diff --git a/furc/include/furc/ast/declaration.hpp b/furc/include/furc/ast/declaration.hpp
index 1522e8c..28e69a1 100644
--- a/furc/include/furc/ast/declaration.hpp
+++ b/furc/include/furc/ast/declaration.hpp
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 #include "furc/ast/statement.hpp"
 #include "furc/front/token.hpp"
 
-#include <ostream>
 #include <vector>
 
 namespace furc {
@@ -42,9 +41,7 @@ public:
 
     front::token name() const { return m_name; }
 public:
-    std::ostream& print(std::ostream& os) const override {
-        return os << "function " << m_name->string << " declaration";
-    }
+    std::ostream& print(std::ostream& os) const override;
 protected:
     front::token m_name;
 };
@@ -74,16 +71,7 @@ public:
 
     const function_body_handle& body() const { return m_body; }
 public:
-    std::ostream& print(std::ostream& os) const override {
-        function_declarartion_node::print(os);
-        os << ':';
-        if (m_body.present()) {
-            for (const auto& entry : m_body->statements)
-                os << '\n' << entry;
-            return os << '\n' << m_body->end << ": " << m_name->string << " end";
-        }
-        return os << m_body.error(); // error
-    }
+    std::ostream& print(std::ostream& os) const override;
 private:
     function_body_handle m_body;
 };
diff --git a/furc/include/furc/ast/literal.hpp b/furc/include/furc/ast/literal.hpp
index 741c798..d22e12a 100644
--- a/furc/include/furc/ast/literal.hpp
+++ b/furc/include/furc/ast/literal.hpp
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@
 #include "furc/ast/node.hpp"
 #include "furc/front/token.hpp"
 
-#include <ostream>
-
 namespace furc {
 namespace ast {
 
@@ -50,10 +48,7 @@ public:
 
     const handle<front::integer_token>& value() const { return m_value; }
 public:
-    std::ostream& print(std::ostream& os) const override {
-        if (m_value.has_error()) return os << m_value.error();
-        return os << "integer literal (" << *m_value << ")";
-    }
+    std::ostream& print(std::ostream& os) const override;
 private:
     handle<front::integer_token> m_value;
 };
diff --git a/furc/include/furc/ast/program.hpp b/furc/include/furc/ast/program.hpp
index c808978..b1e151b 100644
--- a/furc/include/furc/ast/program.hpp
+++ b/furc/include/furc/ast/program.hpp
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 #include "furc/ast/declaration.hpp"
 #include "furc/ast/node.hpp"
 
-#include <ostream>
 #include <vector>
 
 namespace furc {
@@ -20,13 +19,7 @@ public:
 
     const std::vector<node_handle<declaration_node>>& declarations() const { return m_declarations; }
 public:
-    std::ostream& print(std::ostream& os) const override {
-        os << "program:";
-        for (const auto& handle : m_declarations) {
-            os << '\n' << handle;
-        }
-        return os;
-    }
+    std::ostream& print(std::ostream& os) const override;
 private:
     std::vector<node_handle<declaration_node>> m_declarations;
 };
diff --git a/furc/include/furc/ast/statement.hpp b/furc/include/furc/ast/statement.hpp
index 1f4889f..34994fe 100644
--- a/furc/include/furc/ast/statement.hpp
+++ b/furc/include/furc/ast/statement.hpp
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@
 
 #include "furc/ast/node.hpp"
 
-#include <ostream>
-
 namespace furc {
 namespace ast {
 
@@ -21,13 +19,19 @@ public:
     virtual statement_node_t statement_type() const = 0;
 };
 
+class expression_node;
 class return_statement_node : public statement_node {
 public:
     return_statement_node() = default;
+
+    return_statement_node(node_handle<expression_node>&& value)
+      : m_value(std::move(value)) {}
 public:
     statement_node_t statement_type() const override { return statement_node_t::Return; }
 
-    std::ostream& print(std::ostream& os) const override { return os << "return statement"; }
+    std::ostream& print(std::ostream& os) const override;
+private:
+    node_handle<expression_node> m_value;
 };
 
 } // namespace ast
diff --git a/furc/include/furc/handle.hpp b/furc/include/furc/handle.hpp
index d24e8d7..38c26c4 100644
--- a/furc/include/furc/handle.hpp
+++ b/furc/include/furc/handle.hpp
@@ -105,6 +105,8 @@ class handle<T*, Error> {
     template <typename, typename, typename>
     friend class handle;
 
+    friend struct data;
+
     friend std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& os, const handle& result);
 public:
     using value_type      = T;
@@ -113,92 +115,151 @@ public:
     using reference       = T&;
     using const_reference = const T&;
 public:
-    template <typename U = value_type, typename = std::enable_if_t<std::is_base_of_v<value_type, U>>>
-    handle(location location, std::shared_ptr<U> value)
-      : m_location(location), m_value(value) {}
+    handle() = default;
 
-    template <typename U, typename = std::enable_if_t<std::is_base_of_v<U, value_type>>>
+    template <typename U, typename = std::enable_if_t<std::is_base_of_v<value_type, U>>>
+    handle(location location, std::shared_ptr<U> value)
+      : m_data(data(location, value)) {}
+
+    template <typename U,
+        typename = std::enable_if_t<std::is_base_of_v<value_type, U> || std::is_base_of_v<U, value_type>>>
     handle(const handle<U*, Error>& other)
-      : m_location(other.m_location), m_value(std::dynamic_pointer_cast<value_type>(other.m_value)) {}
+      : m_data(data{ other }) {}
 
     template <typename... Args, typename = std::enable_if_t<std::is_constructible_v<value_type, Args...>>>
     handle(location location, Args&&... args)
-      : m_location(location), m_value(std::make_shared<value_type>(std::forward<Args>(args)...)) {}
+      : m_data(data(location, std::forward<Args>(args)...)) {}
 
     template <typename... Args, typename = std::enable_if_t<std::is_constructible_v<value_type, Args...>>>
     handle(location location, furlang::arena& arena, Args&&... args)
-      : m_location(location), m_value(arena.allocate_shared<value_type>(std::forward<Args>(args)...)) {}
+      : m_data(data(location, arena, std::forward<Args>(args)...)) {}
 
     handle(location location, Error&& error)
-      : m_location(location), m_error(std::move(error)) {}
+      : m_data(data(location, std::move(error))) {}
 
     template <typename U>
     handle(const handle<U, Error>& error)
-      : m_location(error.location()), m_error(error.error()) {}
+      : m_data(data(error)) {}
 
     ~handle() = default;
 
     handle(handle&& other) noexcept
-      : m_location(other.m_location), m_value(std::move(other.m_value)), m_error(std::move(other.m_error)) {
-        other.m_value = nullptr;
-    }
+      : m_data(std::move(other.m_data)) {}
 
-    template <typename U = value_type,
-        typename         = std::enable_if_t<std::is_base_of_v<value_type, U> || std::is_base_of_v<U, value_type>>>
-    handle(handle<U*, Error>&& other) noexcept // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-rvalue-reference-param-not-moved)
-      : m_location(other.m_location), m_value(std::move(other.m_value)), m_error(std::move(other.m_error)) {
-        other.m_value = nullptr;
-    }
+    template <typename U, typename = std::enable_if_t<std::is_base_of_v<value_type, U>>>
+    handle(handle<U*, Error>&& other) noexcept
+      : m_data(data{ std::move(other) }) {}
 
     handle(const handle& other)
-      : m_location(other.m_location), m_value(other.m_value), m_error(other.m_error) {}
+      : m_data(other.m_data) {}
 
     handle& operator=(handle&& other) noexcept {
         if (this == &other) return *this;
-        m_location    = other.m_location;
-        m_value       = std::move(other.m_value);
-        m_error       = std::move(other.m_error);
-        other.m_value = nullptr;
+        m_data = std::move(other.m_data);
         return *this;
     }
 
     handle& operator=(const handle& other) {
         if (this == &other) return *this;
-        m_location = other.m_location;
-        m_value    = other.m_value;
-        m_error    = other.m_error;
+        m_data = other.m_data;
         return *this;
     }
 public:
-    location location() const { return m_location; }
+    location location() const { return m_data->location; }
 
-    bool present() const { return m_value != nullptr; }
-    bool has_error() const { return m_value == nullptr; }
+    bool present() const { return m_data.has_value() && m_data->value != nullptr; }
+    bool has_error() const { return m_data.has_value() && m_data->value == nullptr; }
 
-    std::shared_ptr<value_type> shared() { return m_value; }
-    Error                       error() const { return m_error; }
+    std::shared_ptr<value_type> shared() const { return m_data->value; }
+    Error                       error() const { return m_data->error; }
 
-    operator reference() { return *m_value; }
-    operator const_reference() const { return *m_value; }
-
-    reference       operator*() { return *m_value; }
-    const_reference operator*() const { return *m_value; }
-    pointer         operator->() { return m_value.get(); }
-    const_pointer   operator->() const { return m_value.get(); }
+    reference       operator*() { return *m_data->value; }
+    const_reference operator*() const { return *m_data->value; }
+    pointer         operator->() { return m_data->value.get(); }
+    const_pointer   operator->() const { return m_data->value.get(); }
 public:
     friend std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& os, const handle& result) {
-        os << result.m_location << ": ";
-        if (result.m_value != nullptr) {
-            os << *result.m_value;
+        if (!result.m_data.has_value()) return os << "handle empty";
+        os << result.m_data->location << ": ";
+        if (result.m_data->value != nullptr) {
+            os << *result.m_data->value;
         } else {
-            os << "ERROR: " << result.m_error;
+            os << "ERROR: " << result.m_data->error;
         }
         return os;
     }
 private:
-    struct location             m_location;
-    std::shared_ptr<value_type> m_value = nullptr;
-    Error                       m_error;
+    struct data {
+        struct location             location;
+        std::shared_ptr<value_type> value = nullptr;
+        Error                       error = {};
+
+        template <typename U, typename = std::enable_if_t<std::is_base_of_v<value_type, U>>>
+        data(struct location location, std::shared_ptr<U> value)
+          : location(location), value(value) {}
+
+        template <typename U,
+            typename = std::enable_if_t<std::is_base_of_v<value_type, U> || std::is_base_of_v<U, value_type>>>
+        data(handle<U*, Error>&& other) // NOLINT
+          : location(other.m_data->location) {
+            if constexpr (std::is_base_of_v<value_type, U>) {
+                value = std::static_pointer_cast<value_type>(std::move(other.m_data->value));
+            } else {
+                value = std::dynamic_pointer_cast<value_type>(std::move(other.m_data->value));
+            }
+        }
+
+        template <typename U,
+            typename = std::enable_if_t<std::is_base_of_v<value_type, U> || std::is_base_of_v<U, value_type>>>
+        data(const handle<U*, Error>& other)
+          : location(other.m_data->location) {
+            if constexpr (std::is_base_of_v<value_type, U>) {
+                value = std::static_pointer_cast<value_type>(std::move(other.m_data->value));
+            } else {
+                value = std::dynamic_pointer_cast<value_type>(std::move(other.m_data->value));
+            }
+        }
+
+        template <typename... Args, typename = std::enable_if_t<std::is_constructible_v<value_type, Args...>>>
+        data(struct location location, Args&&... args)
+          : location(location), value(std::make_shared<value_type>(std::forward<Args>(args)...)) {}
+
+        template <typename... Args, typename = std::enable_if_t<std::is_constructible_v<value_type, Args...>>>
+        data(struct location location, furlang::arena& arena, Args&&... args)
+          : location(location), value(arena.allocate_shared<value_type>(std::forward<Args>(args)...)) {}
+
+        data(struct location location, Error&& error)
+          : location(location), error(std::move(error)) {}
+
+        template <typename U>
+        data(const handle<U, Error>& error)
+          : location(error.location()), error(error.error()) {}
+
+        ~data() = default;
+
+        data(data&& other) noexcept
+          : location(other.location), value(std::move(other.value)), error(std::move(other.error)) {}
+
+        data(const data& other)
+          : location(other.location), value(other.value), error(other.error) {}
+
+        data& operator=(data&& other) noexcept {
+            if (this == &other) return *this;
+            location = other.location;
+            value    = std::move(other.value);
+            error    = std::move(other.error);
+            return *this;
+        }
+
+        data& operator=(const data& other) noexcept {
+            if (this == &other) return *this;
+            location = other.location;
+            value    = other.value;
+            error    = other.error;
+            return *this;
+        }
+    };
+    std::optional<data> m_data = {};
 };
 
 } // namespace furc
diff --git a/furc/src/ast.cpp b/furc/src/ast.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4ccbbd9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/furc/src/ast.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+#include "furc/ast/declaration.hpp"
+#include "furc/ast/literal.hpp"
+#include "furc/ast/node.hpp"
+#include "furc/ast/program.hpp"
+#include "furc/ast/statement.hpp"
+
+#include <ostream>
+
+namespace furc::ast {
+
+std::ostream& integer_literal_node::print(std::ostream& os) const {
+    if (m_value.has_error()) return os << m_value.error();
+    return os << "integer literal (" << *m_value << ")";
+}
+
+std::ostream& function_declarartion_node::print(std::ostream& os) const {
+    return os << "function " << m_name->string << " declaration";
+}
+
+std::ostream& function_definition_node::print(std::ostream& os) const {
+    function_declarartion_node::print(os);
+    os << ':';
+    if (m_body.present()) {
+        for (const auto& entry : m_body->statements)
+            os << '\n' << entry;
+        return os << '\n' << m_body->end << ": " << m_name->string << " end";
+    }
+    return os << m_body.error(); // error
+}
+
+std::ostream& return_statement_node::print(std::ostream& os) const {
+    os << "return statement";
+    if (m_value.present()) return os << " (" << *m_value << ')';
+    return os;
+}
+
+std::ostream& program_node::print(std::ostream& os) const {
+    os << "program:";
+    for (const auto& handle : m_declarations) {
+        os << '\n' << handle;
+    }
+    return os;
+}
+
+} // namespace furc::ast
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/furc/src/front/parser.cpp b/furc/src/front/parser.cpp
index 4228e76..0a04afb 100644
--- a/furc/src/front/parser.cpp
+++ b/furc/src/front/parser.cpp
@@ -93,11 +93,16 @@ ast::node_handle<ast::statement_node> parser::parse_statement() {
     if (tok.has_error()) return tok;
     switch (tok->type) {
     case token_t::Keyword: {
-        next_token();
-        auto err = eat_token(token_t::Semicolon);
-        if (err.has_error()) return err;
+        auto tok = next_token();
+        if (peek_token()->type == token_t::Semicolon) {
+            next_token();
+            return ast::node_handle<ast::return_statement_node>{ tok.location(), m_arena };
+        }
 
-        return ast::node_handle<ast::return_statement_node>{ tok.location(), m_arena };
+        auto value = parse_expression();
+        auto err   = eat_token(token_t::Semicolon);
+        if (err.has_error()) return err;
+        return ast::node_handle<ast::return_statement_node>{ tok.location(), m_arena, std::move(value) };
     }
     default: break;
     }
diff --git a/furc/src/main.cpp b/furc/src/main.cpp
index 92b68c4..cf47972 100644
--- a/furc/src/main.cpp
+++ b/furc/src/main.cpp
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #include <iostream>
 
 int main(void) {
-    furc::front::parser parser("<TEMP>", "func main() {\n    return;\n}");
+    furc::front::parser parser("<TEMP>", "func main() {\n    return 67;return \"uwu\";\n}");
     std::cout << parser.parse() << '\n';
 
     return 0;