Meredith and Derek [1] are iconic, but Meredith and Cristina [2] are the soul of Grey's Anatomy [3]. There's always drama within the walls of Grey Sloan, be it terrible accidents or steamy romances gone awry. When things don't go as planned, we can take comfort in the show's wholesome and heartwarming friendships. Even with Cristina's heartbreaking departure [4], we can rest assured that Meredith will have not only a person, but a family — just look at how many people cried tears of joy for her triumphant Harper Avery win! As they say, friendship is the best ship. Keep reading to revisit the very best moments of friendship over the course of the show's run.

Season 1, Episode 2: No One Knows What They're Doing

Ah, yes, this moment is iconic in Grey's lore, illustrating how misery makes for good company. All the interns are more or less beat from saving lives or getting scut work. George asks the crew, "Who here feels like they have no idea what they're doing?" Everyone but Alex raises their hand. Don't worry — Alex will come around sooner or later.

Season 1, Episode 4: Cristina and Meredith Dance It Out . . . For the First Time

Izzie ends up throwing a banger party, and Meredith's pissed at what she's done to Ellis's house. After seeing Cristina flailing about with a bottle of booze, Meredith joins in on the fun, because friends are supposed to help you let loose every now and then, right?

Season 2, Episode 1: Meredith Becomes Cristina's Person

This moment officially locks in Meredith and Cristina's iconic friendship. After setting up an appointment for her abortion, Cristina tells Meredith that she's pregnant, since she needs a designated person to make sure that she's OK after the procedure. After Cristina admits that Burke has just dumped her, Mer leans on her shoulder for emotional support. Cristina says this constitutes hugging, and Meredith tells her to shut up, because she's her person.

Season 2, Episode 12: Meredith Finds Her Tribe

Of course we need a heartwarming Christmas moment in a post about friendship! While Meredith and George are initially a little overwhelmed with Izzie's Christmas obsession, they eventually give in to her holiday cheer. At the end of this episode, there's a sweet moment where the three are just staring at the Christmas lights that Izzie put up. In the closing monologue, Meredith talks about finding your own tribe beyond your family, which obviously means that she accepts George and Izzie as her kin.

Season 3, Episode 25: Cristina Is Free

The men in the show are very dreamy, but at the heart of Grey's are amazing female friendships. After getting stood up at the altar, Cristina goes back to Burke's apartment. She realizes that he's gone and that she's free. When Cristina is more or less hysterical, Meredith helps her rip off her wedding dress.

Season 4, Episode 6: Cristina Gives Meredith a Taste of the Truth

Meredith, of course, has a lot of Derek problems in the earlier seasons of Grey's. Boy drama comes up again in a venting session with her BFF. Cristina, annoyed, tells her that being aware of your crap is very different from actually overcoming your crap. Wise words, indeed. Can we get that on a bumper sticker, please?

Season 5, Episode 18: Cristina Wants Izzie to Fight

Cristina gets dragged for being blunt, but she's a pretty good friend. Izzie confesses to Cristina that she has cancer, and Cristina, unable to handle the pressure of this secret, tells the other doctors to help Izzie get the best care that she can get.

Season 6, Episode 5: Meredith Cuddles With Cristina

Meredith, fresh out of donating a part of her liver to Thatcher, witnesses Cristina breaking down from not being able to do heart surgeries. She offers to share some of her hospital bed with a tear-stained Cristina. Taking the time to console your friend fresh out of an intense operation? That's friendship goals for sure.

Season 7, Episode 1: Meredith Tells Cristina That They're Soulmates

Honesty is the foundation of a good friendship, and Cristina and Meredith are very honest with each other. After the awful shooting, Meredith is hesitant to tell Derek about her miscarriage, and Cristina leaps right into a marriage. Meredith isn't entirely convinced that Cristina is ready to be married to Owen, so she tells Cristina that she's her soulmate, not to pull Cristina out of the marriage, but to remind her that she has a friend watching her back.

Season 8, Episode 13: Meredith and Cristina Are Friends . . . Even in an Alternate Universe

Though Meredith and Cristina have some beef to sort out in this Grey's Anatomy [5] alternate universe episode, they still end up befriending each other — because remember, they're soulmates! And they still don't believe in cheesy apologetic gestures, either.

Season 10, Episode 24: Cristina Dances It Out With Meredith One Last Time

Before going to Switzerland to be a cardiothoracic goddess, Cristina tells Meredith that they have to finish by dancing it out. And so our dark and twisty BFFs twirl around to Tegan and Sara's "Where Does the Good Go" one last time.

Season 10, Episode 24: And She Gives Meredith This Very Important Piece of Advice

After they dance it out, Cristina also gives Meredith one of the most important pieces of advice throughout the series. Cristina reminds Meredith that she's a gifted surgeon, and that Derek's not the sun — she is. We're totally not stifling our sobs at all.

Season 11, Episode 3: Alex and Meredith Have Deep Conversations, but Also Some Boundary Issues

Meredith is totally not convinced that Maggie is her real sister and divulges her feelings to Alex, who is taking a shower. He's clearly annoyed, so Meredith tells him that he has amazing junk and that Jo is a lucky girl. This moment more or less confirms that Merlex will never happen, but we're so grateful for their close friendship.

Season 12, Episode 1: Sisters Breaking Down a Wall

At the start of season 12, Amelia begins smashing a hole through the wall with a sledgehammer, which Meredith isn't very pleased with. But by the end of the episode, everyone comes around and they smash an even bigger hole together to symbolize the start of a new era in their lives (this is fresh after Derek's shocking death).

Season 13, Episode 6: Alex Wants to Have Waffle Sundays

Look how precious Alex has grown throughout the course of the show. Besides the fact that he could go to jail and lose his medical license for beating up DeLuca, Alex still wants to spend quality time with Meredith. In the calm before the storm, he proposes Waffle Sundays with Meredith and her family, even Amelia. Even when crap hits the fan, true friends remind us that it's the little things that matter most in life.

Season 14, Episode 7: Meredith Wins the Harper Avery

The special 300th episode of Grey's just left us with all sorts of feelings. Meredith ends up staying behind at Grey Sloan instead of going to the Harper Avery ceremony. When the staff finds out that she won over Skype, everyone is overcome with joy. It's crazy and heartwarming to see the family of friends that Meredith has made over the last 14 seasons.

Season 14, Episode 7: Meredith and Alex Call Cristina to Celebrate Her Win

Nope, Cristina doesn't come back, but Meredith and Alex do call her to tell her the good news. Since they're celebrating and not moping over terrible relationships, the two of them go for Champagne instead of tequila. Of the original five interns, there's only Mer and Alex left, so we're embracing this moment for an extralong time.