notes: Well, a week is better than 3.
notes2: This one is pretty short, but it's just collecting dust in my idea bank so I decided to use it now (because I just gave you an AU last chappie and I kindasortawill give you guys another one next chappie).
notes3: I have too many hobbies.
notes4: (I feel like this is a default phrase now) Thank you to those who put this in their Favorites/Alerts list, and to those who reviewed (HungerGamesrules, LinkLover123, Prisma Honeydew, xXLovelyAnimeLoverXx, km28ave, and xXxSnowyDreamxXx)!
notes5: To km28ave: Great question! OMG I can't believe I didn't answer it! Lucy's still alive because her remaining powers gave her luck to keep her alive (albeit the rule), which also brought Natsu closer to Lucy at the end.
notes6: I guess the Update Train is back on track, woot woot!
notes7: (14/25) -Forgot to put this last one-shot lol (Only 11 more, can you believe it?)
disclaimer: I'm pretty sure mangakas have some sort of deadline for every chapter (especially Hiro Mashima-san, with Fairy Tail being superduperultramega popular), and as you can see, I can't work well with time. If in the improbable event I did own Fairy Tail, not only would the chapters be crappy, but they also wouldn't be updated weekly on a regular basis.
summary: Because she has always been his Celestial Spirit Mage.

She was seated in her usual spot on the bar, head resting on crossed arms. Nothing was exactly different about this day than any other day, except the fact that, a few days back, Natsu and her had just started their relationship (this one, for sure, was romantic). A blush would still paint her cheeks pink whenever the thought came, because the reality hadn't fully sunk in that she was dating Natsu, who always seemed so dense about her feelings. She squealed involuntarily, earning a few weirded looks from the guild (and that was saying something, since the guild was wacky on its own).

Right at that moment though, Natsu was not found beside her like he always was. Despite being a bit lonely about the dragonslayer's absence, the blond appreciated Natsu's willingness to learn more about the 'Fundamentals of Romance' because he knew she liked all those cliché things in relationships (it was different with him, she told herself, because she didn't care even if he wasn't a romantic or her prince charming, just that he was Natsu, and that was enough) found in books on her shelf. She was just worried exactly who he'll learn it from.

Just as she was about to indulge in what happens if Natsu learns it from someone like Macao and Wakaba (oh, Mavis), the guild doors burst open, said pink-haired boy and his cat entering the guild. "Lucy!" Natsu's face lit up immediately when he saw her, speeding up his pace to reach her faster.

"Good morning, Natsu," she greeted as he took the seat next to her.

"Lucy!" Happy called to her, "Natsu made you something!" Natsu tried to shush him from telling the surprise, but, not being able to stop the Exceed on time, resignedly fished the object out his pocket. It shone brightly from the light. He put it on Lucy's open palm.

"A gift? But there aren't any special occasions today."

His face turned confused. "Do I need a special occasion to give you something?" he asked, scratching his head, "Don't those boys in your books randomly give the girl something even if it's just an ordinary day?"

She chuckled at that. "How sweet." Then, she proceeded to look at it more closely, observing every small detail. The object was gold, with a heart at the end and Natsu's name engraved on the surface. It was obvious that it was handmade and that a lot of effort and time were put into it (not to mention resources). Lucy immediately fell in love with it. "When did you make this?"

"I made it from yesterday until this morning," he said, rubbing the back of his neck, "That's why I never got to go to your house."

The longer she focused on it, the more she noticed the distinct resemblance to one of her possessions. "Natsu, what is this?"

He looked away, red coloring his face. "It's—it's the key to my heart."

"That sounds so cheesy, Natsu! Who did you hear it from?"

"W-well, Mira told me that when you start a relationship, you open up your heart to someone. How could you open my heart if you don't have a key?"

She stood there, knees barely sustaining her weight from fatigue. Her breaths, labored and ragged, made her chest heave up and down. None of the spirits she summoned so far had worked on her enemy, and she was running out of magic power. She could only think of one thing as she pulled one of the keys from the key ring. Maybe Loke could defeat him!

And she realized a moment after that instead of the Lion's key, she was holding onto Natsu's crafted key. A scream of mixed frustration and desperation came out of her. "Natsu!"

The enemy rushed forward, wielding his magic weapon. She screwed her eyes shut as the man raised the glowing sword up, accepting her fate (because there was nothing else to do but accept it). Only the hit never came. She was still alive, in one piece, when the sword should've killed her moments ago. Opening her eyes, she was met with a very familiar back and a side glance from a very familiar person (hell, this person was more than familiar). Natsu was standing protectively in front of her, hands holding a melting blade. "Did you summon me, Luce?" He grinned at her, and she almost melted with relief.

When they both defeated the enemy together (turns out all they needed was raw strength), she turned to him, a question on her lips. "Natsu," she called, turning his full attention to her, "how do you always save me in time?"

Natsu shrugged. "I just know when you're in trouble. I always know when you call for my help," he gave her a toothy grin, "because you're my Celestial Spirit Mage."

Unseen by them, the handcrafted key in Lucy's hand briefly glowed and shone.

notes: I think that was extremely cheesy.
notes2: And completely random.
notes3: But like how Lucy holds the key to Natsu's heart, you hold the key to something equally important (okay, no, definitely not. Natsu's heart is far more precious). Yes, you hold the key to when I could get my ass to finish the next one-shot! Just review!