Ross and Rachel are one of not just Friends' most iconic couples, but TV in general. Their on-again, off-again relationship that lasted the entire series was an emotional roller coaster. While they may not be as well-suited for each other or as stable Monica and Chandler, Ross and Rachel did love each other.
The pair certainly did some awful things to each other, between cheating, insane jealousy, and persistent arguing, and then the stuff Rachel did. However, they also did some amazing things for each other, both as two extremely close friends and as two people in love.
ROSS: GAVE RACHEL A PLACE TO LIVE & WITH EMMA
When Rachel gives birth to her and Ross's daughter Emma, it is a brilliant moment in the show and a significant point in time for the pair. Up until just before Emma is born, though, Rachel lives with Joey.
That changes when Joey comes up with the idea for Rachel to move in with Ross so he can be there for Rachel more. Ross does this and is there for Rachel's needs. He cuts off dating women, helps speed up the labor process, and, after she is born, looks after Emma so Rachel can ensure her job is safe from Gavin.
RACHEL: GETS ROSS CAITLIN'S PHONE NUMBER
In another non-romantic moment between the pair, Ross spends much of "The One Where Ross Can't Flirt" doing just that, failing to flirt. The subject of his affection was Caitlin, the pizza delivery girl.
After Caitlin leaves for the last time, Rachel uses binning pizza boxes as an excuse to go and convince Caitlin to give her number to Ross. When Ross asks, Rachel denies that she convinced Caitlin, and it was a truly lovely thing for Rachel to do for her ex and her friend.
ROSS: MISSES DISCOVERY TV EVENT & TAKES RACHEL TO HOSPITAL
When Monica accidentally falls onto Rachel, she appears to break one of Rachel's ribs. She had a big work event that night and struggled to get ready, prompting her to ask for Ross's help, which he, of course, gave.
It was clear, though, that Rachel had to go to the hospital and so Ross took her there. What Rachel did not know at the time was that Ross was supposed to be a ist on the Discovery Channel that night, but canceled for her.
RACHEL: HER BOX OF MEMORIES
Rachel has a long-running tendency to exchange gifts that she receives for her birthday, Christmas, and other occasions. It is something brought up a couple of times throughout the show, but the first time Ross finds out he lays into her about it.
After insulting Rachel about not caring, etc., Rachel goes to her room and retrieves a box. This box contains keepsakes, some related to her and Ross's relationship such as a movie ticket stub, and a fossil that means a lot to their relationship.
ROSS: RACHEL'S BIRTHDAY BROACH
The first big grand gesture between the two came in season one during Rachel's birthday. Ross had been pining over Rachel all season long and had also jetted off to China, missing Rachel's birthday in the process.
Ross left Rachel a gift though in the form of a broach she had told him about months prior, which reminded her of one her grandmother owned. It is at this moment Chandler lets slip that Ross buys women he loves expensive things, and it seems as though Rachel's life was never the same.
RACHEL: KISSES ROSS
Ross and Rachel did not get together after the latter's birthday, though. Initially, Julie got in the way, followed by Ross and his infamous list. They did get together halfway through season two, however.
In the episode that sees the two finally getting together, it is Rachel who kisses Ross. Kissing is not exactly a typical "best thing" someone can do for someone else, especially since they had kissed before. However, Ross had loved Rachel for years, so this kiss was a dream come true for him.
ROSS: GETS HER JOB BACK & THEN GETS HER FIRED
At the end of the final season, Rachel reveals that she has accepted a job in Paris, after being fired from Ralph Lauren. To get her to stay, Ross goes to her old boss to convince him to offer Rachel her job back.
With the power of luck, coincidence, and nerdiness, Ross manages to convince Rachel's old boss to offer her old job back, then later offer it again with a raise after she rejected the initial proposal. After Rachel accepts that offer and agrees to stay, she reveals she was excited to go to Paris, so Ross tells her that's what she should do. It is implied Ross goes to give one more gift to Mr. Zelner so he would understand.
RACHEL: TAKING HIM BACK
As was mentioned earlier, Ross and Rachel have done some pretty awful things to each other, but most of the truly horrible ones have come on the part of Ross.
Alongside the insane jealousy, pettiness, and persistence, Ross slept with another woman prompting the whole "we were on a break" argument that lasted ten years. He also tried to stay married to Rachel without her knowing. Somehow, after everything, Rachel took Ross back, and in the end, they seemed to love each other truly.
ROSS: PROM
Rachel kissing Ross and the two finally getting together was not just a random moment. In fact, it was prompted by one of the sweetest moments in Friends, and one that happened long before the events of the show.
Monica finds she and Rachel's prom tape, and it shows that Rachel's date looked to have stood her up. At the behest of his parents, Ross goes upstairs, gets dressed in a tux, picks up some flowers, and heads downstairs to offer to take Rachel to prom. At that moment, Rachel is shown running out the door with her prom date.
RACHEL: GETTING OFF THE PLANE
The season finale of Friends brought about some of its most iconic and tear-inducing moments. One moment that can get classed as both is when Rachel gets off the plane.
After Ross manages to profess his feelings for her, Rachel gets on the plane anyway. When he returns to his apartment, Ross finds a voicemail from her as she attempts to get off the plane because she loves him. When the phone hangs up, Ross shouts at the phone, asking if she got off the plane, after which we hear the iconic line, "I got off the plane."
Rachel getting off that plane meant Ross and Rachel were going to be together, and she seemed to sacrifice a dream job for him. It is the best thing Rachel could have possibly done for Ross.