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.
Redemption Story
Chapter 26
Xena urged Argo on faster down the trail in the direction that Callisto and Joxer went, with Gabrielle holding on for dear life. Xena saw one of the priests take off after Joxer and Callisto when they ran from the village, hopefully he had not found them and maybe she could get to him before he did. The snow was getting harder and the wind was starting to pick up making it harder to see very far ahead in the dark. If this snow storm got any worse they would have to find shelter soon, but first they had to find Callisto and Joxer.
Argo began to slow down and her nervous behavior told Xena that the mare sensed something ahead, and she was right. On the trail in front of them was a body lying in the snow. When they got closer Xena jumped down and ran over to see who it was. She was relieved to see that it was the priest who had followed Callisto and Joxer and not one of them. Gabrielle jumped down from Argo and ran over to see what was wrong.
"Who is it Xena?' she asked.
"It's the priest I saw chase after them. It looks like Callisto was able to get the jump on him first though. It's hard to see any tracks in this snow but it looks like they kept going that way." She said pointing down the trail.
"We're going to have to find shelter from this storm soon Xena!"
"I know, let's go, they can't be that far ahead in this snow."
They began walking down the trail looking for any signs of their friends.
Further Ahead:
Joxer's eyes grew wide at what she had said.
"W-what! Oh my Gods, Callisto not now!" he knelt down in front of her and started talking to her belly.
"Hey look little baby, listen to your Uncle Joxer ok. It's really not a good time for you to come out of there right now. It's cold and snowing now and it's just really nasty weather out here. Don't you want to stay in there where you're all cozy and warm? Please little baby don't come out yet!"
Callisto began having a sharp contraction and reached down grabbing Joxer by the nose and pulled him to his feet as he yelped and squirmed.
"I - don't – think – he – is – listening - Joxer!" She screeched through the contraction. "Ooohhh no it's coming Joxer ooohhh!"
"Hang on Callisto, just breathe like this, he he he he." Callisto just looked at him blankly.
"Ok think Joxer think. We have to get out of this storm. Ok I remember Xena telling me a story about when her and Borias' army was here a long time ago and, and, oh yeah, she said they had found an old abandoned mine somewhere east of the village and they used it to store supplies and hide out. Ok, we are heading east so it has to be up ahead somewhere. Can you walk ok?"
"I don't have a choice Joxer! Yes, I can walk, please lets go the baby is moving down I can feel it." She said as another contraction gripped her. "Ooohhh!"
He took her hand and pulled her against him to steady her and keep her warm as they started off to find the old mine.
They had gone a few paces when she looked at him and smiling said, "Uncle Joxer, that was so sweet." Joxer responded with a goofy grin as they continued on against the cold snow and wind praying they would find the mine soon.
Xena and Gabrielle had walked for a while barely able to see through the blinding snow. The wind was howling and it was bitterly cold and there was no way they could see any footprints on the trail, it was hard enough just to stay on the trail because the snow was piling up fast. The gentle snow that first began falling during the ceremony had turned to a full blown blizzard.
Xena was beginning to fear that they would never find Callisto and Joxer, but unknown to her they were only a few paces ahead of her. The blizzard and Callisto's contractions having slowed them down quite a bit.
As they slowly made their way to where Joxer thought the old mine may be, Callisto stopped once more to get through another hard contraction. "Oh gods it hurts, Ahhhh!"
"Just breathe Callisto, he, he, he."
She reached out and grabbed Joxer by the collar and screamed in his face.
"IF YOU SAY HE, HE, HE ONE MORE TIME I AM GOING TO CUT OUT YOUR LIVER!" with that she shoved him back causing him to trip over a log behind him and fall into a snow bank.
Joxer clumsily pulled himself back to his feet and started rubbing the snow off his clothes.
"I was just trying to help. I saw my sister tell her friend to breathe like that when she had her baby. It's supposed to help somehow."
"I'm sorry Joxer, it just really hurts and we need to find that mine. This baby is not going to wait much longer." She said as another contraction started almost on top of the last one. "Ahhhhhhh!"
Joxer put his arm around her to support her and looked around hoping that he could see something that would work as a shelter. The mine was still nowhere in sight and he could tell that she needed to get somewhere fast.
Behind them:
As they continued on through the snow Xena stopped suddenly when she thought she heard a voice ahead of them.
"Listen Gabrielle, up ahead. Did you hear something?"
"Yes it sounded like Callisto."
"Yes it did, they are just around this bend in the trail come on!" They picked up their pace and hurried towards the sound of Callisto's voice.
Joxer stopped when he thought he heard something. Just then Xena and Gabrielle appeared running through the snow.
"Thank the Gods! It's Xena, she'll know exactly where that mine is!" he said hoping to reassure Callisto who was again bent over in the grip of another contraction.
"Xena over here!" He shouted. They reached them out of breath. "Joxer thank goodness we found you. This storm is bad." Gabrielle said.
"Xena we've got to find shelter now! The baby is coming!" Joxer exclaimed nervously.
Callisto was about to speak but was overcome with more pain.
"Callisto how close is the contractions?"
"They are really close together and I can feel the baby pressing down, its close Xena, please help me."
"Xena I've been trying to find that mine you told me about. Do you know where it is?"
Xena looked around to get her bearings. "Yes! It's right over there" and she took off. Joxer looked where she was going and there by a miracle was the opening to the mine only a few feet from where they were standing.
"He pulled Callisto close to help her along as they headed for the mine entrance, with Gabrielle following leading Argo.
Once inside the mine Xena began looking for lanterns to give them some light. "Gabrielle, there should be a crate somewhere with blankets. Find them and spread them out over here. Joxer when she gets the blankets ready help Callisto lie down and then find some wood to get a fire going. We've got to warm this place up quick!"
"I found them Xena!" Gabrielle said as she shook the dust off the blankets and began to spread them on the floor.
"OHHHHHHHHH!" Callisto screamed out as the hardest contraction yet hit her.
As Joxer helped her lay down Xena hurried over to check her and see how close she was to delivering.
Callisto had a death grip on Joxer's hand as she screamed with pain. "AHHHHHHH!" The grip she had made him cringe in pain himself.
"Joxer go get that fire started now!" Xena commanded.
He tried to pull his hand free and she just gripped harder.
"Callisto, let go, please, owww!" he finally pulled his hand free and shook it to get the feeling back.
"Joxer, the fire now!" Xena said getting annoyed with him.
"Owww! She broke my hand!" He complained.
"No she didn't, but if you don't get that fire going I WILL!"
"Ok, ok, calm down." He mumbled as he started looking for wood and kindling to get the fires going.
"Ok Callisto, let's see how close this little one is." She said gently, as she helped her get her legs in position.
"Xena I'm scared. I can't do this! I don't know how to be a Mom!" Callisto babbled anxiously.
"You will be fine, you can do this."
Gabrielle came back from getting Argo settled at the entrance to the mine and hurried over to help.
"How is she Xena?" she asked
Xena examined Callisto, and looked up smiling. "It won't be long, she's dilated almost completely. You should be feeling like you want to push pretty soon but don't until I say it's ok."
Callisto gave a small nod of her head and whispered,"Ok"
"Just rest as much as you can now, because when you start pushing that's when the hard work begins and you'll need all your strength." Gabrielle said giving her a gentle hug.
"Gabrielle, Xena, I don't know how to thank you for all you have done for me these last few months. I feel so ashamed of the things I've done to you both. I'm so sorry." Callisto tearfully said. Before she could continue she began having another contraction.
Her labor went on for another half hour when she screamed out that she needed to push. Xena quickly assessed the situation and told her that on the next contraction she could push.
"Ok Callisto push…."
Three hours later:
"Push Callisto, push."
"I AM PUSHING! I can't do this, I'm so tired, and I can't push anymore Xena."
"You have too Callisto, we've got to get this baby out."
Xena was really getting worried, after three hours of pushing the baby had only moved down just a little bit and Callisto was covered in sweat and was getting exhausted. If the baby didn't come soon she was afraid she would have to do a Caesarian like she had to do on Ephiny to deliver Xenon a few years ago. Only this time the conditions were not as clean or as good as then. There was a very real chance that Callisto and the baby could both die.
Gabrielle saw the fearful look on Xena's face and gestured for her to step over away from Callisto.
"Xena she can't go on much longer like this. What should we do?"
"I don't know, if that baby doesn't come down soon I may have to do a Caesarian, and I don't know if she will make it Gabrielle, she's exhausted and if she loses too much blood…."
Callisto screamed out in pain bringing their attention back to her. Xena checked her and told her to push again, this time she told Gabrielle to get behind her and lift her up into a sitting position.
As Callisto pushed with Gabrielle's support against her back she felt the baby move down.
"It moved Xena it's moving!"
"Yes come on Callisto again, push!"
After pushing with everything she had Callisto fell limp back into Gabrielle.
"It's so close now Callisto, I can see the head and it's full of blonde curls! Come on just a few more pushes and you'll have your beautiful baby." Xena said excitedly.
After pushing a few more times with no results, Xena had an idea."
"Joxer come over here and get on one side of her, Gabrielle get on the other side and when I tell you to, lift her up off the floor. Callisto listen to me, when they lift you try to put your feet under you and sit up then push as hard as you can!"
After they lifted her Callisto began pushing with everything she had, Xena shouted, 'It's coming! It's here!" Soon the mine was filled with the cries of a newborn baby.
"It's a little boy Xena said tearfully as she quickly cut and tied the umbilical cord and handed the squirming little bundle to the waiting arms of his very happy, and exhausted Mother.
Callisto reached eagerly to take her son into her arms, instantly mesmerized by the sight of him, tears of pure joy pouring from her eyes.
"He's so beautiful, I can't believe this is happening and he's really mine. I love you so much." She cried as she kissed her son's little head and cheeks and held him close to her. Everyone was silent as they watched the new Mother and baby. They all shared the joy, relief and happiness of the moment. The most wonderful thing though was seeing Callisto so filled with love for this child she held in her arms. Her redemption was now complete.
"He's beautiful Callisto, have you thought of a name for him yet?" Gabrielle asked.
"Yes, I'm going to call him Titus. That was my Grandfather's name."
"Awww hello Titus, I'm your Uncle Joxer. Yes I am and you are so cute, you look just like your Mommy yes you do!" Joxer gushed.
"Joxer don't scare him." Xena said sarcastically.
"He really is a beautiful baby Callisto. Congratulations." Xena said happily.
"Gabrielle there should be some clean rags in one of those chests. I had them here to use as bandages for any of my men that were wounded. I think we can use them to get this little guy cleaned up and wrap him up nice and warm."
Callisto reluctantly handed Titus over to Xena and Gabrielle so they could clean him up and wrap him in the makeshift baby blanket they had made of the bandages. When they were done she took him back in her arms and as soon as she held him close he started whimpering and moving his head around.
"Xena, what's wrong? I'm I doing something wrong?" Callisto asked worried.
"No you didn't do anything wrong. I think somebody is just hungry that's all."
"Oh!"
Seeing the look of panic and confusion on Callisto's face Xena offered some instructions on the task at hand, and soon Mother and son were handling his first feeding in perfect harmony.
Xena decided to let them have their privacy and turned to walk away when she caught sight of figure hidden in the shadows near the mine entrance.
"Ares, I should have known you would be lurking around here somewhere. I suppose I should say congratulations on your new son but somehow I just don't see you being a real supportive Daddy." Xena whispered bitterly.
"Calm down Xena, I'm not planning to make my presence here known, but despite what you think of me, I do care about them and I wanted to see my son. I also wanted to thank you for taking care of them too. If you had not been here Callisto and my son may not have made it. I'm grateful Xena."
Xena was surprised at the sincerity in his voice. Maybe he did care for them just a little. She looked at him and saw that he was looking at Callisto with what could actually pass as a loving look.
"I think we were wrong to doubt what kind of Mother she would be, look at her now." He said
Xena knew he was right as they both watched as Callisto softly hummed and rocked her son as she nursed him.
"Ares I …." Xena turned to find that he was gone.
Gabrielle walked up beside Xena and put her arm around her and said, "Happy Solstice Xena."