Up and at 'em.

Andrea had her feet propped up on the table while she was munching on a set of toast when her younger sis popped in. As per usual, they didn't say a word to each other in the name of morning courtesy. It was too early for that.

The younger female was essentially a smaller, cuter version of her dazzling-eyed, just as genetically blessed senior, and she made the rounds across the kitchen when finally she stopped and turned half-limply.

"Where'd Mom put the fruit snacks?"

The older sibling pointed in the general direction of the living room, not bothering to look up from her phone.

pitter-patter

For a while, it was only her and the chirp of the birds outside.

Andrea was commenting on one of the photos on her social feed when footsteps reverberated back into the room.

"Hey honey."

She looked up and saw the 'ol man fixing his collar. A clean shaven, bespectacled business traveler with the top-hat charm of Stephen Colbert.

"Hey Dad," Andrea took another bite as he came around to give her a kiss on the forehead, and she offered a glimmer of a smile.

Like almost every morning.

And usually, that would do. But not this time. Andrea felt a trickle, and then a flat spread upon her front leg. She looked over her knee-length shorts to spot her dad stroking her shin.

"You know, you have very smooth legs, hon," he spoke while caressing up her left leg.

"Uh," a brow creased over the girl's eyes. "Dad?"

He continued with his appraisal, "I remember how we prayed for a beautiful girl all those years ago," he leaned over and nuzzled her neck. "To think we got an angel!"

Andrea looked around awkwardly as her dad kissed down her side. Slice of toast still in one hand, she cleared her throat.

"Sorry baby," His eyes sparkled as he withdrew himself from her, "You're just so cute."

Ewww... Before the girl could swat him for the tingle he sent down her spine, another voice cut in.

"Hi Dad."

Sister junior re-appeared by the entryway, biting off an apple slice with her teeth. "Morning, my sweet Roxie!" Their father theatrically dashed around her, then gave her a hug and a kiss, which she promptly squirmed out of. Andrea watched the display through half-awake eyes, and relaxed a bit. That earlier handling of her felt different from the usual ones, at first, but she realized he was always that way. A sometimes goofy, but ever unwavering pop who really just liked reminding his girls how much he loved 'em.

Dad's eyes suddenly flashed through her, sparkle and all, and she felt that weirdness tingling in her again.

At least, she thought he was...

"Have a great day at school," the man bid farewell from the door. Both girls waved good-bye as he careened out of view.

When the door closed shut, Andrea looked over to Roxie who took a seat across from her, the teenage girl's own rich dark brown hair tied into a pony-tail, also lasered in on her phone.