History Heartwarming / Friends

* {{Meta}}-example. The subtle way the show slipped in tributes to the September 11th tragedy--on several occasions, Joey sported an FDNY T-Shirt (in one instance, the name of a firefighter who had perished was visible), while on others, "I Love NY" was visible on the plaque in the main apartment.

* Ross talking Carol out of her doubts about getting married, Carol being his ex-wife and at first the least supportive of the wedding. He actually takes Susan's side in their argument.

* Chandler freaks out about Monica having lunch with Richard. When they talk about it he says that he knows she loves Richard more, and (while he accepts it) that's why he doesn't want her seeing him again. Monica's response is incredibly sweet:
-->'''Chandler:''' I was there. I know he's the love of your life.
-->'''Monica:''' Not anymore.
-->'''Chandler:''' Really?
-->'''Monica:''' Really.

-->'''Chandler:''' It's a four.
-->''[Dean Martin's "Everybody Loves Somebody" begins playing]''

* Monica and Phoebe help Rachel pack up her things as she prepares to move out. If you look in the background of Rachel's room while they're packing, you can actually see the Love Bug that Ross bought her so many season ago, before their huge break-up. Considering everything they've gone through in the show so far, it's touching to see that Rachel still kept one of his gifts.

* Joey wants the thanksgiving dinner to end quickly so that he and Ross can go and hang out with Janine and her dancer friends but when he finds out what Rachel put in her dessert, he tells Ross he’s worried that everyone is going to make fun of her. While Ross distracts Rachel, Joey fills everyone in, giving them a heads-up that the trifle is going to be awful, but they need to pretend to like it so Rachel won't be embarrassed. In the end, when she realizes how bad it was, Rachel seems genuinely touched that everyone was willing to eat it anyway (or at least pretend to) so they wouldn't hurt her feelings.

* Joey thinks that Phoebe is a porn star after finding several porn movies that she apparently starred in. He rents them and shows them to the others, who insist on watching them, but Joey is the only one who sees it as utterly wrong to do that to Phoebe, going to so far as to turn away from the TV and call his friends 'sick bastards' for watching the tapes. It says a lot about their friendship that a rampant ladies man like Joey would have so much respect for his friend (or at any rate, more so than the others do).

* The episode starts with Ross asking that if everything was different, would the gang still be friends. Cut to the last scene, and the alternate gang are sitting in the coffee house together.

-->'''Monica:''' In all my life, I never thought I would be so lucky as to fall in love with my best...''[crying]'' my best... there's a reason why girls don't do this!
-->'''Chandler:''' Okay! Okay! ''[he kneels down along with her]'' Oh God, I thought... ''[he [[ManlyTears starts to cry too]]]'' Wait a minute, I-I can do this. ...I thought that it mattered what I said or where I said it. Then I realized the only thing that matters is that you...you make me happier than I ever thought I could be. And if you’ll let me, I will spend the rest of my life trying to make you feel the same way. ''[he opens the ring box]'' Monica, will you marry me?
-->'''Monica:''' Yes.
* The whole build up to the scene. The episode had Chandler falsely claiming he didn't want to get married, Richard returning to say he did want to get married, and an upset Monica leaving to think things over. The end of the episode was very ambiguous at what she would do, Chandler came home utterly devastated...and found their apartment filled with candles, with Monica waiting to propose ''to him''. Super heartwarming as Chandler was previously shown to be an InsecureLoveInterest, and he worried that Monica loved [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter Richard]] more than him. That gesture proved once and for all, that Monica had chosen Chandler, she would ''always'' choose Chandler and there wasn't anyone else she loved more.

* Moments before, Joey tells Chandler that Monica has left, but when he finds Monica ready to propose to him, Chandler looks back at Joey, who smiles and nods at him before quietly closing the door to give them a private moment. If there was ever proof that Joey was their biggest supporter, it's there. And ''after'' the proposal, the others come in and congratulate Chandler and Monica.

-->'''Rachel:''' I've known them separately and I've known them together and to know them as a couple is to know that you are truly in the presence of love. So I would like to raise my glass, to Monica and Chandler and the beautiful adventure they are about to embark upon together. I can think of no two people better prepared for the journey.

-->'''Chandler:''' I don't think of you as a thin, beautiful woman...You’re Monica. Okay? And I am in love with Monica. So you can balloon up or you can shrink down and ''I will still love you.''
-->'''Monica:''' Even if I shrink down to two inches tall?
-->'''Chandler:''' I'd carry you around in my pocket.

* Ross has custody of Ben during the Holidays, and is exited to celebrate Hanuka with his son, but Ben is more exited for Christmas, since Carol and Susan, who were raised in Christian households, celebrate Christmas at home with Ben. Ross comes up with the plan to dress up as Santa Claus and then teach Ben the story of Hanuka, but his plans are dashed when the costume shop is all out, and ends up dressing as "the Holiday Armadillo," which delivers presents to all the good children of the Southwest and Mexico. As he's about to tell Ben the story of Hanuka, Chandler arrives in a Santa suit he borrowed from one of his coworkers. Ross manages to convince Chandler to give back the costume because he really wants his son to connect with his Jewish roots, and as Chandler turns to go, Ben says he prefers to celebrate Christmas with Santa than listen to the story of Hanuka with the Holiday Armadillo. Defeated, Ross wishes Ben, Monica, and "Santa" a merry Christmas and prepares to leave the Bings' apartment, which is when "Santa" asks the "Holiday Armadillo" to stay, as he also wants to learn the story of Hanuka. Before he starts the story, Ross mouths a silent "thank you" to Chandler, who responds with a silent "you're welcome."

* Joey develops feelings for the actress he's replacing on ''Days of our Lives''. Sadly she gets a new job somewhere far, so their relationship never gets to fully take off.

-->'''Joey:''' Yeah she wanted me for like a half an hour one night! Chandler, she wants you for ''the rest of her life.'' You're so lucky! Look what I missed out on by not being there! Although you know what? It could never have worked like you guys did, 'cause you guys are perfect for each other. Y'know, we look at you and-and we see you together and it just...it-it fits. Y'know? And you just know it's gonna last forever.

* Chandler inviting Charles to the wedding. After everything he went through: his parents splitting up, the humiliation of having an embarrassing father and all his subsequent insecurities, he steps up and essentially lets his dad know everything he suffered turned out ''okay'' and he still wants him in his life. Also as Charles suffered a huge case of TransEqualsGay, Chandler calling her "ma'am" for the first and only time (instead of usual male pronouns) and just how ''happy'' she looks at this.

* Monica and Chandler's wedding, all of it. Especially Chandler's vows to Monica given that he almost had cold feet. Even more than that, Chandler was introduced as a self-entitled "screw up". He was insecure, traumatized by his parent's divorce, betrayed by every women he cared about (Janice, Kathy) and despite wanting commitment was terrified of hurting other people and himself. Yet he loved Monica enough to overcome it all and get married.
-->'''Chandler:''' Monica, I thought this was going to be the most difficult thing I ever had to do. But when I saw you walking down that aisle I realized how simple it was. I love you. Any surprises that come our way, it’s okay, because I will ''always'' love you. You are the person I was meant to spend the rest of my life with. You wanna know if I’m sure? (He kisses her)

* Monica's side in her wedding and marriage. She finally gets the marriage and life she's always wanted. And its with her best friend.
-->'''Monica:''' Chandler, for so long I wondered if I would ever find my prince, my soul mate. Then three years ago, at another wedding I turned to a friend for comfort. And instead, I found everything that I’d ever been looking for my whole life. And now...here we are--with our future before us...and I only want to spend it with you, my prince, my soul mate, my friend.

* Joey telling Chandler that he misses them hanging out together since he got married. The scene almost crosses into a TearJerker territory [[note]] Try not to crumple at the delivery of Joey's: "You and me...we used to be inseparable" line.[[/note]] but is saved by Chandler admitting he misses them as well and agreeing to make more time for them. What sells the scene though is ''zero'' resentment towards Monica (Joey has always been the biggest [[ShipperOnDeck Mondler supporter]] after all) or any implication she 'stole' Chandler from Joey. It's just the acknowledgment they're still important to each other. And the next scene is equally heartwarming with Monica giving a delighted Chandler a strip tease, saying basically it's fine to be HappilyMarried and have a HeterosexualLifePartners.

* Chandler [[ItMakesSenseInContext has to spend the day with his boss pretending he and Monica have broken up]]. When he comes home he tells Monica how grateful he is to have her, and asks her to GrowOldWithMe.

-->'''Rachel:''' Oh honey, but you love that name.
-->'''Monica:''' Yeah, but I love you more.

-->'''Chandler:''' They're right. I'm not a strong father-figure and I never will be...Everything they said is exactly why I was worried about having a kid. And it's true! Everybody knows it.
-->'''Monica:''' I don't know it! I want to have a kid with you because I think you're going to be an amazing dad. At the fun parts and at the hard parts.

* Emma becomes very attached to Joey's [[CompanionCube stuffed penguin Hugsy]] but he keeps trying to take it back from her. Rachel eventually tries to persuade him to let her keep it by claiming it reminds Emma of her [[HonoraryUncle Uncle Joey]] who she loves so much. Joey is very touched to hear that Emma loves him...but still wants his penguin back.

* Ross helping Joey when he and Charlie plan to go to an art museum despite the fact that he (Ross) likes Charlie. Also when Charlie tells Ross that she thinks Joey isn't the right person for her to date, Ross tells her that she should give Joey a chance.

-->'''Monica:''' I don't care if he is the most perfect guy in the world. He's not you.
-->'''Chandler:''' Yeah, [[InsecureLoveInterest he's better]]!
-->'''Monica:''' No he's not. If I can't get pregnant by you, I don't want to get pregnant by him or anyone else.

-->'''Monica:''' I want one.
-->'''Chandler:''' Me too.

-->'''Chandler:''' What's going on?
-->'''Monica:''' That was the adoption agency.
-->'''Chandler:''' And?
-->'''Monica:''' ''We're getting a baby!''
-->'''Chandler:''' Are you serious?!
-->(They hug, and everyone else joins them, celebrating)

* Phoebe spends some time talking to the stripper, played by Creator/DannyDeVito, and suggests that while his time performing may be over he can start a new dream of teaching others to strip. When he dejectedly notes that he didn't get to finish his final performance Phoebe asks him to finish it. Despite her initial disgust when he first showed up she actually enjoys his "last dance" and squeals "this is so hot!" to Monica and Rachel.

* The relationship between the real life cast can fall into this, as they were incredibly close off screen. They openly said they used to watch the series together, ate lunch together every day, Jennifer Aniston is the godmother of Courteney Cox's daughter Coco and Matthew Perry mentioned going on holiday with the other two guys.

* Their decision to negotiate for their salaries as a group. The rest of the cast attribute to idea to Schwimmer, who at the time of the negotiations, could easily have negotiated as the male lead (thanks to the Ross/Rachel focus) and demanded a lot more pay. Instead he was more worried about any of the others being screwed over, and took a pay cut as part of the negotiations so everyone was equal.

* Creator/PagetBrewster, who played Kathy in season 4, has mentioned several times that Aniston, Cox and Kudrow all banded together to get her character a more honorable exit than the cheating on Chandler storyline. While their efforts failed she was nonetheless touched by their attempt all the same.
* The fact that Chandler and Monica's relationship was never supposed to go beyond a few episodes, but Matthew Perry and Courteney Cox had so much chemistry and genuine love between them that they couldn't bear to split them up (meaning it would have been ''worse'' than the heartbreaking "Ross and Rachel break up" storyline).

-->It's like you're always stuck in second gear
-->When it hasn't been your day, your week
-->Your month, or even your year, but
-->I'll be there for you
-->(When the rain starts to pour)
-->I'll be there for you
-->(Like I've been there before)
-->I'll be there for you
-->('Cause you're there for me too)

-->''Could I be any more''
-->''Could I be any more''
-->''Could I be any more in love with you...?''

* The speech Ross makes to Monica and Chandler is definitely heartwarming in its own right.

-->Chandler: You should be with me.
-->Monica: What?
-->Chandler: When you were talking about Roger last night, that was killing me. Things like last night don't just happen at least not to me. And with the [[ILied other two women]] you know I couldn't just wait to be with my friends, but with you, I was already with a friend.
-->Monica: [[LoveEpiphany Chandler...]]
-->Chandler: [[InsecureLoveInterest And I know you don't want to be with me because I make too many jokes, and I've never been in a serious relationship, and I guess I'm not a doctor.]]
-->([[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre runs up to Chandler]] [[ShutUpKiss and passionately kisses him]])

* The episode is a series of {{plan}}s that culminate in Chandler and Phoebe [[ItMakesSenseInContext trying to out-seduce each other.]] They're kissing in an utterly hilarious and the most awkward manner when Chandler breaks it off. It loses something in writing, but it's such a good conclusion to one of the shows greatest plots.

*** After months of trying to downplay what his relationship with Monica means to both of them, Chandler blurts out that he is in love with her, and ''then proceeds to own it.''

* An easily missed moment is as Chandler (as Santa) prepares to leave for Ross' sake[[note]]he's desperate to get Ben interested in Hanukkah[[/note]], Ross gives up in dejected resignation because Ben only wants Santa. Chandler and Monica share a look, and he immediately turns it around by saying that he'll stay, but only to learn the story of Hanukkah from Ross, to which Ben is enthusiastic. Ross gratefully mouthing "Thank You", and Chandler's nod of encouragement really sells the moment. There's also the fact that Chandler dressed up in the first place. The snarkiest, most sarcastic member of the group, decided on his own, to dress up as Santa for Ben, purely because it was something Ross had wanted to do for his son. Joey should also get credit too. Sure, Superman isn't exactly the most Christmassy character around, but it's still nice that these two went out of their way for Ross like that.

[[AC:1007: TOW the Holiday Armadillo]]
* Ross has custody of Ben during the Holidays, and is exited to celebrate Hanuka with his son, but Ben is more exited for Christmas, since Carol and Susan, who were raised in Christian households, celebrate Christmas at home with Ben. Ross comes up with the plan to dress up as Santa Claus and then teach Ben the story of Hanuka, but his plans are dashed when the costume shop is all out, and ends up dressing as "the Holiday Armadillo," which delivers presents to all the good children of the Southwest and Mexico. As he's about to tell Ben the story of Hanuka, Chandler arrives in a Santa suit he borrowed from one of his coworkers. Ross manages to convince Chandler to give back the costume because he really wants his son to connect with his Jewish roots, and as Chandler turns to go, Ben says he prefers to celebrate Christmas with Santa than listen to the story of Hanuka with the Holiday Armadillo. Defeated, Ross wishes Ben, Monica, and "Santa" a merry Christmas and leaves the Bings' apartment, which is when "Santa" asks the "Holiday Armadillo" to stay, as he also wants to learn the story of Hanuka. Before he starts the story, Ross mouths a silent "thank you" to Chandler, who responds with a silent "you're welcome."

* Early on in her pregnancy, Phoebe freaks out because she's craving meat. She's very upset at the prospect of killing even ''more'' animals so Joey promises to stop eating meat until Phoebe does.[[note]]His logic being that she is only eating the animals that he would have eaten and thus no more are dying for food than there were before[[/note]].

* Paget Brewster (Season 4 Kathy) has mentioned several times that Aniston, Cox and Kudrow all banded together to get her character a more honorable exit than the cheating on Chandler storyline. While their efforts failed she was nonetheless touched by their attempt all the same.

* [[https://youtu.be/Uht9vtxhQ04 Phoebe telling Rachel that Paolo hit on her]]. Also sad, but the girls don't yell at each other, they even apologize for what the other had to go through, and the scene ends with Phoebe stroking Rach's hair.

* Just ''listen'' to the speech Ross makes to Monica and Chandler; if you're not crying, are you human?

* Ross and Carol are on very good terms despite the circumstances surrounding their divorce. It's clear the two still care about each other deeply, it's just what happened was inevitable due to IncompatibleOrientation. Ross himself doesn't hold any resentment towards her being a lesbian, he's just upset he lost his wife and adding onto it the way he lost her was a product of it's time so he thinks it's shameful.