A/N: This is a work of fiction using the characters from Harry Potter that are trademarked by J.K. Rowling.

The sterile hospital room was dimly lit, and the soft beeping of medical equipment provided a steady backdrop to the tense atmosphere. Harry, clad in navy blue scrubs, stood in the doorway. His heart was heavy with concern as he watched his wife, Daphne, who lay in the hospital bed, pale and visibly weakened after giving birth to their daughter, Ivy.

"Daphne, love," Harry said as he stepped closer to her bedside, concern was etched across his face, "I heard from Fleur that that you were trying make an escape."

Daphne turned her head to look at her husband, a look of steely determination in her bloodshot eyes, "I need to be with you and Ivy. Harry, she is going home today. You're taking her home. I need to be with you and Teddy and Ivy. Don't leave me here alone."

Harry's heart broke. He understood her desire to be home, but he knew the risks that came with leaving the hospital too early.

"Fleur said you need to stay. I know it's not ideal, but I'll be here with Ivy everyday while Teddy is in school," Harry pleaded and reached out to gently grasp her hand.

Daphne managed a weak smile, "I'll be able to rest better at home. Besides, you're a doctor. You can monitor me. Please, Harry, I just want to be with you and the kids."

Torn between his concern for Daphne's well-being and his desire to keep her close so that he could protect her, Harry sighed heavily.

"Are you sure about this?" Harry asked, his voice laced with worry.

Daphne nodded weakly but determination flashed once more in her eyes, "I am. I want to get out of here."

"I'm not making any promises. Let me talk to Fleur and we can see what she says. If she's okay with it, then we will get you home. However," Harry said strongly when he saw the smile grow on his wife's face, "Your health is my number one priority so if she says you need to be here, then you're going to stay here, at least for another couple days."

"Fine," Daphne said with a roll of her eyes.

Harry went to go find his co-worker and spotter her heading towards the nearby coffee cart. He explained the situation and Fleur promised that she would go over Daphne's test result and see what could be done.

It was quickly decided that, although Daphne was unhappy with it, she would need to stay at least one more night. Harry picked up Ivy from the pediatric ward before he stopped by Daphne's room to say goodnight.

"I promise, we will be here in the morning and hopefully Fleur will have better news."

Daphne kissed Ivy's head and with tears in her eyes said, "Goodnight."

Daphne lay in the hospital bed, the room empty and her heart heavy with a loneliness that seemed to echo through the room.

It had only been a couple hours since her husband and baby had left but it felt like days. She longed to be a home with Ivy in her arms while Teddy told her all about his day but instead, she was trapped in this room under strict supervision.

She stared at the empty bassinet that sat beside her bed, her fingertips grazed the soft fabric that was meant to hold her newborn daughter. Tears welled in her eyes and her heart ached with a longing to be with her family.

Nurses came and went, and they tended to Daphne with care and compassion, but their presence only served as a reminder of the absence of her own family. The bustling hospital noises had since quieted as the night wore on but even the silence didn't help her get to sleep.

Her phone buzzed on the bedside table and when she picked it up, she saw a photo from Harry. Ivy was swaddled in a soft blanket in Harry's arms and Teddy sat beside Harry with a book open in his lap, clearly reading a bedtime story to his little sister.

Though grateful for the photo Daphne couldn't help the feeling of isolation. She longed to be there in that picture. Instead, she was confined to the cold and sterile hospital room.

Hours passed by and finally Daphne was able to drift off to sleep, hopefully that tomorrow would bring the news that she would be home with her family.

Harry pulled up to the hospital and while normally he would be coming to work this time he was dressed in casual clothes with his son and daughter in the backseat. He had received a call from Fleur earlier in the morning that Daphne's test results showed enough improvement that she felt comfortable discharging her.

He pulled into his parking spot and quickly jumped out of the SUV. He unclipped Ivy's car seat first before he rounded the car to help Teddy out of his booster seat.

"Mama's coming home!" Teddy yelled excitedly.

Harry laughed, "Yes, she is, and we're going to be super gentle with her. Mum's still not feeling well, alright Ted?"

Teddy nodded emphatically as he jumped down from the SUV, "Let's go!"

They walked through the lobby and came to a stop in front of the elevator, "Dr. Potter!" a loud voice yelled form behind him. He turned around and spotted one of the newer surgical interns running his way.

"Yes, Dr. Stevens?"

"Dr. Delacour wanted me to let you know that she had to run for a emergency C-section but that all the discharge papers and care instructions were left at the nurses station."

"Thank you," Harry said as the door opened and the small family stepped inside.

When they finally reached Daphne's room she was already sitting up in the bed, dressed and ready to go. Harry approached, his eyes shined with tenderness as he gently set Ivy on the bed and pulled her into a hug.

"Mummy!" Teddy exclaimed and darted forward to scrabble up onto the bed.

Daphne chuckled and embraced him in a tight hug. She savored the boys warm embrace, "I missed you so much, Teddy."

"You ready to get out of here?" he asked, and Daphne could only nod. She was so excited to leave that she didn't even complain when she had to use the wheelchair.

The car ride home was filled with laughter, stories and the sweet sound of Ivy's soft coos. Daphne couldn't stop smiling, her heart overflowed with joy at the sight of her husband beside her, their son chatting animatedly and their daughter drifting off to sleep.

Word Count: 1103

Challenges/Prompts:

Advent Calendar – 3. Daphne Greengrass / "Are you sure about this?" / Hurt/Comfort
Scamander's Case – Doctor / Lonely
December Writing Club: Nifty & Swiftie – 10. Priority
Santa's Sack – Genre: Hurt/Comfort