diff --git a/lib/ugui.c3l/src/core.c3 b/lib/ugui.c3l/src/core.c3
index 1788110..c5210ee 100644
--- a/lib/ugui.c3l/src/core.c3
+++ b/lib/ugui.c3l/src/core.c3
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import fifo;
 import std::io;
 import std::core::string;
 import std::core::mem::allocator;
+import std::collections::pair;
 
 
 macro println(...)
@@ -68,6 +69,9 @@ struct Elem {
 	}
 }
 
+// Tuple of Element pointers, used when it is useful to get both parent and child
+alias PElemTuple = pair::Pair{Elem*, Elem*};
+
 
 // relationships between elements are stored in a tree, it stores just the ids
 alias IdTree = mtree::MTree{Id};
@@ -130,10 +134,8 @@ struct Ctx {
 // return a pointer to the parent of the current active div
 fn Elem*? Ctx.get_parent(&ctx)
 {
-	Id parent_id = ctx.tree.get(ctx.active_div);
-	Elem*? parent = ctx.cache.search(parent_id);
-	if (catch parent) return parent;
-	if (parent.type != ETYPE_DIV) return WRONG_ELEMENT_TYPE?;
+	Id parent_id = ctx.tree[ctx.active_div]!;
+	Elem* parent = ctx.cache.search(parent_id)!;
 	return parent;
 }
 
@@ -146,7 +148,7 @@ const uint GOLDEN_RATIO = 0x9E3779B9;
 fn Id? Ctx.gen_id(&ctx, Id id2)
 {
 	// FIXME: this is SHIT
-	Id id1 = ctx.tree.get(ctx.active_div);
+	Id id1 = ctx.tree.get(ctx.active_div)!;
 	// Mix the two IDs non-linearly
 	Id mixed = id1 ^ id2.rotate_left(13);
 	mixed ^= id1.rotate_left(7);
@@ -166,10 +168,13 @@ macro Id @compute_id(...)
 
 // get or push an element from the cache, return a pointer to it
 // resets all flags except is_new which is set accordingly
-fn Elem*? Ctx.get_elem(&ctx, Id id, ElemType type)
+fn PElemTuple? Ctx.get_elem(&ctx, Id id, ElemType type)
 {
 	bool is_new;
+	Elem* parent;
 	Elem* elem;
+	parent = ctx.get_parent() ?? &&(Elem){};
+
 	elem = ctx.cache.get_or_insert(&&(Elem){}, id, &is_new)!;
 	elem.flags = (ElemFlags)0;
 	elem.flags.is_new = is_new;
@@ -180,13 +185,9 @@ fn Elem*? Ctx.get_elem(&ctx, Id id, ElemType type)
 	} else {
 		elem.type = type;
 	}
-	// FIXME: this is crap
-	if (ctx.tree.is_used(ctx.active_div)) {
-		elem.z_index = ctx.get_active_div()!.z_index;
-	}
-
+	elem.z_index = parent.z_index;
 	elem.tree_idx = ctx.tree.add(ctx.active_div, id);
-	return elem;
+	return {elem, parent};
 }
 
 // find an element, does not allocate a new one in cache
@@ -203,7 +204,7 @@ macro Elem* Ctx.find_elem(&ctx, Id id)
 
 fn Elem*? Ctx.get_active_div(&ctx)
 {
-	Id id = ctx.tree.get(ctx.active_div);
+	Id id = ctx.tree.get(ctx.active_div)!;
 	return ctx.cache.search(id);
 }
 
@@ -240,7 +241,7 @@ fn void? Ctx.frame_begin(&ctx)
 	// 1. Reset the active div
 	// 2. Get the root element from the cache and update it
 	ctx.active_div = 0;
-	Elem* elem = ctx.get_elem(ROOT_ID, ETYPE_DIV)!;
+	Elem* elem = ctx.get_elem(ROOT_ID, ETYPE_DIV)!.first;
 	ctx.active_div = elem.tree_idx;
 	// The root should have the updated flag only if the size of the window
 	// was changed between frasmes, this propagates an element size recalculation
@@ -279,7 +280,7 @@ fn void? Ctx.frame_end(&ctx)
 	}
 
 	// DO THE LAYOUT
-	ctx.layout_element_tree();
+	ctx.layout_element_tree()!;
 
 	// 1. clear the tree
 	ctx.tree.nuke();
diff --git a/lib/ugui.c3l/src/layout.c3 b/lib/ugui.c3l/src/layout.c3
index 92702e4..5a850c6 100644
--- a/lib/ugui.c3l/src/layout.c3
+++ b/lib/ugui.c3l/src/layout.c3
@@ -297,17 +297,17 @@ fn void resolve_placement(Elem* c, Elem* p)
 	}
 }
 
-fn void Ctx.layout_element_tree(&ctx)
+fn void? Ctx.layout_element_tree(&ctx)
 {
 	int current;
 	for (int n; (current = ctx.tree.level_order_it(0, n)) >= 0; n++) {
-		Elem* p = ctx.find_elem(ctx.tree.get(current));
+		Elem* p = ctx.find_elem(ctx.tree.get(current))!;
 		p.layout.origin = -p.layout.scroll_offset;
 
 		int ch;
 		// RESOLVE KNOWN DIMENSIONS
 		for (int i; (ch = ctx.tree.children_it(current, i)) >= 0; i++) {
-			Elem* c = ctx.find_elem(ctx.tree.get(ch));
+			Elem* c = ctx.find_elem(ctx.tree.get(ch))!;
 			if (ctx.tree.is_root(ch)) {
 				resolve_dimensions(p, &&{});
 			} else {
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ fn void Ctx.layout_element_tree(&ctx)
 
 		// RESOLVE GROW CHILDREN
 		for (int i; (ch = ctx.tree.children_it(current, i)) >= 0; i++) {
-			Elem* c = ctx.find_elem(ctx.tree.get(ch));
+			Elem* c = ctx.find_elem(ctx.tree.get(ch))!;
 			if (ctx.tree.is_root(ch)) {
 				resolve_grow_elements(p, &&{});
 			} else {
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ fn void Ctx.layout_element_tree(&ctx)
 
 		// RESOLVE CHILDREN PLACEMENT
 		for (int i; (ch = ctx.tree.children_it(current, i)) >= 0; i++) {
-			Elem* c = ctx.find_elem(ctx.tree.get(ch));
+			Elem* c = ctx.find_elem(ctx.tree.get(ch))!;
 			if (ctx.tree.is_root(ch)) {
 				resolve_placement(p, &&{});
 				update_children_bounds(p, &&{});
diff --git a/lib/ugui.c3l/src/mtree.c3 b/lib/ugui.c3l/src/mtree.c3
index 22d4cc8..db71cb9 100644
--- a/lib/ugui.c3l/src/mtree.c3
+++ b/lib/ugui.c3l/src/mtree.c3
@@ -312,8 +312,12 @@ fn void MTree.prune(&tree, int parent)
 
 }
 
-<* @require tree.is_used(ref) *>
-fn Type MTree.get(&tree, int ref) => tree.elem_vec[ref];
+<* @require ref >= 0 , ref < tree.elem_vec.len *>
+fn Type? MTree.get(&tree, int ref) @operator([])
+{
+	if (tree.is_used(ref)) return tree.elem_vec[ref];
+	return NOT_FOUND?;
+}
 
 <* @require tree.is_used(ref) *>
 fn Type MTree.parentof(&tree, int ref) => tree.refs_vec[ref].parent;
diff --git a/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/button.c3 b/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/button.c3
index d732dc6..bfece9e 100644
--- a/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/button.c3
+++ b/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/button.c3
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ macro Ctx.button(&ctx, String label = "", String icon = "", ...)
 fn ElemEvents? Ctx.button_id(&ctx, Id id, String label, String icon)
 {
 	id = ctx.gen_id(id)!;
-	Elem *parent = ctx.get_parent()!;
-	Elem *elem = ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_BUTTON)!;
+	Elem* parent, elem;
+	ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_BUTTON)!.unpack(&elem, &parent);
 	Style* style = ctx.styles.get_style(@str_hash("button"));
 
 	Sprite* sprite = icon != "" ? ctx.sprite_atlas.get(icon)! : &&(Sprite){};
@@ -89,8 +89,8 @@ macro Ctx.checkbox(&ctx, String desc, bool* active, String tick_sprite = "", ...
 fn void? Ctx.checkbox_id(&ctx, Id id, String description, bool* active, String tick_sprite)
 {
 	id = ctx.gen_id(id)!;
-	Elem *parent = ctx.get_parent()!;
-	Elem *elem = ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_BUTTON)!;
+	Elem* parent, elem;
+	ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_BUTTON)!.unpack(&elem, &parent);
 	Style* style = ctx.styles.get_style(@str_hash("checkbox"));
 
 	short inner_pad = description != "" ? style.size/2 : 0;
@@ -163,8 +163,8 @@ fn void? Ctx.toggle_id(&ctx, Id id, String description, bool* active)
 {
 	id = ctx.gen_id(id)!;
 
-	Elem *parent = ctx.get_parent()!;
-	Elem *elem = ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_BUTTON)!;
+	Elem* parent, elem;
+	ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_BUTTON)!.unpack(&elem, &parent);
 	Style* style = ctx.styles.get_style(@str_hash("toggle"));
 
 	short inner_pad = description != "" ? style.size/2 : 0;
diff --git a/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/div.c3 b/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/div.c3
index 566920f..a8a185c 100644
--- a/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/div.c3
+++ b/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/div.c3
@@ -72,8 +72,8 @@ fn void? Ctx.div_begin_id(&ctx,
 {
 	id = ctx.gen_id(id)!;
 
-	Elem* elem = ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_DIV)!;
-	Elem* parent = ctx.get_parent()!;
+	Elem* parent, elem;
+	ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_DIV)!.unpack(&elem, &parent);
 	ctx.active_div = elem.tree_idx;
 
 	Style* style = ctx.styles.get_style(@str_hash("div"));
@@ -183,8 +183,8 @@ fn bool? Ctx.popup_begin_id(&ctx,
 {
 	id = ctx.gen_id(id)!;
 
-	Elem* elem = ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_DIV)!;
-	Elem* parent = ctx.find_elem(ctx.active_div); // pop-up parent is always root
+	Elem* parent, elem;
+	ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_DIV)!.unpack(&elem, &parent);
 	ctx.active_div = elem.tree_idx;
 
 	Style* style = ctx.styles.get_style(@str_hash("popup"));
diff --git a/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/separator.c3 b/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/separator.c3
index d0272fc..1c1adae 100644
--- a/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/separator.c3
+++ b/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/separator.c3
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ macro Ctx.separator(&ctx, int width, int height, ...)
 fn void? Ctx.separator_id(&ctx, Id id, int width, int height)
 {
 	id = ctx.gen_id(id)!;
-	Elem *parent = ctx.get_parent()!;
-	Elem *elem = ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_NONE)!;
+	Elem* parent, elem;
+	ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_NONE)!.unpack(&elem, &parent);
 
 	elem.layout.w = @exact((short)width);
 	elem.layout.h = @exact((short)height);
diff --git a/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/slider.c3 b/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/slider.c3
index 31b961c..2073dac 100644
--- a/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/slider.c3
+++ b/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/slider.c3
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ fn ElemEvents? Ctx.slider_hor_id(&ctx, Id id, Size w, Size h, float* value, floa
 {
 	id = ctx.gen_id(id)!;
 
-	Elem* parent = ctx.get_parent()!;
-	Elem* elem = ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_SLIDER)!;
+	Elem* parent, elem;
+	ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_SLIDER)!.unpack(&elem, &parent);
 	Style* style = ctx.styles.get_style(@str_hash("slider"));
 
 	elem.layout.w = w;
@@ -85,8 +85,8 @@ fn ElemEvents? Ctx.slider_ver_id(&ctx, Id id, Size w, Size h, float* value, floa
 {
 	id = ctx.gen_id(id)!;
 
-	Elem *parent = ctx.get_parent()!;
-	Elem *elem = ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_SLIDER)!;
+	Elem* parent, elem;
+	ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_SLIDER)!.unpack(&elem, &parent);
 	Style* style = ctx.styles.get_style(@str_hash("slider"));
 
 	elem.layout.w = w;
@@ -135,8 +135,8 @@ fn void? Ctx.scrollbar(&ctx, Id id, float *value, float handle_percent, bool ver
 {
 	id = ctx.gen_id(id)!;
 
-	Elem *parent = ctx.get_parent()!;
-	Elem *elem = ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_SLIDER)!;
+	Elem* parent, elem;
+	ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_SLIDER)!.unpack(&elem, &parent);
 	Style* style = ctx.styles.get_style(@str_hash("scrollbar"));
 
 	Rect pb = parent.bounds.pad(parent.layout.content_offset);
diff --git a/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/sprite.c3 b/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/sprite.c3
index 1886a78..ab54dc3 100644
--- a/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/sprite.c3
+++ b/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/sprite.c3
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ macro Ctx.sprite(&ctx, String name, ...)
 fn void? Ctx.sprite_id(&ctx, Id id, String name)
 {
 	id = ctx.gen_id(id)!;
-	Elem *parent = ctx.get_parent()!;
-	Elem *elem = ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_SPRITE)!;
+	Elem* parent, elem;
+	ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_SPRITE)!.unpack(&elem, &parent);
 
 	Style* style = ctx.styles.get_style(@str_hash("sprite"));
 	Sprite* sprite = ctx.sprite_atlas.get(name)!;
diff --git a/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/text.c3 b/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/text.c3
index bd65c56..8849fc1 100644
--- a/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/text.c3
+++ b/lib/ugui.c3l/src/widgets/text.c3
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ fn void? Ctx.text_id(&ctx, Id id, String text)
 {
 	id = ctx.gen_id(id)!;
 
-	Elem *parent = ctx.get_parent()!;
-	Elem *elem = ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_TEXT)!;
+	Elem* parent, elem;
+	ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_TEXT)!.unpack(&elem, &parent);
 	Style* style = ctx.styles.get_style(@str_hash("text"));
 
 	Id text_hash = text.hash();
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ fn ElemEvents? Ctx.text_box_id(&ctx, Id id, Size w, Size h, TextEdit* te, Anchor
 {
 	id = ctx.gen_id(id)!;
 
-	Elem *parent = ctx.get_parent()!;
-	Elem *elem = ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_TEXT)!;
+	Elem* parent, elem;
+	ctx.get_elem(id, ETYPE_TEXT)!.unpack(&elem, &parent);
 	Style* style = ctx.styles.get_style(@str_hash("text-box"));
 
 	elem.text.te = te;