Welcome back, New Girl! It’s three years after Nick and Jess kiss in the elevator, and now Jess is…with a guy named Keith? Wait, no — it was a fake out. Also, she has a nose ring. The difference 3 years makes. The two are actually on a European book tour for Pepperwood, meaning that Nick has finally made it as an author.

Cece and Schmidt’s daughter, Ruth, is turning 3 and it’s time to celebrate. And Schmidt tries hard to do that with his choice in facial hair — he has a bad mustache! Speaking of babies, Aly is 7 months pregnant with Winston’s baby, which is pretty adorable.

Ruth’s Birthday Celebration

While on the way to the party, it’s revealed that Jess and Nick got into a Vespa accident, with Jess injuring her ring finger and Nick hurting his shin. With the injury being showcased it’s revealed that they’re not engaged yet. Everyone thought they would be.

Ruth’s birthday party theme is “feminist icons,” and it’s a big deal because at her very first birthday, the magician died. That caused a huge attendance drop for her second birthday. For her third, Schmidt wanted to make sure everything went right.

After talking about her nose ring and showing Cece her unfortunate, misspelled “JSES” neck tattoo, Jess realizes that this birthday party has a surprise guest. Russell. Fancyman Russell. He has a kid himself.

Nick, fresh from Europe, is a little bummed that Winston allowed Schmidt to grow a mustache. Nick absolutelly hates it, but figures the venue and occasion is a poor time to tell him. But when Schmidt comes over looking for comments, Nick can’t hold it in. “I hate it,” he quietly says. Schmidt, in disbelief, thinks Nick must be a little tired from all the travel.

Jess is inside talking to Russell, and he offers her a job. She admits that she actually has no clue what it is he does. Russell can’t believe that Jess and Nick are still together, since he’s been married and divorced twice since they last saw each other. Russell states that the relationship pattern is a lot like Jess, and as a response, Jess freezes and says that yes, they are engaged! Well, this can’t end well.

Nick gets a phone call, and it’s from Jess’s dad, Bob. Supposedly he gave his blessing 6 months ago, and has yet to get the call from Jess about being engaged. He wants to know what the hold up is. Nick said he planned on proposing in the loft (which her dad is pretty ticked about) and he mailed the ring — a Day family heirloom — from Turkey, since he figured her opening the mail would be pretty romantic. Risky move, dude.

Asking about the lack of engagement, Schmidt once again rubs his mustache in Nick’s face. Literally. He’s rubbing sunscreen in it, and the sight bothers Nick to no end. He calls it disgusting, and gets upset. The mustache wouldn’t be here if he didn’t go to Europe.

Russell brings up the engagement to Nick, and Nick thinks “proposal” means “book proposals.” Jess admits that she told Russell the two are engaged, but the conversation ends as a brawl break out. People are breaking chairs, and slamming into trees, and…this is a kids birthday party, right? Like, yes, they were serving cocktails (such as the “Ruth Bader Gin-sburg” which is clever) but come on, adults. Be adults!

That One Awkward Lie

Jess apologizes to Nick, who says she doesn’t have to worry about “ol’ Nicky Blue Eyes.” He says they’re cool, and Jess is happy about that, saying she’s going to lie in Ruth’s bed and pretend she’s a giant.

Speaking of Ruth, her dad is missing from her party. He’s having a long, deep conversation about his mustache with Nick. Schmidt thinks there’s a deep reason why Nick doesn’t like his mustache, but no — it’s just because it’s ugly. Finally, Nick caves and lovingly states he just misses his upper lip. Aww, best buds.

The two head back to the loft, and Nick thinks it’s the best time to open the mail. There’s a full crate waiting to be opened, including one from Jess’s gynecologist. Nick asks her to choose one special piece (and not the one from the lady doctor) and picks up the package from Turkey. But before Jess can get into it, someone knocks on the door. It’s Russell!

Russell wants to talk to Jess, and says it’ll just take a minute. “How did you even know we still lived here?” Nick asks. “I just knew,” Russell replies. Oh, Russell.

Russell’s Big Ask

Russell is set on asking Jess to work for her. He knows she’s planning a trip, but also knows she’d be perfect. Jess admits she still doesn’t know what the heck he does for a living. He explains it, but during the time we cut to Aly and Winston.

Aly is still really stuck on which maternity picture to pick, and finally realizes how beautiful she is, and how amazing pregnancy is. There’s a human inside of her!

Seems like Russell working for an educational nonprofit, and he wants Jess to run it. But, back to the mail! Of course, Winston, Schmidt, Ruth, and Cece happen to bust in. Because nobody knows a proposal is going to happen, but also it wouldn’t be right without everyone.

But then Jess gives a speech about why they don’t need to get married, and Nick decides to take it all back. Screw the Turkey letter.

On the phone with Jess’s dad, he admits that it’s ten years in the making, and the proposal needs to be purpose. He rescinds his blessing in anger, and Nick has to ask once again. And, it’s perfect. Nick has permission to propose, but it’s got to be within one month. Otherwise, the blessings go out the window once again.

After Ruth officially celebrates her birthday the right way, they all watch Nick shave Schmidt. Jess says she wishes the shaving never ends, and there’s a quick cut to a memo saying that the building is under new ownership. Huh. Guess we’ll learn more about that twist next week.