-->Break up to make up\\
That's all we do\\
First you love me\\
Then you hate me\\
That's a game for fools.\\
-- The Stylistics, ''Break up to make up''

There are probably only so many things a story can examine about a romantic relationship. This is one of the big ones.

WillTheyOrWontThey has gone by.

TheyDo.

Now, something -- infidelity, voting for the wrong political party, or even ''[[MinorFlawMajorBreakup slurping soup]]'' in a really irritating way -- has happened and one party has to decide if they can bear it for all time.

The cause of the breach is presented here as both serious and silly (''Because, brother, that soup thing is just '''nasty!'''''), to highlight that the instigation is not the thing. The story will examine how the offended party comes to grips with it. Sometimes the decision will come down on the Make Up side, and sometimes it will not.

Also see FeudEpisode. Frequently used to reassert StatusQuoIsGod, or as a way to {{Retcon}} a relationship (in that case, they will not only break up, but the relationship will quickly be forgotten as if it never happened.) Compare ToiletSeatDivorce.

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!!Examples

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[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' is fond of this trope, with Dr. Cox and Jordan, as well as Turk and Carla, and [[strike:possibly]] JD and Elliot as examples.
* ''{{Seinfeld}}'' had fun with Elaine and David Puddy, as well as George with Susan.
* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'': Lily and Marshall at the end of season 1.
** Happens to Ted and his paramours as well.
* ''{{Bones}}'': Angela and Hodgins during season 4. Currently back to WillTheyOrWontThey.
** [[spoiler:They did! ''[[{{Squee}} squees]]'']]
* ''{{Friends}}'': Ross and Rachel.
* Cody and Bailey of ''[[TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody The Suite Life on Deck]]'' didn't so much end their relationship as [[TheMasochismTango put it out of its misery]].
* Naomily's story for 75% of the fourth season of ''{{Skins}}''.
* On ''BoyMeetsWorld'', every couple in the show, except for HappilyMarried Alan and Amy, go through this arc, often more than once.
* Most couples on ''TheDrewCareyShow'' end up in a situation like this but it happened between Drew and Kate the most.

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[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* This happens more or less once per season between Marge and Homer on ''TheSimpsons''.

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[[folder: Music ]]

* Examined in several ABBA songs. ''One man, one woman'' ends in makeup, while ''When all is said and done'' is on the breakup side.

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