Mary was relieved that Ben was home, but the majority of her family was still gone, and that stung. Being pregnant and dealing with all of the hormones that came with it was hard enough, and the truth of the matter was that her boys had her spoiled. She was used to snuggling with John at night, laughing with Dean and simply marveling at sam's progress.
She missed them more than she could say, and she felt horribly that it was effecting Ben like that. He was having to grow up fast enough as it was, and she could see him stepping up to the plate, trying to be the men his dad and grandfather were. He was trying to protect and reassure her the way they would have, and he was just a little boy.
"I know." She said quietly, stepping forward to kiss his forehead. As she straightened, straightened, she let herself glance at the pictures and other proof on the table. Seeing her boys, her husband, the girls she considered close enough to be family...seeing all of them made a huge lump come to her throat. She missed them.
Ben was right. This was going to work because it had to. They were going to pick up the pieces of their family one by one until everyone was home again.