Author's Note/Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine. Ace, Cosmo and Mona are property of Gaumont Multimedia.Angie is a character created by Shirley Ann Burton and used with her permission. Dave is up for grabs, I guess. I can't remember what story I read that has him in it - possibly one of Shirley's.

I wrote this story some time ago, and first published it on one of Shirley's websites. I decided today to publish it here, too. I hope you enjoy it.

"NO!"

"Easy, bro!"

"Cosmo, we've listened to 72 different pieces of music. None of them are right for the new trick." Ace Cooper turned and hit the wall in frustration. He and Cosmo were in the control room at the Ring Theater. They had been listening to the different recordings for over 3 hours.

"Ace? What's wrong? I could hear you all the way down the hall."

Ace turned to the source of the voice, all traces of frustration swept from his face. "Mona. What brings you here?" He walked over to her and took her hands in his.

"I'm on my way to the Croesus, to rehearse. I'm early, so I thought I'd stop by for a few minutes. What's wrong? Please tell me."

"Oh, Mona." The look of frustration returned to Ace's face. "Cosmo and I have been here for over 3 hours, listening to different pieces of music. We're trying to find the right one to use as background music for a new trick I've figured out. But it seems hopeless. And this is to be very special, too. It's to be for and with Michael and Regina. They just got engaged, and this is my present to them."

Michael Hanover and Regina Martinelli were two people who assisted Ace at his shows, both backstage and on stage. Over the time they had been with him, he had watched their relationship grow, and it gave him great pleasure to know that he had some small part in their happiness.

"Ace," Mona said with some exasperation, "Look at who you're talking to. After all, I have a far more extensive music library than you and Cosmo combined." She put a hand up to the side of his face. "Let me help, please. Tell me about the trick. I'll find something to go with it, I'm sure."

Ace brightened. He turned his face, and kissed the palm of her hand. "Mona, you're a Godsend." He described the trick to her, telling her how long it would take from start to finish. She listened carefully, her full attention on what he was saying.

"I can see that it would have to be something very special. It's so sweet of you to do this for them. I tell you what. Give me a few days. I'm sure I can come up with something. When did you plan to perform the trick?"

"Not for a couple of weeks. There are a few bugs to work out and Cosmo is still toying with the special effects and Dave with the lighting for it."

"Yeah, Mona. This is gonna be so cool. That is, if we can get all the elements to work just right."

Mona turned to Cosmo, and smiled. "Well, I tell you what, Cosmo. You work on the effects, Dave will get the lighting right, Ace will work out the glitches in the trick and I will provide the right music. Sounds like a great collaboration, doesn't it?"

"I'm cool with that." Cosmo gave her the thumbs up.

Ace kissed her hands. "Mona, you have our eternal gratitude."

She smiled, then noticed the time. "Oh dear, is that clock right? I must run."

"I'll walk you to the car. Cosmo, I'll be back in a few minutes. We'll run through the trick when I do, so be ready."

"That's cool, dude. I'll tell Dave, so he can try the lighting."

Ace nodded to Cosmo and he and Mona left the control room. Cosmo got in touch with Dave over the intercom and advised him of the situation. "Can you be ready to go when Ace gets back, Dave?"

"No problem, Cos. I've just about got it ready, now. One more adjustment, and it's a go."

When Ace came back fifteen minutes later, they were all ready to run through the trick. Half an hour later, after three run throughs, they were together in the control room discussing what was right and what was still needed to make the trick the perfect present to the couple. "Okay, we will have the house lights completely out, and low light on stage. Cosmo, I still think something's missing, special effects wise. We need something more, just before the end," Ace said. "But, for the life of me, I can't think of what it would be."

"I know what you mean, bro," said Cosmo, his brow furrowed with concentration. "I keep trying combinations of things, but haven't come up with what I think you want, yet. But I'm not gonna quit until I get it."

"I know that you'll find what we need, Cosmo," replied Ace. "But we've been working hard. Let's stop for today and try again tomorrow afternoon, when we're refreshed."

"Sounds good to me, buddy," said Dave. "I'm outta here. There's a pizza out there with my name on it, and I'm gonna eat the whole thing. See you two tomorrow." He headed out the door and down the hall.

Ace and Cosmo weren't far behind. They headed to the Racer, and Ace drove them home, to the Magic Express. Inside, Angie had dinner almost ready. When they returned, she asked, "How'd it go, guys?"

"We've got most of the glitches worked out, Angie. We still haven't found the right music. But Mona stopped by, and she's offered to help us in that area."

"Wonderful! With her music sense, and her music library, she should be able to find the right music.By thenyou'll have the glitches worked out and it'll all come together beautifully. I just know it'll work out."