

"That's so what I meant and you know is"

"Yeah, sure"

Emily sighed heavily "You're a great guy and I really appreciate everything you've done for me after my 'death', ok?" she whispered as placing a hand on his shoulder "But I hate her. And Vanessa hates us"

"She's just jealous"

"That's a poor excuse" Emily replied, trying to keep calm. At times like that, the urge to beat up her beloved friend just grew inside her. He was a very clever man, but when his girlfriend was involved, Morgan seemed really stupid "Her jealousy isn't-"

"She hasn't hurt anyone!"

Emily smiled resignedly, knowing that it was a losing battle. Vanessa was a superficial, stupid woman. But if he wanted to live with her, she couldn't do nothing but accept his little bitch.

"All right, Morgan. I don't feel like arguing right know" She sentenced, walking away from him "But you know what I think about her"

Derek ran a hand over his face, trying to clear his mind. He knew Emily was right. Vanessa was possesive woman. But then, everybody had flaws. She couldn't be perfect. She was his girlfriend and his team needed to respect her.

"Morgan?"

He looked up from the grass to Spencer's brown eyes. The younger man looked worried, his lips tightened and his brow furrowed.

"What?" Derek said, approaching his friend "Something wrong?"

"Pretty wrong" he swallowed hard, visible nervous "Candy's gone"

"What the hell?" he growled, feeling a heavy weight over his shoulders "What do you mean she's gone? Where?"

"Don't know"

"She's hidden somewhere in the house" Derek ruled "I better go to find her"

"Candy's gone" Spencer repeated again, this time grabbing his friend's arm "She left you this"

Derek stared in disbelief at the piece of paper. That couldn't be happening.

You don't seem very happy right now. Steven was right. You don't want to know anything about me. I always thought you'd be different. I'm going to call mommy so she come to pick me up. Don't look for me. I love you. Candy

"What's up?" JJ asked puzzled, seeing Derek's harsh breathing.

Rossi walked toward them "Where's that little girl?" he asked innocently "I have things inside this house, things not suitable for underage people"

Derek looked at him, "Why the hell you don't lock that damn door?" he shouted furiously at Dave "My daughter has escaped from your fucking house!"

"Oh, now she's your DAUGHTER" Dave said with a deep frown, understanding his frustation but not sharing his anger.

"Her mom is going to kill me!" Derek growled at him "You know that, right?"

"She's your child, not mine" Dave snapped, moving away from him "You should go out and look for her, but you're here shouting like a jerk instead"

Derek grabbed his head and took a deep breath. He'd to find that girl, his girl. Soon.