Left Behind
Having survived Thanos' snap, Rocket made his way from Wakanda to the Avengers Compound in New York. He was there to comfort Nebula when she and Iron Man were delivered to Earth by Captain Marvel. Rocket helped chart the course the group took to find Thanos on the planet he dubbed The Garden. There, the Titan explained that he had used the Infinity Stones to destroy themselves. Thor killed Thanos in a rage.
Some time later, Rocket returned to space with Nebula. They did their best to help out where they could, answering distress calls and reporting back to Black Widow and the Avengers on Earth. Five years after Thanos' death, the Avengers began developing a plan to travel through time to acquire the Infinity Stones and bring back everyone they lost. Rocket and Nebula flew in to help.
Stealing Reality
Needing all the help they could get, Hulk and Rocket traveled to New Asgard to recruit Thor who was treating his deep depression with copious amounts of alcohol. The Asgardian finally agreed to come along after Rocket noted they had beer in the ship. Back at Avengers headquarters, Rocket assisted in the building of the time platform and explained that the Power Stone was on Morag in the past.
With everything set and assignments given out, Rocket and Thor traveled to Asgard in the past to attain the Reality Stone—also known as the Aether—which had been absorbed by Jane Foster. The Odinson grew worried and Rocket gave him a tough love pep talk that proved less than effective. While Thor had a talk with his mother Frigga, Rocket snuck into Foster's chambers and used an extractor device to attain the Infinity Stone. He was detected by palace guards and ran to his partner. The pair returned to the present without further problems.
A Battlefield Reunion
Having succeeded in their mission, the Avengers got to work putting together a new Infinity Gauntlet, which Rocket assisted with, even cracking jokes during the most tense moments. Hulk utilized the new glove to successfully bring everyone back, but the Nebula from the past had taken the modern version's place and used the time platform to let her Thanos through. He launched an attack on the compound, leading to its utter destruction. Rocket was caught under debris, but War Machine helped get him out while Hulk help up a mountain of rubble. Ultimately, they were saved by Ant-Man, who grew huge, giving them an escape route.
By that point, portals had opened bringing heroes from all over to push back against Thanos' forces, including Rocket's fellow Guardians. During the fight, Rocket even reunited with his pal Bucky Barnes. To defeat Thanos, Stark used the Infinity Gauntlet, but it killed him. Rocket mourned his friend along with the rest of his team at the memorial and then headed back to space, this time with Thor tagging along.
Rocket Around The Christmas Tree
Thor eventually left the Guardians to deal with Gorr the God-Butcher and the Guardians carried on answering distress calls. They gained a more permanent home after purchasing Knowhere. Rocket and the others helped make repairs after the damaged done by Thanos during his quest for the Infinity Stones years prior.
Around Christmastime, Drax and Mantis hatched a plan to sneak off to Earth and retrieve Kevin Bacon, so they could give him to Quill as a present. They succeeded in their mission and also filled the ship with holiday decorations that Rocket and the others set up while Peter was busy. Star-Lord loved the gesture, but did not like that they kidnapped Bacon. Upon regaining his senses, Kevin called Rocket a raccoon and the furry Guardian lunged to attack him. Luckily Groot was there to hold Rocket back.
After calming down, Kevin Bacon agreed to hang out for a bit to spread holiday cheer. During the celebration, Nebula gave Rocket a gift: Bucky's arm. Rocket even tried to carry on the Christmas spirit by decorating Groot with Cosmo, though that idea ultimately failed.