If you are anything like me, you probably don't care to admit how many times you have watched the FRIENDS series. It made us laugh and cry through all the situational comedy, Chandler’s once liners, and the once in a blue moon touching moments. However, the longest running joke was the famous "we were on a break" line that Ross Geller would deliver at the most inappropriate times. I decided to re-watch the episode that started the unanswered question and figure out once and for all if Ross and Rachel were really on a break.

Ross and Rachel were only happy for a short period of time before a problem inevitably came up. "The One Where Ross and Rachel Talk a Break" begins with Ross desperately trying to spend time with his lobster, Rachel, on their anniversary. Although Rachel insists she has no free time because she has to work, Ross still brings the already planned date, to her office. He is sent packing after Rachel claims to be too stressed to see him. After she comes home to Ross, he thinks she needs to apologize to him and she thinks he needs to apologize to her.

Let the argument begin.

Ross claims that Rachel doesn't make enough time for him to the point that he doesn't even have a girlfriend anymore. Rachel claims that Ross should be happy for her for finally making it on her own and doing something she really loves. Ross then makes the mistake of assuming that the whole argument is about her handsome co-worker, Mark.

Here is where it gets interesting.

In frustration, Rachel says, "Maybe we should just take a break". She clearly states that she wants to take a break from their relationship. Ross thinks that she just means a break from the argument, not the relationship.

Rachel then corrects him with "No, a break from us", confirming Ross' worst fear. The girl that he has been in love with since college was breaking up with him. In disbelief, Ross storms out of the apartment, ending the confrontation. Afterward, he meets up with Chandler and Joey and told them about the break-up.

Soon after the fight Mark, Rachel's co-worker, conveniently calls her to chat. He remembers that it was her anniversary that day and got the sense Rachel was sad. He insists that he come over so she can talk it out.

This is when it gets messy.

While Mark is at Rachel's apartment, she clearly states that she told Ross she wanted to take a break. Even though she was the one to suggest it, she really didn't want to end things.

After Ross had some time to think things through, he calls Rachel to tell her their fight was stupid but hears Mark's voice in the background. He instantly hangs up without giving Rachel the time to explain. He makes the mistake of thinking the worse. In revenge, Ross sleeps with the copy girl from down the street to end the episode.

In the next episode entitled "The One The Morning After", Ross wakes up to a voicemail from Rachel saying that she is going to stop by his apartment the next morning so that they can talk and work it out. Realizing he made a mistake, Ross tries to push the copy girl from the night before, out of his apartment before Rachel is able to come over and see what he has done.

Much to Ross' dismay, Rachel finds out about what he did the night before and becomes furious. He explains that he knew he was in the wrong but they were technically on a break so it doesn't count as cheating. Rachel broke up with him for good (well for a little while anyway). As sad as this moment was, they were able to laugh about it later and it became own of the funniest jokes on the show.

The final verdict: Even though Ross shouldn't have gone after another girl right after their fight, I think it is pretty safe to say that Ross and Rachel were in fact, on a break.

Hate them or love them, Ross and Rachel are one of the most iconic tv couples of all time. Nobody what troubles they had over the ten seasons of the long-running show, it didn't really matter, because in the end, she got off the plane.