I bring you my first story of "Batman the Animated Series" combined with a little bit of "The New Batman Adventures", its sequel series. As a child, I was scared out of my wits by Jonathan Crane/The Scarecrow, but as an adult, I've developed a rather insane case of attraction. XD This story is also slightly AU, also being a modern telling of "Beauty and the Beast", which I've loved as a child, and the main heroine of this story happens to love it as well. Elizabeth Dodson is a young doctor at Arkham Asylum and a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne - and a former psychology student of Professor Crane, whom she flirted with but never went beyond, until he was fired for his illegal experiments. Now she's his doctor at Arkham, and befriends some of the patients in the process whilst attempting to dodge the unwanted advances of Lyle Bolton, the new chief of security. Things get intense as her relationship with Crane develops beyond doctor and student.

I don't know how many of you know this, but the voice of Dr. Crane in the show, Henry Polic II, passed away a couple years ago from cancer, and Vytina and I both mourned for him for awhile then. :( This story is dedicated to him, which I have seen as a rarity amongst fanfic writers and stories.

Disclaimer: None of the content of BTAS and TNBA belongs to me, only my OC Elizabeth Dodson. :) No making money either. And thanks to my friends and fellow writers: nicsnort for helping with the psychology of the relationship , and Vytina for storyline inspiration overall.

Chapter One

Analysis of Wedlock

This was Veronica Vreeland's fourth marriage, and for once, Elizabeth Dodson was hoping the fourth time was the charm. She was the hopeless romantic who wished marriage was as it was supposed to be: a promise and binding of a man and woman, staying true unto each other until death. Not divorce, ever. She was never married, and she hadn't had a boyfriend since college when she chose to put her career above her personal life.

Her friend from childhood, Bruce Wayne, had persuaded her to enter a dating match website, but in Elizabeth's opinion, there were hundreds of creeps out there posing as someone else. She had thought perhaps to just stay away from the opposite sex and just wait for the right time.

But when is the right time? her mind whispered.

Attending weddings and charity fundraisers hosted by her best friend, as well as other parties her whole life since moving to Gotham, hadn't changed her opinion. She'd landed a few dance partners but nothing beyond that. Maybe it was because of how...awkward she was around men. But there was one man in the whole world that made her feel like herself, whom she confided in back in college before he was released by the Board of Directors, regarding her ex-boyfriend.

The ceremony was opened and breezy, similar to a day on the beach, and Veronica as well as her new husband Michael were wed under a dark canopy draping with sheer white curtains fluttering in the wind. Architectural black vases with flourishes of white orchids were placed at all four corners of the canopy, taking the witnesses' breaths away, including Elizabeth - but not much as the bride herself. Veronica had her long flaming hair loose and catching the wind underneath her sheer gossamer veil glittering with some crystals all over; her dress had a form-fitting bodice with a halter neckline, lavished all over with bling, the skirt billowing shimmering satin. And from afar, as the rings were exchanged, you could still see the blink of the luxurious diamond ring which had knocked everyone off their feet upon first sight. Diamonds were a girl's best friend, but they were also too expected. If Elizabeth were ever married, she would imagine anything other than diamonds for herself.

The roaring of applause prompted her to join in. Veronica and Michael Vreeland - she didn't understand why he chose to go with his new bride's surname instead of his own, before deciding it didn't matter - were officially husband and wife. "Happy for her?" she asked her friend, who laughed.

"Of course I am, Lizzie." To this day, Bruce insisted on calling her by her childhood nickname, but then again, Harleen used to. Harleen was her best friend from childhood and ending in college when she got mixed up with the Joker. "Why wouldn't I be?"

She playfully punched his arm. "Because you're a little past thirty and still unmarried, Mr. Rich Boy," she teased. "You want to hurry and tie the knot before you get old and alone, with no kids to pass down your legacy?"

Bruce's face fell. "You know me, Lizzie." He lowered his voice. "Remember Andrea?" Oh, great, bringing up the past. But we all have exes in our past.

"Tim, Dick, Barbara, Alfred and I can't be all you have," she told him softly as she followed him and said others as well as the rest of the wedding party to cocktail hour, which was to the left side of Vreeland Manor - the ceremony had taken place to the right, surrounded by Nature - so the reception would be behind the estate. "Don't you at least want to try and find someone and settle down?"

He rolled his eyes. "And all of this is coming from someone who's not even considering marriage right now."

~o~

He hoped he didn't hurt her feelings, but Lizzie didn't look like it. She was not known to mask her sore feelings unless at work, as required. But marriage wasn't on Bruce Wayne's list, and she knew as well as Dick, Barbara and Tim. He found himself looking at some of the other attending wedding guests around him: Dr. Kirk Langstrom and his wife Francine, Dr. Steven Carlyle and his wife Pamela - formerly Poison Ivy, who had been released two years before - as well as Barbara's father, Commissioner Gordon, and Doctors Joan Leland and Bartholomew, the latter who was Lizzie's boss at Arkham Asylum. The commissioner and both doctors weren't married, but seeing the former couples before them, Bruce pondered.

The reception area to follow was under a white canopy suspended with a crystal chandelier over a white dancefloor placed there, the tables around long and set with tall white, billowing centerpieces. Veronica was the granddaughter of a renowned hunter besides being the daughter of an army general, but while her new husband was decent enough, he wasn't near her status of good money. This day was supposed to be the best of her life, after a year with Michael. Ronnie tried a few times to get them to be more than friends, but Bruce just couldn't let her in on his secret, also given the few times he was unable to return a call after a while. Their relationship was never more than just friendship; he just couldn't let them both live with complications, with what Batman's time-consuming protection of the city did with his personal life.

So, in answer to Lizzie's question, Bruce was happy for her.

The bride and groom entered the area not long after, Veronica having changed into a slimmer, more figure-hugging dress resembling her original. The ritual was the groom getting the garter and tossing it into the crowd, whilst the bride tossed the bouquet. Bruce wound up getting the garter - he felt a little embarrassed, too - and he turned to see who had gotten the bouquet.

She was dressed in glittering black, with long gloves, her hair long and pale liquid gold. Bruce found himself staring into a pair of earthy green eyes. And for public use, he ended up getting his picture taken for the affair with her; he held up the garter while she held Ronnie's bouquet. As he stood close to her, Bruce could smell how serene she was; his senses felt like they were waking up thanks to velvety violets and pristine white peonies with soft cotton musk in the air.

"I hate these things," he told her when the cameras stopped flashing, finally lowering the garment.

She nodded in agreement. "Me, too. And with pantyhose, who needs them?"

Bruce flushed. Well, a garter wasn't what I was thinking of. And she's right - He had to stop his train of thought there, because of how embarrassing it was. "Uh, I meant these big formal affairs." This was supposed to be Ronnie's day of happiness, not made into some big formal affair for the world to see; it was supposed to be the bond of two people who loved each other.

She laughed; she had such a sweet laugh too good for words. "I know what you meant. I was just trying to make you laugh." Now he allowed a smile to form. "Now that's it. You seemed so grim," she noted.

"I've heard that said before."

"Bruce!" Veronica was approaching with her new husband to her side. "I see you've met Susan."

He looked down at her in surprise. Susan! How on earth did I forget to ask her name? "I have. And I forgot to tell you that you've made an excellent choice, Veronica," he told her. He had met Michael a few times on several occasions, and he and Ronnie had hit it off so fast. He liked to think of it as chemistry.

She was giggling and leaning into her husband, while grinning deviously at Bruce. "Maybe someday it will happen to you."

"Nah, you know me, Ronnie." First Lizzie, now her. Speaking of his other close friend, he looked over and saw her with Barbara at the refreshment table, Tim with them, and who knew where Dick went. Both girls wore the same dress with a silverwork row traveling from the hem to the left shoulder; Lizzie was in blue while Barbara was in black. Whatever Barbara was telling her, Bruce noted that it made her face fall. If Jim Gordon's daughter was attempting to persuade her to try and find a new guy, it wasn't working. Elizabeth had been through a lot in her life and didn't need another man hurting her again like back at GSU.

So, the events with the wedding of Veronica Vreeland and Bruce Wayne meeting Susan is all from the TNBA episode "Chemistry". For those who haven't seen it, it's where Batman eventually gets hitched along with Veronica and other wealthy citizens - but it turns out that their mates are plant-life creations involved with Poison Ivy's plot. But be happy to know I am making a happier ending for that. :D As I did with Pamela Isley unlike "House and Garden".

This story overall will focus on happier endings like a fairytale should, while still staying true to the darker and original animated series. Next chapter will have Elizabeth at work and her background expanded a little. Reviews appreciated. :)