GENERAL COPYRIGHT/DISCLAIMER: Xena: Warrior Princess, Callisto, Joxer and all other characters who have appeared in the syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess, together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan fiction. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices. NOTE: All works remain the © copyright of the original author. These may not be republished without the author's consent.

After finishing breakfast, Xena had decided to ride around and see if she could spot any of the soldiers. If they could stay one step ahead of them, that would be their best advantage. So far she had seen nothing. She needed to find out what their search plans were. As long as they thought she was still on their side she would be able to find all the information she needed. Tomorrow she would go into town and find those two young soldiers she talked to before. Maybe she could use them to get into the prison and find out more.

She decided to keep looking around for a little longer and then head back to the farm. Callisto still didn't trust her and she needed to prove to her she was on her side now.

It was going to be a long hard road for both of them. Especially for Callisto, she had so much hate, rage and pain inside her. There was a lot for her to conquer before she would be completely redeemed. She really did seem to want it though. Xena could tell that Callisto was already beginning to feel that protective maternal bond to her unborn baby. That child would be the key to unlocking her heart and letting her beat her darkness.

Xena knew that first hand. She believed that the first time she felt goodness again was when Solon was born. If she had not given him to Kaleipus, maybe her life would have been different. Maybe she would have changed sooner than she did and all those lives that were taken after she gave him up would have been spared. It had been almost ten years between then and when her army betrayed her and Hercules helped her start on her own road to redemption. She was responsible for a lot of death and destruction during those ten years.

Wait…ten years! Then that meant Cirra happened after she gave Solon up. Xena's face turned pale as she realized, Callisto's family would have been spared too! Xena knew then that no matter what it took she HAD to help Callisto and protect the baby she was carrying whatever the cost. She made a terrible mistake giving Solon up and she couldn't take that part of her life back. But she could give Callisto the chance at motherhood that she never allowed herself. It was the way she could finally redeem herself for Callisto's family. Artemis was right. She is the only one who can do it.

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Callisto decided to rest after Xena left to look for soldiers. She didn't like being tired so easily, but Octavia said it was part of it, to get used to it. Oh well, she had been through a lot worse so this being pregnant thing she could handle.

She hoped Xena would find out what the soldiers were up to. She'd feel a lot better having the upper hand in all this. She hated still being so vulnerable and it was weird working with Xena instead of against her in this too. Sighing, Callisto got up to go in the kitchen with Octavia. This whole Xena, baby, change deal was going to be a wild ride.

Callisto went to the window and looked out at the woods.

"Xena's not back yet." She said.

Octavia looked up from her sewing, "Not yet. Do you think we can trust her, Callisto?"

"As strange as it sounds, yes. I think she is probably the only one we can trust right now." replied Callisto.

"You and she have a lot of anger for each other. It's easy to see that. You should try to fix that if you are going to work together." Octavia said.

"I know. It's not going to be easy for me to do that. I've hated her for eleven years and that hatred has just built up more and more over that time."

"It's time to put that all behind you, Callisto. The most important thing now is your little one." The older woman said.

Callisto nodded, "Yes it is more important than anything in my life. I don't want to die anymore, Octavia. You were right I have too much to live for now."

The old woman gave her an affectionate hug. "Come sit down and wait for Xena."

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Xena rode up to the farm and dismounted, leading Argo to the barn to feed her. She'd covered a lot of ground today and didn't find any sign of soldiers. That didn't mean they were safe though, they still had to keep their guard up. Tomorrow she would ride to the village and talk to the two soldiers there. She had to get into that prison somehow.

After getting Argo settled in, Xena went to the farmhouse, still unsure of the reception she would get. She knew there was still mistrust and tension on both their parts. They had agreed on a truce but Callisto was still unstable and may always be to a degree no matter how much she could change her ways. It would not take much to make her turn back to her old self.

When she walked in, Callisto and Octavia looked up at her, Callisto tensed and instantly placed her hand on her dagger.

"Hello Xena." Octavia said

"Hello. Has everything been quiet here?"

Callisto finally spoke, "Yes. Did you find any signs of anything?"

"No, nothing. I'm going to ride into the village tomorrow. There were two young soldiers there and I think I can maybe use them to get into that prison and see if I can get any information on what they are planning." Xena replied.

Callisto visibly tensed when Xena mentioned the prison. "The warden's quarters are in the small building beside the main prison. He's a real piece of work but smart. You will need to be careful what you say around him."

"I don't plan to be there but long enough to find out their plans and get back out." Xena was about to say more when a sound outside got her attention. Callisto heard it too.

"Listen, soldiers! I'll keep them busy here, Callisto, get Octavia out of here. Go out the back and head for the woods."

Callisto grabbed her sword and pulled Octavia quickly towards the back door. As she was about to open it she heard leaves crunch outside. She whispered to Octavia, "Go on out first. Act like you're just going to the barn. They won't harm you. Get their backs to the door, and I will get behind them. Go!"

Octavia reluctantly went out and started for the barn. Just as Callisto expected two soldiers saw her and approached the old woman. She did as Callisto instructed and stopped, positioning herself where they would have their backs to the door.

When Callisto saw her chance she slipped out and crept up behind them, silently and in a lightening quick move she slit both their throats one after the other. They never knew what hit them. Octavia was stunned and just stood staring at the two dead men on the ground. Callisto returned her dagger back in its sheath and took Octavia by the hand. "Hurry, let's go!" she said to the still stunned woman as she led her to the woods.

Meanwhile Xena was in the front of the house attempting to get the other two soldiers to move on their way, trying to convince them that Callisto was not there. As she was talking, one of them moved toward the back of the house and saw the others dead. He yelled out, "Silas and Milieus are dead! Get her! She's with Callisto!"

At that Xena quickly pulled her sword and struck at the soldier in front of her. The other had run back and was advancing on Xena. She did a spin and came around kicking him down. The first one lunged at her and she countered his attack by driving her sword through his belly. The second man was on his feet coming at her. He barely made a step in her direction when she back flipped over him, turned and drove her sword through him also. With both dead, she scanned the area and saw no more soldiers. Sheathing her sword she headed for the woods to find Callisto.

Callisto and Octavia had ran a ways into the trees when the old woman said, "stop, please, I can't run anymore."

Seeing her breathing heavily, Callisto stopped and helped her sit down on a log. Octavia looked up at her and said, "Why did you have to kill those men?"

Callisto turned away and said matter-of-factly, "Dead men don't talk."

Suddenly they heard footsteps approaching and Callisto drew her sword. It was Xena.

"What did you kill them for? I almost had them convinced to leave! I had to fight them and killed the other two. Now it's just a matter of time before the other soldiers find them. They'll be after all of us now!"

"Well, Xena, you wanted to play on the same team. Get used to the way I play the game!" Callisto snapped.

Xena gave her a hard look in return. "My plan to get into the prison won't work now. I'll have to think of something else. I can't go there; I'd just be risking getting caught."

"We should still go, Xena. I have unfinished business with the warden." The blonde warrior said with a wicked grin on her face.

"WE were not going anyway. Do you honestly think I would risk letting you come with me?" Xena just shook her head and said, "We need to get away from here and get as much distance between them and us as we can." Xena said angrily.

Callisto replied mockingly, "I'm touched that you care. Very well Xena, we'll do it your way" She extended her hand towards the trail, "Shall we?"

Octavia had witnessed the tense exchange between the two warriors and was disappointed at Callisto's attitude. It was going to be hard to get that girl to change her ways. She could see that, but that made the old woman even more determined to do just that.

They headed down the trail. Callisto realized they were headed back toward the beach and the cave, and that gave her an idea. The boat they took when they escaped was hidden in the cave. After they make camp and Xena and Octavia were asleep, she could slip away after dark, get the boat and go over to the island and get her revenge on the man who was the first to rape her before turning her over to the others….the warden. She would make sure she would not get caught, even if she had to kill everyone on that island. That sick bastard had to pay like the others did. The idea that he may even be the one who got her pregnant made her skin crawl. The idea of any of those pigs as her baby's father made her cringe. But especially the warden. She could still smell the stink of booze on his breath, see his beady eyes, feel the disgusting sweaty weight of his fat body and feel his hands all over her as he raped her while the others held her down.

If this child was given to her by the Fates, why couldn't it have been with someone else, not one of those pigs! She thought about Theodoras and the few times she had let him into her bed. She didn't love him the way he loved her but at least she would have been ok with him fathering her child. Even Ares would have been better than this!

It was starting to get dark so they decided to make camp. Callisto built a fire while Xena went to catch fish from a nearby creek. They had not eaten since early that day and all three were famished.

Later after getting full from the fish, they retired for the night. Callisto pretended to be asleep and listened until she heard the faint sounds of Octavia snoring. She waited to make sure Xena was also asleep before she made her move.

Checking to make sure it was safe; she slipped out of camp and headed for the cave. The boat was still where her men had left it hidden behind some boulders inside the entrance to the cave. She pulled down a vine hanging nearby and tied it to the front of the small craft and started pulling it across the beach to the water. Once she got it to the edge of the surf she climbed in. But before she could push off into the water, the boat jerked suddenly throwing her backwards. She looked up into the angry gaze of Xena.

"What in Tartarus do you think you are doing? Are you crazy? Don't answer that….Do you want to get caught!"

"Stay out of this Xena. It's none of your business." Callisto said bitterly.

"It is very much my business if you still want me to help you. If you get caught, what happens to your baby Callisto? Have you even thought about that?" Xena yelled.

"I won't get caught. Now get out of the way Xena."

"This is crazy Callisto."

Callisto stopped and turned back to Xena. "The warden is the one who raped me first, he is the one who let the others do it to me. He did things to me that no one should ever have to endure. He deserves to die for what he did. What would you do if it had been you, Xena? Huh? What would you do?"

Xena stared into Callisto's eyes and could see the torment there. She knew what she would do if it had been her so she just sighed and reached for the side of the boat and climbed in.

"Let's go" she said.

Callisto smiled to herself and pushed the boat into the water.