"What the heck, how did this happen," Rocket exclaimed in surprise, seeing a brown-skinned lil boy with black hair wearing Herbert's lab coat which was way too big for him how. "I made an invention to make myself younger and it wirked. Then RJ somehow broke it so I figured you'd know what to do." he heard Herbert say majing his heart melt. It'd just been an normal visit to Wondergore and after hearing a commotion, Rocket had ran in to check on him finding a five year okd looking Herbert but was seeing him hug his armoured leg.

"Awwwww, that's a good hug, Herbie, what happened to your hand buddy." Rocket told him.

"RJ was hungry so I let him have a nibble but I feel better, Rocket." he replied giving Rocket an idea as Herbert couldn't rule Wondergore in this state but decided to take hin back to his and Nebula's but worrying about Wondergore seeing Herbert activate his hardlite double impressing Rocket.

"Besides R3's with Val and RJ's with Eric at his castle so we're good." Lil Herbert told him relieving Rocket as they teleported to his and Nebula's house seeing Elroy, Herbie, Luna and Sputnik were awake from their nap but curious about the lil boy with Rocket astoubded realising it was Herbert asking how it happened while having cookies and milk impressing them including Herbert eating a lot of cookies making Rocket think growing down had given him the munchies only Nebula sensed what was happening.

"Mmmmmmm, they're super good guys." Herbert said making the kits giggle which Nebula found very sweet making Rocket agreeing seeing Herbert rub his eyes after being full making Rocket guess he needed an nap but taking him upstairs putting him in his side of his and Nebula's bed hearing him yawning asking why he was feeling sleepy. "I don't know but maybe because you're lil again, but just enjoy it." Rocket said kissing his head like he dud with his and Nebula's kits leaving him be to sleep. He knew ruling Wondergore exhausted his dad so being lil again would be a goid thing for him going downstairs to join his family.

"I made lil Herbert some jammies and cosy socks to fit him, since grownup clothes don't fit him anymore." Nebula told him making Rocket smile as he was keeping an eye on his grown down dad especially after what RJ had done sensing Nebula might be right seeing her nodding and had used her claws like knitting needles which impressed Rocket but saw their kits playing asking where lil Herbert was. "He's taking a nap guys as growing down made him sleepy besides alll the which cookies." Rocket told them..

After a while, Nebula went upstairs seeing lil Herbert awake but smiling at her which melted her heart as she'd brought the clothes she'd made him noticing he had lil claw nails sensing her hunch was right that RJ had given Herbert raccoon blood seeing him hug her which was sweet seeing him thank her for the clothes.

"You're welcome sweetie as you can't run aroubd in your birthday fur as you'll get cold or get something. We can't have that." she said to him seeing him put them on along with the cosy socks giggling which soubded like Rocket when the kits tickled him too much seeing his nose was now a furry snout. she found adorable seeing Rocket astounded but realising with relief that RJ hadn't given Herbert vampire powers but raccoon-blood so the kid was slowly becoming like them knowing Wondergore would be surprised, hoping the hardlire Herbert was keeping things calm there.

"Wondergore won't care as long as it's Herbert like whenght in bed after putting the kits and Herbert into beds but were talking about the situation only Nebula knew her husband was freaking out sonwas relaxing him which was working knowing things would be okay he adopted you, they didn't care when he made you crown prince." Nebula pounted out to Rocket later that ni.

That next morning, Nebula and Rocket were delighted but surprised finding Herbert in bed with them guessing he just wanted to cuddle wih them as Rocket remembered that Herbert's parentsnever really had time to play or be with him but just let him be making Nebula smile as it was sweet hearing their other kits up. "Our kits are up but we'll be back." Rocket told him as he and Nebula got up but Herbert was snuggling into the blanket feeling Nebula and Rocket's auras in it which were relaxing him into sleep. After dropping the kits offat school, both Nebula and Rocket were home seeing Herbert up examining the machine that Herbert had worked on seeing Rocket grab the tool oht of his lil paw.

"Let me work on it buddy, we don't want anything else to happen to you." he told him.

"Okay, but are they okay." Herbertasked him seeing Rocket get what he meant.

"The kits are at school buddy, so they're okay." Nebula reassured him.

She was making them breakfast alomg with her and Rocket coffee seeing Herbert curious as he used to be able to drink it and now he couldn't which was annoying but understood why enjoying the tea but eating a lot of pancakes making Nebula and Rocket chuckle as they were like that along with their kits but was hoping he could help them in some way giggling which was odd only Rocket sensed maybe he was starting to feel like a kid on the inside not just on the outside which was okay as he knew he could find a way to fix this trying not to worry aboht if he couldn't fix this taking deep-breaths trying to be positive in front of Herbert so he wouldn't be freaked out.

"Yeah you're a tech genius which I raised you to be, even if I'm becoming furry like you and Nebula now." Herbert told him.

"Yeah, I know dad but just be careful you know in case I can't fix this." Rocket told him seeing Herbert nodding licking syrup off hisfurry lil paw which Rocket found sweet explaining to Herbert that was normal for raccoons to do that when getting clean making Herbert giggle because he found it hilarious making Rocket smirk at this seeing Nebula go take an after breakfast nap so Herbert was following her upstairs, so he wouldn't be in Rocket's fur.

Around lunchtime, Rocket was making lunch wondering where Herbert was because the house was quiet as he was going to check on Herbert but relieved he was with Nebula seeing her awaken putting a blue furred finger to her mouth. "He just fell asleep and was anxious in case he git in yohr fur but I told hij it was okay." she whispered.. Only what Nebula and Rocket didn't know, was that Herbert's brain growing down was causing the start of memory loss and when they all disappeared, they'd have to make more…