I Won't Let Nobody Hurt You

30

The following afternoon Meredith was taking a nap while Charlotte and Amelia were trying to convince Arizona and Addison to go out on a date, only to receive pushback from both women.

"No." Addison stated firmly. "I appreciate the offer to babysit, but I'm not leaving her."

"I agree with Addie. We've never both left her at the same time, she's always had at least one of us. I don't know what us leaving to go out on a date may trigger and I don't want to find out." Arizona continued.

"You guys haven't even been out on a date since you started dating! You have to take some time for yourselves every once in a while." Amelia argued.

"Not if it's going to negatively affect her." Addison countered.

"I'm sorry but I'm with Amelia on this one." Charlotte sighed. "I understand that you're scared to leave her, but you can't be with her every second of the day. Her separation anxiety isn't going to get any better if there isn't some separation because if you don't leave her, then she won't be able to see that you will come back."

"We have left her before, just not at the same time." Addison countered.

"We're not telling you to stay out all night or anything, just go out to dinner or something. Take a couple of hours to yourselves and let us take care of the peanut." Amelia urged. "If she's really upset and we can't calm her down, we will call you and you can come right home."

"I don't know." Arizona bit her lip.

"You guys can't let motherhood be your entire personality." Charlotte stressed. "You need a life outside of taking care of Meredith."

"She is our life." Addison bit back a sob. "We're happy, the three of us are happy. What's so wrong with that?"

"There's nothing wrong with you guys being happy Addie, but you don't want her to become too dependent on you. That's not healthy." Amelia explained. "She already sleeps in bed with the two of you, which I understand why and I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, just that I think some distance would be good."

"For who?" Addison demanded. "Who would that be good for? The entire time we're gone all we're going to do is worry about her!"

"I know it's hard to see right now, but it'll be good for all three of you." Charlotte said quietly.

"Addie, baby, why don't you go in the living room and cuddle with Mer?" Arizona suggested, rubbing her back in soothing circles.

"Okay." Addison nodded, hugging Arizona for a moment before tilting her chin up and pressing a kiss to her lips. "I love you."

"I love you too." Arizona smiled. "Go lay down on the couch with your bunny, I'll come check on you guys in a few minutes." Addison nodded with a small smile, turning to walk into the kitchen. Once she was out of the room Arizona sighed, turning to Amelia and Charlotte. "Look, I really appreciate what you guys are trying to do, but I just don't know if we're ready to leave her at the same time. I would love to go on a date with Addie, but we're both just going to worry about her the entire time so what's the point?"

"Your life can't be work and motherhood. There has to be more to you than just your career and being Mer's mommy." Charlotte reasoned, putting a hand over Arizona's. "Mer will be okay. She'll probably be upset at first, but we'll distract her. After a little while she won't even notice you're gone."

"If you don't take the leap now, you never will." Amelia added.

"Can you guys keep an ear out for Mer while I take Addie upstairs and talk to her?" Arizona asked, wiping tears from her face. Amelia and Charlotte both nodded. "Thank you." She whispered as she walked into the living room, a bright smile breaking out across her face when she saw Addison and Meredith together. "Do you feel a little better?" She asked as she walked up to the couch.