Author Notes: just a small idea that invaded my brain & had to be written down.
Disclaimer: Joss is my father, & has therefore given me rights to all his characters, plots, etc. I wish. It all belongs to Joss & co., although he does share a birthday wth my actual dad.
The world was a cruel place. A cold place. An unforgiving place. But mostly, it was an ungrateful place.
All these years as the Slayer, all the apocalypses averted, all the times she or someone close to her had had to die in order to make sure that the world was saved.
& where were the thanks? No flowers, no fruit basket, just the cold harsh truth of life.
There were billions of people in the world, but not once did Buffy recieve a 'thanks for saving my ass' as a stranger passed her on the street. They all remained happily oblivious to the lengths she was going to to make sure that they lived to see another day.
Her job risked her life every single day, and she wasn't even getting paid for it.
As if the risks of being the Slayer weren't bad enough, Buffy was burdened with having to keep The Key safe - she loved Dawn, there was no doubting that - but the trauma that having to protect her had bought with it was all so heartbreaking. All in that same year she had discovered her sister really wasn't her sister, lost her mother, and had to deal with the god-bitch from hell.
Through it all there was only one person offering support, not being judgemental no matter what, protecting Dawn alongside her, and willing to listen to her no matter what she wanted to rant about.
Spike.
The only grateful man in this ungrateful world.
Maybe it was time she showed him how grateful she was...