diff --git a/src/grung/db.py b/src/grung/db.py
index 18f9381..00c7629 100644
--- a/src/grung/db.py
+++ b/src/grung/db.py
@@ -34,12 +34,12 @@ class RecordTable(table.Table):
         doc.after_insert(self._db)
         return doc.deserialize(self._db)
 
-    def get(self, doc_id: int, recurse: bool = True):
+    def get(self, doc_id: int, recurse: bool = False):
         document = super().get(doc_id=doc_id)
         if document:
             return document.deserialize(self._db, recurse=recurse)
 
-    def search(self, *args, recurse: bool = True, **kwargs) -> List[Record]:
+    def search(self, *args, recurse: bool = False, **kwargs) -> List[Record]:
         results = super().search(*args, **kwargs)
         return [r.deserialize(self._db, recurse=recurse) for r in results]
 
diff --git a/src/grung/types.py b/src/grung/types.py
index b860f52..d929524 100644
--- a/src/grung/types.py
+++ b/src/grung/types.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class Field:
         if value is not None:
             return str(value)
 
-    def deserialize(self, value: value_type, db: TinyDB, recurse: bool = True) -> value_type:
+    def deserialize(self, value: value_type, db: TinyDB, recurse: bool = False) -> value_type:
         return value
 
 
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class Integer(Field):
     value_type = int
     default: int = 0
 
-    def deserialize(self, value: str, db: TinyDB, recurse: bool = True) -> value_type:
+    def deserialize(self, value: str, db: TinyDB, recurse: bool = False) -> value_type:
         return int(value)
 
 
@@ -96,6 +96,10 @@ class Record(Dict[(str, Field)]):
         for name, _field in self._metadata.fields.items():
             _field.after_insert(db, self)
 
+    @property
+    def reference(self):
+        return Pointer.reference(self)
+
     def __setattr__(self, key, value):
         if key in self:
             self[key] = value
@@ -147,7 +151,10 @@ class Pointer(Field):
         elif type(value) == str:
             pt, puid = value.split("::")
             if puid:
-                return db.table(pt).search(where("uid") == puid, recurse=recurse)[0]
+                try:
+                    return db.table(pt).search(where("uid") == puid, recurse=recurse)[0]
+                except IndexError:
+                    raise PointerReferenceError(f"Expected a {pt} with uid=={puid} but did not find one!")
         return value
 
 
@@ -165,13 +172,10 @@ class Collection(Field):
     value_type: type = Record
     default: List[value_type] = field(default_factory=lambda: [])
 
-    def _pointer(self, rec):
-        return Pointer(value_type=type(rec))
-
     def serialize(self, values: List[value_type]) -> List[str]:
-        return [self._pointer(val).serialize(val) for val in values]
+        return [Pointer.reference(val) for val in values]
 
-    def deserialize(self, values: List[str], db: TinyDB, recurse: bool = True) -> List[value_type]:
+    def deserialize(self, values: List[str], db: TinyDB, recurse: bool = False) -> List[value_type]:
         """
         Recursively deserialize the objects in this collection
         """
@@ -179,7 +183,7 @@ class Collection(Field):
         if not recurse:
             return values
         for val in values:
-            recs.append(self._pointer(val).deserialize(val, db=db, recurse=recurse))
+            recs.append(Pointer.dereference(val, db=db, recurse=False))
         return recs
 
     def after_insert(self, db: TinyDB, record: Record) -> None:
@@ -190,7 +194,9 @@ class Collection(Field):
             return
 
         for member in record[self.name]:
-            target = Pointer.dereference(member, db=db)
+            target = Pointer.dereference(member, db=db, recurse=False)
             for backref in target._metadata.backrefs(type(record)):
                 target[backref.name] = Pointer.reference(record)
-                db.table(target._metadata.table).update({backref.name: record}, where("uid") == target.uid)
+                db.table(target._metadata.table).update(
+                    {backref.name: target[backref.name]}, where("uid") == target.uid
+                )
diff --git a/test/test_db.py b/test/test_db.py
index 2ec5397..2675092 100644
--- a/test/test_db.py
+++ b/test/test_db.py
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ def test_subgroups(db):
     unique_users = set([user for group in trek.groups for user in group.members])
 
     kirk = db.table("User").get(doc_id=kirk.doc_id)
-    assert kirk in unique_users
+    assert kirk.reference in unique_users
 
 
 def test_unique(db):
@@ -117,4 +117,4 @@ def test_search(db):
 
     Group = Query()
     crew = db.Group.search(Group.name == "Crew", recurse=False)
-    assert f"User::{kirk.uid}" in crew[0].members
+    assert kirk.reference in crew[0].members