The final season began with Rachel and Joey as a couple, albeit one Ross did not know about ... until he walked in on them kissing.
Attempting to be supportive, it was clear that he was not okay with the situation, and Joey and Rachel found it hard to move beyond kissing. Chandler suggested that so many obstacles may mean it wasn't meant to happen, and perhaps they're just too good as friends. So, the pair split up, paralleled by Charlie having an opportunity to re-engage in a relationship with her ex-boyfriend Benjamin Hobart, effectively choosing him over Ross.
Rachel focused on parenting, preparing for Emma's first birthday and forcing everyone to cancel plans to attend. She was met by a number of personal challenges (including conflict with her sister Amy for getting Emma's ears pierced), falsely believed Chandler was having an affair after seeing him accompanied by a woman who turned out to be a real estate agent. Her father had a heart attack, causing her great stress, and then she approached Ross for sex in her vulnerable state; he chivalrously refuses.
A larger challenge came later, when her boss at Ralph Lauren found out she'd been interviewing for another job, firing Rachel. Ross helped her gather up her office belongings, running into her prior boss Mark (who Ross was once quite jealous over); he offers her a job at Louis Vuitton — but, in Paris.
Rachel accepted, and at the going away party said goodbye to everyone but Ross. She then went to Ross's apartment to explain that it would be too difficult to say goodbye to him — and Ross kissed her, leading to them sleeping together. Sad to find that she was still planning to move to Paris, he decided to let her know how he felt about her once and for all, chasing her to the airport and confessing his love before she boarded the plane.
Not knowing what to do, Rachel got on the plane, and Ross returned to his apartment to find a cut off message Rachel left while trying to get off. He turned around to find Rachel, who had left the flight. Cue the tears as they kissed in the doorway, with the final scene showing them happily together.
