It was a typical day in the life of our adventuring party, until I, the Tiefling Artificer, decided to test my latest invention. The result? We all turned into children.

My wife, Kiri, was shocked when she saw us. "What happened?!" she exclaimed, looking at the now infantile version of me, held by our eldest daughter, Zara.

"Dad's new invention malfunctioned," explained Zara. "We'll be like this for a year until it recharges." The twins, who were playing nearby, looked at the device with interest.

Over the next few months, Kiri and Zara took care of us. The wizard, who was now eight, often had tantrums about wanting to be a grown-up again.

The elf, who was now two, started learning to walk and talk, while the drow, now three, had a habit of using her healing magic on her toys.

The Triton, now five, often missed the ocean and would cry for it. Kiri would hold her and sing lullabies, which seemed to help.

One day, the twins saw the device charging. Thinking it was a toy, they started tossing it around. It landed with a crash, scattering pieces everywhere.

"What was that?!" Kiri rushed in, her eyes wide. She saw the broken device and groaned. "Oh no, the de-aging device! How are we going to fix it now?"

Zara, who had been studying my notes, had an idea. "I think I can fix it," she said, determination lighting her eyes. She collected the pieces and started working.

The next few months were challenging. Zara worked tirelessly, often missing meals and sleep. But her efforts were not in vain. The device slowly started to take shape.

Meanwhile, Kiri had her hands full taking care of us. The twins were remorseful and promised not to touch anything they weren't supposed to again.

One day, Zara ran into the room, her eyes sparkling with joy. "I did it!" she exclaimed, holding up the repaired device. "I've fixed it!"

Kiri hugged her tightly, tears of joy in her eyes. "You've done well, Zara," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "Your father would be so proud of you."

We all gathered around the device. Zara activated it, and a warm light enveloped us. When it faded, we were back to our original ages.

I looked at my hands, back to their usual size. I felt a rush of gratitude towards my family. "Thank you, everyone," I said, my voice thick with emotion.

The wizard, now back to being old, chuckled. "I think I've had enough of being young," he said. "Being old isn't so bad after all."

The elf, now an adult again, laughed. "I think I'll stick to climbing trees instead of learning to walk," they said, their eyes twinkling with mischief.

The drow, back to her mature self, smiled. "I've learned a lot about healing," she said. "I think I'll be a better cleric now."

The Triton, now a strong warrior again, nodded. "I've learned to appreciate the sea more," she said. "I can't wait to dive back in."

We all thanked Zara for her hard work and determination. She blushed, then smiled. "I'm just glad I could help," she said. "You're my family, after all."

"And we're very lucky to have you," I told her, giving her a proud smile. "You've saved us all, Zara. You're a true hero."

That night, we had a grand feast in Zara's honor. We all celebrated her success, and I couldn't be prouder of my family.

Looking around the table at the smiling faces, I realized we had grown stronger as a team and as a family during this journey. It was indeed a rejuvenating journey in more ways than one.

In the end, we learned that age is just a number. What matters is the experiences we share, the challenges we overcome, and the love we have for each other.

And as for my invention? I decided to put it away, for now. After all, we've had enough adventure for a while. But who knows what the future holds?

As I tucked my children into bed that night, I felt a sense of peace. We had triumphed over a tough situation, and I was proud of us.

The adventures would continue, I was sure of that. But for now, we were just happy to be back to our normal lives, cherishing the memories of our rejuvenating journey.