Ross and Rachel B.M. (Before Mark): -
Ross had been in love with Rachel since the ninth grade. His love for her is put on hold for a few years (y'know, being married to Carole!) but in the Pilot episode she runs into Central Perk and he falls in love again. During the first season, he tries to tell her how he feels, but Ex-fioncees and Italien guys get in the way. In the season finale, Chandler lets slip that he was in love with her while Ross was in China, and Rachel decides to give the Relationship a go. However, there is a surprise waiting for her at the gate. It's Ross with his new girlfriend Julie.
Rachel fights with her feelings for a couple of weeks, but one night, on a date she gets totally drunk and leaves a message on Ross' answerphone saying that she was over him. The next day Ross comes over having spent the night at Julie's and checks his messages from their phone. Rachel realises what she's said and jumps onto Ross to prevent him from hearing. But he has already heard. That night they have a big argument but they finally kiss! All ends well until Ross has to choose between Rachel and Julie. So he makes a list, noting their good and bad points, and decides to break up with Julie. But Rachel has seen the list and she's not happy. In the next few episodes Ross tries to get Rachel back by acting like a complete dork. Rachels heart softens when she sees an old prom video that changes her mind and she goes and kisses Ross. They are together FINALLY!
But not for that long. (OK OK, a year, but I was trying to be dramatic!)
Ross and Rachel A.M. (After Mark): -
A handsome stranger at the table next to Rachel's, overhears her moaning about her job at Fortunata Fashions. He helps her get a job at Bloomingdales, but when they start spending a lot of time together Ross gets jealous, and starts acting very possessively. He starts clinging to Rachel so much that she suggests that they take a break. Ross storms out and goes to a party with the guys and Chloe, the Xerox girl. One thing leads to another, and before you know it it's TOW Ross and Chloe... You Know. Ross runs around New York trying to cover the trail, but it's too late. Rachel has found out.
Ross and Rachel have a long break-up, and soon after, Mark asks Rachel out. She agrees, but soon realises that she is only doing it to get back at Ross. For a few episodes, Ross and Rachel can't stand to be around each other, but when Ross gives up his chance to be on TV to take Rachel to the hospital, their relationship is starting to clear up after itself.
Phoebe sets Ross up with Bonnie, and they all (except Bonnie) go to Bonnie's cousin's beach house. Rachel and Ross are clearly having a great time with each other, but just as sparks are flying, Bonnie arrives. Rachel convinces her to shave her head again, and even hands her the razor. Ross is furious when he finds out, but realises that Rachel still has feelings for him, and they make up with a kiss. As the season ends, Ross has to decide whether to stick with Bonnie, or take a chance with Rachel. He takes the obvious choice and picks Rachel. He then breaks up with Bonnie, which takes a long time, and returns to find that Rachel has written him an 18 page letter (front and back) concerning things that he needs to agree to before she can even think about getting back together with him. Ross falls asleep whilst reading the letter, and when Rachel confronts him about it, he pretends to agree with everything.
When Ross finally reads the letter, he realises that he's just agreed to take full responsibility for everything that went wrong in their relationship. Ross can't keep this down, and before long, they are apart again. (Just so you know, it's not that common, it doesn't happen to every guy, and it IS a big deal!) Ross and Rachel spend half a year making each other jealous until Emily comes along.
Emily is the complete opposite of Rachel. Maybe that's what he wanted for a while. Anyway, things go really well with Ross and Emily, but not as well between Rachel and Joshua. When Ross proposes to Emily, Rachel can't stand it, proposes to Joshua, and makes him run. When the invitations come, Rachel decides that she can't come to the wedding and watch Ross get married, so she stays home with Phoebe. With the help of Phoebe, she discovers that she still loves Ross, and flys to London to break up the wedding. After an unfriendly encounter with a man on the plane who, after having heard her story claims, "You are a horrible, horrible person". When she arrives in London, she can't bring herself to ruin the wedding, and perhaps doing the nicest thing she has ever done for Ross, she hugs him, and says, "Congratulations". All is going well, until Ross makes a slip up in the vows, by saying the wrong name. (ie 'I take thee Rachel' instead of 'I take thee Emily')
After Ross has searched England for Emily, he returns home to be told by Rachel that she still loves him. He doesn't know how to take this until laughter kicks in, and for the first time, we begin to see them as friends, not lovers. Throughout series 5, they become better friends, but when they all go to Vegas, they have a little too much to drink and........they get married!!!!!
Into series 6 they realise what they did, and decide to get an annulment, but Ross doesn't want three failed marriages, in fear of his gravestone saying, 'Ross Geller, Three Divorces'. He doesn't go through with it, but Rachel finds out that he didn't get it, and Rachel demands they get a divorce. In the courtroom place Rachel makes up things to get it done quicker, but it will take at least 6 months. She admits that it was her who suggested getting married in the first place. Nothing much happens until Rachel's sister comes. Jill Green decides to date Ross, which causes Rachel to get freaked out and a little jealous. For the rest of season 6 there is the occasional joke about a) Ross' three failed marriages b) how Ross lied to her/ slept with someone else 3 years ago and c) about what a loser Ross is. Sometimes they're funny, sometimes they aren't.
Ross and Rachel pictures
