Gratitude is not an action but a state of being. When you are in gratitude, you are in a state of being that is allows you to receive. If we bring in the concept that we are all one, and whatever we put out into the world, we receive, then you can really see how being in gratitude is really about ourselves, and not the other person. Gratitude is not based upon what you think you should receive, or what you think they should do, Gratitude is about you alone, and is completely unconditional.
If someone expects gratitude, they are not allowing the other person to receive, because gratitude will have been given conditionally, and that robs the person giving the gratitude their ability to receive.