"I haveca surprise for Lyllie and Rockey, a new friend to play with, while Grandpa plays with RJ." Rocket told Lyllie and Rockey were finishing breakfast, making Lylla excited knowing the new friend was Rocke's younger self who was named Rockai and a toddler cub who loved music, just like Rocke.
"I think Lyllie will love this, only Rockey might need time to warm up to him." Lylla told him.
"Yeah, but he's wearing his blanket around him, like a cloak so he might feel brave, to make a new pal." Rocket replied changing his younger self's diaper putting the dirty one in the trash putting him and Lyllie in the play-den plus Lyllie had her stuffed otter named Scruff which made Rocket grin at that, as it was inspired by Lylla's nickname, Mama Scruff.
"They're here, but Rockai looks cute, yep he's wearing shades like Rocke." Lylla told him.
Lyllie and Rockey were seeing a tenuki-male dressed like John Lennon wearing rose-pink glasses but there was a toddler male-tenuki dressed the same as his dad but shy which Rockey sensed as he and Lyllie saw Rocket approaching them as they were playing with blocks but Lyllie was curious than Rockey who was still playing instead of paying attention.
"Hey guys this is uncle Rocke, and that's his cub, Rockai who you'll like, Rockai this is Lyllie and Rockey but think you're gonna be good friends." he introduced Rockai putting him in the play-den with Lyllie and Rockey seeing a furry lil Groot with him makijg them curious as they'd never seen a Groot like this one before, making Rocke chuckle.
"I am Groot." he said hugging the female-otter cub but noticed the male raccoon-cubwho had a blankie wrapped arouhd him like a cloak nudging his best buddy gently, pointing to him knowing he was just as shy.
"Awww he shy like me." Rockai said softly impressing them as they couldn't talk het, especially Rockey because the cybernetics in his throat were still getting settled but Lyllie was making noises which made Lylla and everybody hopeful that she might start talking
"I am Groot, I am Groot, Inam Groot." they heard the furry sapling say, feeling Rockey's blanket which was justvas soft as his growing fur and like Rockai's fur making Rockey a bit curious reaching out a paw gingerly making Rockai impressed as he watched smiling.
"That's Groot, he's Rockai's best friend and emotional support because he had people like your Herb be mean to him so you guys might hit it off." Rocket explained to the blanket-wearing infant but saw his eyes widening and whimpered seeing a familar mark on his dad's furry shoulder understanding.
"Ssshhhh buddy it's okay, yes I grew up in a lab just like you, but it's okay now." he said noticing Rockai pull up his sleeve knowing what he was doing impressed he wanted to share this with them, seeing Rockey staring at the brand on his furrybarm seeing Rockai had his eyes squeezed shut not wanting to look at it.
"Me have one too, dada too." he told him.
"Yeah and that's brave of you, to wanna share that with him." Rocket said seeing Lylla enter.
"Mama Scruff." Lyllie said pointing to her, making Rocket laugh hysterically and Lylla stunned.
"Awesome first words Lyllie, mommy's speechless but proud of you." he said to the female-cub.
"I am but why does that have to be her first words." Lylla mumbled going to make lunch.
"You hear that buddy, Lyllie's talking, but you take your time, buddy." Rocket told Rockey as Lyllie and Rockeybwere playing with blocks but Rockai were playing too with his Groot which Rocke fouhd sweet knowing they'd be great friends as they grew up seeing Rocket agreeing
"I can't believe Lyllie said her first words and that they were Mama Scruff." Herbert said as they were getting ready for dinner but Rockey was taking an nap because the playdate had been so fun and hadn't wanted it to stop, so had been upset when Rockai had to go home with Rocke, so Rocket had calmed him down into an nap but Lyllie stuck out her tongue at Herbert which confused Jupiter.
"Bad Herb hurt Rockey." Lyllie said making Rocket get it, he saw it hurt his dad's feelings even though Lyllie and Rockey were too little to learn his Herbert was different from the one that had hurt his young self hugging Herbert's leg.
"Thanks son, that helps, it does hurt my feels." he admitted softky making Lyllie look confused.
"I guess we have to teach her and Rockey about their feelijgs." Jupiter said seeing Lylla and Rocket nod, hearing Rockey awake but Nebula had him knowing Herbert being in here would set him off like the playdate ending remembering his reaction to Rockai showing him his brand mark.
"Maybe we can try showing them our Herbert is nice just slowly." Rocket told them.