The chain was Carol's, she was told the next morning, by the woman herself.

"He didn't steal it. I gave it to him." She'd explained. Cassia blinked. The thought had never crossed her mind. She'd never assumed that Daryl had stolen it.

"It's a thank you present. A gift to say thank you for what you did for Sophia and for me."

"When I lost it and stabbed and violently kicked several walkers in the head?"

"...Uh, sure."

What a waste of a joke. Valerie would have laughed. Merle would have laughed. Daryl would have- Well, Daryl would have smirked.

"That's... sweet. Thank you."

"And for before... with Ed." Oh, geez. This was swiftly getting too serious and awkward for a first thing in the morning conversation.

"That's no problem, either. I'm very sorry for your loss."

"I'm not."

"Oh... I suppose you wouldn't be."

"He was my husband, but he was also a sick, twisted man. I doubt I'll ever forgive him, and now he's gone and he'll never be able to earn that forgiveness." Cassia didn't know what to say to that, so she nodded very gravely. "You're lucky to have Daryl. Going out of his way to get that chain for you... he seems like a good husband."

Husband?!

"Oh- uh, no. Daryl's not- he's not my husband. We're not married."

"Really? I'm sorry, I thought-"

"It's not a problem. You're not the first."

"So are you engaged? Planning to get engaged?"

"We're not... even together."

"How do you mean?"

"Together. We're not together. We're both single."

"Oh."

"As some like to say; I'm his 'baby mama'."

"Well, that's... one term for it."

"It's probably the most complimentary one." Carol laughed at that, the tiredness that had permeated her features before disappeared very briefly, and she instantly looked about ten years younger. Cassia smiled reflexively.

"Have you never... discussed it?" Cassia hummed in contemplation and folded her arms, rocking her weight onto one side as she bent her leg a little and jutted out her hip, mulling the question over,

"I don't believe we ever have, no. Communication is not really a thing the Dixons are great at." She shrugged and smoothed a hand generally over her little swelling, patting it gently when Carol glanced down at it.

Some small talk, a few laughs and genuine smiles and some more getting to know later, and Cassia had decided that she really did like Carol. She could be a very warm and kindly person once she relaxed and opened up to a person.