diff --git a/datapage.cpp b/datapage.cpp
index 07a0bd5..53b8488 100644
--- a/datapage.cpp
+++ b/datapage.cpp
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ bool DataPage<TUPLE>::recordRead(const typename TUPLE::key_t key, size_t keySize
     int match = -1;
     while((*buf=itr.getnext()) != 0)
         {
-	  match = TUPLE::compare((*buf)->key(), (*buf)->keylen(), key, keySize);
+	  match = TUPLE::compare((*buf)->strippedkey(), (*buf)->strippedkeylen(), key, keySize);
             
             if(match<0) //keep searching
             {
diff --git a/datapage.h b/datapage.h
index 3aa4099..b1fcbe6 100644
--- a/datapage.h
+++ b/datapage.h
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ public:
 	if(key) {
 	  len_t old_off = read_offset_;
 	  TUPLE * t = getnext();
-	  while(t && TUPLE::compare(key->key(), key->keylen(), t->key(), t->keylen()) > 0) {
+	  while(t && TUPLE::compare(key->strippedkey(), key->strippedkeylen(), t->strippedkey(), t->strippedkeylen()) > 0) {
 	    TUPLE::freetuple(t);
 	    old_off = read_offset_;
 	    t = getnext();
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ public:
       }
     public:
       iterator(DataPage *dp, TUPLE * key=NULL) : read_offset_(0), dp(dp) {
-    	  scan_to_key(key);
+        scan_to_key(key);
       }
 
         void operator=(const iterator &rhs)
diff --git a/datatuple.h b/datatuple.h
index 17acb30..67e94c2 100644
--- a/datatuple.h
+++ b/datatuple.h
@@ -20,13 +20,23 @@ private:
 	byte* data_; // aliases key().  data_ - 1 should be the \0 terminating key().
 
   datatuple* sanity_check() {
-    assert(keylen() < 3000);
+    assert(rawkeylen() < 3000);
     return this;
   }
 public:
 
-	inline len_t keylen() const {
-		return data_ - key();
+	inline len_t rawkeylen() const {
+		return data_ - rawkey();
+	}
+	inline len_t strippedkeylen() const {
+	  return rawkeylen();
+	  const size_t ts_sz = sizeof(uint64_t)+1;
+      size_t al = rawkeylen();
+      if(al <= ts_sz || rawkey()[al-ts_sz]!=0) {
+        return al;
+      } else {
+        return al - ts_sz;
+      }
 	}
 	inline len_t datalen() const {
 		return (datalen_ == DELETE) ? 0 : datalen_;
@@ -34,22 +44,25 @@ public:
 
     //returns the length of the byte array representation
     len_t byte_length() const {
-		return sizeof(len_t) + sizeof(len_t) + keylen() + datalen();
+		return sizeof(len_t) + sizeof(len_t) + rawkeylen() + datalen();
     }
     static len_t length_from_header(len_t keylen, len_t datalen) {
     	return keylen + ((datalen == DELETE) ? 0 : datalen);
     }
 
-    inline key_t key() const {
+    inline key_t rawkey() const {
 		return (key_t)(this+1);
 	}
 	inline data_t data() const {
 		return data_;
 	}
 
+	inline key_t strippedkey() const {
+	  return (key_t)(this+1);
+	}
     //this is used by the stl set
     bool operator() (const datatuple* lhs, const datatuple* rhs) const {
-		return compare(lhs->key(), lhs->keylen(), rhs->key(), rhs->keylen()) < 0; //strcmp((char*)lhs.key(),(char*)rhs.key()) < 0;
+		return compare(lhs->strippedkey(), lhs->strippedkeylen(), rhs->strippedkey(), rhs->strippedkeylen()) < 0; //strcmp((char*)lhs.key(),(char*)rhs.key()) < 0;
 	}
 
     /**
@@ -91,15 +104,15 @@ public:
       return 1;
     }
 
-    uint64_t timestamp() {
+    int64_t timestamp() {
       const size_t ts_sz = sizeof(uint64_t)+1;
-      size_t al = keylen();
-      if(al <= ts_sz || key()[al-ts_sz]!=0) { return (uint64_t)-1; }
-      return *(uint64_t*)(key()+1+al-ts_sz);
+      size_t al = rawkeylen();
+      if(al <= ts_sz || rawkey()[al-ts_sz]!=0) { return (uint64_t)-1; }
+      return (int64_t)*(uint64_t*)(rawkey()+1+al-ts_sz);
     }
 
     static int compare_obj(const datatuple * a, const datatuple* b) {
-      return compare(a->key(), a->keylen(), b->key(), b->keylen());
+      return compare(a->strippedkey(), a->strippedkeylen(), b->strippedkey(), b->strippedkeylen());
     }
 
     inline void setDelete() {
@@ -123,7 +136,7 @@ public:
 
     //copy the tuple.  does a deep copy of the contents.
     datatuple* create_copy() const {
-        return create(key(), keylen(), data(), datalen_)->sanity_check();
+        return create(rawkey(), rawkeylen(), data(), datalen_);
     }
 
 
@@ -132,8 +145,8 @@ public:
     }
     static datatuple* create(const void* key, len_t keylen, const void* data, len_t datalen) {
     	datatuple *ret = (datatuple*)malloc(sizeof(datatuple) + length_from_header(keylen,datalen));
-    	memcpy(ret->key(), key, keylen);
-    	ret->data_ = ret->key() + keylen;  // need to set this even if delete, since it encodes the key length.
+    	memcpy(ret->rawkey(), key, keylen);
+    	ret->data_ = ret->rawkey() + keylen;  // need to set this even if delete, since it encodes the key length.
     	if(datalen != DELETE) {
     		memcpy(ret->data_, data, datalen);
     	}
@@ -144,24 +157,24 @@ public:
     //format: key length _   data length _ key _ data
     byte * to_bytes() const {
     	byte *ret = (byte*)malloc(byte_length());
-    	((len_t*)ret)[0] = keylen();
+    	((len_t*)ret)[0] = rawkeylen();
     	((len_t*)ret)[1] = datalen_;
-    	memcpy(((len_t*)ret)+2, key(), length_from_header(keylen(), datalen_));
+    	memcpy(((len_t*)ret)+2, rawkey(), length_from_header(rawkeylen(), datalen_));
         return ret;
     }
 
     const byte* get_bytes(len_t *keylen, len_t *datalen) const {
-        *keylen  = this->keylen();
-    	*datalen = datalen_;
-    	return key();
+      *keylen  = this->rawkeylen();
+      *datalen = datalen_;
+      return rawkey();
     }
 
     //format of buf: key _ data.  The caller needs to 'peel' off key length and data length for this call.
     static datatuple* from_bytes(len_t keylen, len_t datalen, byte* buf) {
     	datatuple *dt = (datatuple*) malloc(sizeof(datatuple) + length_from_header(keylen,datalen));
     	dt->datalen_ = datalen;
-    	memcpy(dt->key(),buf, length_from_header(keylen,datalen));
-    	dt->data_ = dt->key() + keylen;
+    	memcpy(dt->rawkey(),buf, length_from_header(keylen,datalen));
+    	dt->data_ = dt->rawkey() + keylen;
     	return dt->sanity_check();
     }
     static datatuple* from_bytes(byte* buf) {
@@ -169,8 +182,8 @@ public:
       len_t buflen = length_from_header(keylen, ((len_t*)buf)[1]);
       datatuple *dt = (datatuple*) malloc(sizeof(datatuple) + buflen);
       dt->datalen_ = ((len_t*)buf)[1];
-      memcpy(dt->key(),((len_t*)buf)+2,buflen);
-      dt->data_ = dt->key() + keylen;
+      memcpy(dt->rawkey(),((len_t*)buf)+2,buflen);
+      dt->data_ = dt->rawkey() + keylen;
 
     	return dt->sanity_check();
     }
diff --git a/diskTreeComponent.cpp b/diskTreeComponent.cpp
index 6334920..bf59348 100644
--- a/diskTreeComponent.cpp
+++ b/diskTreeComponent.cpp
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ void diskTreeComponent::writes_done() {
 int diskTreeComponent::insertTuple(int xid, datatuple *t)
 {
   if(bloom_filter) {
-    bloom_filter_insert(bloom_filter, (const char*)t->key(), t->keylen());
+    bloom_filter_insert(bloom_filter, (const char*)t->strippedkey(), t->strippedkeylen());
   }
   int ret = 0; // no error.
   if(dp==0) {
@@ -106,8 +106,8 @@ DataPage<datatuple>* diskTreeComponent::insertDataPage(int xid, datatuple *tuple
 
 
     ltree->appendPage(xid,
-                        tuple->key(),
-                        tuple->keylen(),
+                        tuple->strippedkey(),
+                        tuple->strippedkeylen(),
                         dp->get_start_pid()
                         );
 
@@ -896,7 +896,7 @@ void diskTreeComponent::iterator::init_iterators(datatuple * key1, datatuple * k
         lsmIterator_ = NULL;
     } else {
         if(key1) {
-            lsmIterator_ = new diskTreeComponent::internalNodes::iterator(-1, ro_alloc_, tree_, key1->key(), key1->keylen());
+            lsmIterator_ = new diskTreeComponent::internalNodes::iterator(-1, ro_alloc_, tree_, key1->strippedkey(), key1->strippedkeylen());
         } else {
             lsmIterator_ = new diskTreeComponent::internalNodes::iterator(-1, ro_alloc_, tree_);
         }
diff --git a/logstore.cpp b/logstore.cpp
index 4ceffa1..128967b 100644
--- a/logstore.cpp
+++ b/logstore.cpp
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ logtable<TUPLE>::logtable(int log_mode, pageid_t max_c0_size, pageid_t internal_
     this->shutting_down_ = false;
     c0_flushing = false;
     c1_flushing = false;
+    current_timestamp = 0;
+    expiry = 0;
     this->merge_mgr = 0;
     tmerger = new tuplemerger(&replace_merger);
 
@@ -110,10 +112,10 @@ recordid logtable<TUPLE>::allocTable(int xid)
     table_rec = Talloc(xid, sizeof(tbl_header));
     mergeStats * stats = 0;
     //create the big tree
-    tree_c2 = new diskTreeComponent(xid, internal_region_size, datapage_region_size, datapage_size, stats);
+    tree_c2 = new diskTreeComponent(xid, internal_region_size, datapage_region_size, datapage_size, stats, 10);
 
     //create the small tree
-    tree_c1 = new diskTreeComponent(xid, internal_region_size, datapage_region_size, datapage_size, stats);
+    tree_c1 = new diskTreeComponent(xid, internal_region_size, datapage_region_size, datapage_size, stats, 10);
 
     merge_mgr = new mergeManager(this);
     merge_mgr->set_c0_size(max_c0_size);
@@ -544,18 +546,17 @@ datatuple * logtable<TUPLE>::insertTupleHelper(datatuple *tuple)
       datatuple *new_t = tmerger->merge(pre_t, tuple);
       merge_mgr->get_merge_stats(0)->merged_tuples(new_t, tuple, pre_t);
       t = new_t;
+
       tree_c0->erase(pre_t); //remove the previous tuple
-
       tree_c0->insert(new_t); //insert the new tuple
-
   }
   else //no tuple with same key exists in mem-tree
   {
 
-      t = tuple->create_copy();
+    t = tuple->create_copy();
 
-      //insert tuple into the rbtree
-      tree_c0->insert(t);
+    //insert tuple into the rbtree
+    tree_c0->insert(t);
   }
 
   return pre_t;
@@ -626,7 +627,7 @@ bool logtable<TUPLE>::testAndSetTuple(datatuple *tuple, datatuple *tuple2)
     static pthread_mutex_t test_and_set_mut = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER;
     pthread_mutex_lock(&test_and_set_mut);
 
-    datatuple * exists = findTuple_first(-1, tuple2 ? tuple2->key() : tuple->key(), tuple2 ? tuple2->keylen() : tuple->keylen());
+    datatuple * exists = findTuple_first(-1, tuple2 ? tuple2->rawkey() : tuple->rawkey(), tuple2 ? tuple2->rawkeylen() : tuple->rawkeylen());
 
     if(!tuple2 || tuple2->isDelete()) {
       if(!exists || exists->isDelete()) {
diff --git a/logstore.h b/logstore.h
index 9378152..ff21928 100644
--- a/logstore.h
+++ b/logstore.h
@@ -160,6 +160,9 @@ public:
     bool c0_flushing;
     bool c1_flushing; // this needs to be set to true at shutdown, or when the c0-c1 merger is waiting for c1-c2 to finish its merge
 
+    lsn_t current_timestamp;
+    lsn_t expiry;
+
     //DATA PAGE SETTINGS
     pageid_t internal_region_size; // in number of pages
     pageid_t datapage_region_size; // "
@@ -172,6 +175,33 @@ private:
 public:
     bool shutting_down_;
 
+    bool mightBeOnDisk(datatuple * t) {
+      if(tree_c1) {
+        if(!tree_c1->bloom_filter) { printf("no c1 bloom filter\n"); return true; }
+        if(bloom_filter_lookup(tree_c1->bloom_filter,           (const char*)t->strippedkey(), t->strippedkeylen())) { printf("in c1\n"); return true; }
+      }
+      if(tree_c1_prime) {
+        if(!tree_c1_prime->bloom_filter) { printf("no c1' bloom filter\n");  return true; }
+        if(bloom_filter_lookup(tree_c1_prime->bloom_filter,     (const char*)t->strippedkey(), t->strippedkeylen())) { printf("in c1'\n"); return true; }
+      }
+      return mightBeAfterMemMerge(t);
+    }
+
+    bool mightBeAfterMemMerge(datatuple * t) {
+
+      if(tree_c1_mergeable) {
+        if(!tree_c1_mergeable->bloom_filter) { printf("no c1m bloom filter\n"); return true; }
+        if(bloom_filter_lookup(tree_c1_mergeable->bloom_filter,     (const char*)t->strippedkey(), t->strippedkeylen())) { printf("in c1m'\n");return true; }
+      }
+
+
+      if(tree_c2) {
+        if(!tree_c2->bloom_filter) { printf("no c2 bloom filter\n");  return true; }
+        if(bloom_filter_lookup(tree_c2->bloom_filter,           (const char*)t->strippedkey(), t->strippedkeylen())) { printf("in c2\n");return true; }
+      }
+      return false;
+    }
+
     template<class ITRA, class ITRN>
     class mergeManyIterator {
     public:
@@ -325,7 +355,7 @@ public:
           revalidate();
           TUPLE * tmp = merge_it_->next_callerFrees();
           if(last_returned && tmp) {
-              assert(TUPLE::compare(last_returned->key(), last_returned->keylen(), tmp->key(), tmp->keylen()) < 0);
+              assert(TUPLE::compare(last_returned->strippedkey(), last_returned->strippedkeylen(), tmp->strippedkey(), tmp->strippedkeylen()) < 0);
               TUPLE::freetuple(last_returned);
           }
           last_returned = tmp;
@@ -433,7 +463,7 @@ public:
         merge_it_ = new merge_it_t(inner_merge_it, disk_it, 4, NULL, TUPLE::compare_obj); // XXX Hardcodes comparator, and does not handle merges
         if(last_returned) {
           TUPLE * junk = merge_it_->peek();
-          if(junk && !TUPLE::compare(junk->key(), junk->keylen(), last_returned->key(), last_returned->keylen())) {
+          if(junk && !TUPLE::compare(junk->strippedkey(), junk->strippedkeylen(), last_returned->strippedkey(), last_returned->strippedkeylen())) {
             // we already returned junk
             TUPLE::freetuple(merge_it_->next_callerFrees());
           }
diff --git a/merger.cpp b/merger.cpp
index 527377f..90a0289 100644
--- a/merger.cpp
+++ b/merger.cpp
@@ -26,6 +26,17 @@ void merge_scheduler::start() {
   pthread_create(&disk_merge_thread_, 0, diskMerge_thr, this);
 }
 
+bool insert_filter(logtable<datatuple> * ltable, datatuple * t, bool dropDeletes) {
+  if(t->isDelete()) {
+    if(dropDeletes || ! ltable->mightBeAfterMemMerge(t)) {
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+  if(!ltable->expiry) { return true; }
+  if(t->timestamp() > ltable->current_timestamp + ltable->expiry) { return false; }
+  return true;
+}
+
 template <class ITA, class ITB>
 void merge_iterators(int xid, diskTreeComponent * forceMe,
                     ITA *itrA,
@@ -189,7 +200,7 @@ void * merge_scheduler::memMergeThread() {
           stats->handed_off_tree();
 
           // 8: c1 = new empty.
-          ltable_->set_tree_c1(new diskTreeComponent(xid, ltable_->internal_region_size, ltable_->datapage_region_size, ltable_->datapage_size, stats));
+          ltable_->set_tree_c1(new diskTreeComponent(xid, ltable_->internal_region_size, ltable_->datapage_region_size, ltable_->datapage_size, stats, 10));
 
           pthread_cond_signal(&ltable_->c1_ready);
           ltable_->update_persistent_header(xid);
@@ -388,10 +399,10 @@ void merge_iterators(int xid,
         DEBUG("tuple\t%lld: keylen %d datalen %d\n",
                ntuples, *(t2->keylen),*(t2->datalen) );
 
-        while(t1 != 0 && datatuple::compare(t1->key(), t1->keylen(), t2->key(), t2->keylen()) < 0) // t1 is less than t2
+        while(t1 != 0 && datatuple::compare(t1->rawkey(), t1->rawkeylen(), t2->rawkey(), t2->rawkeylen()) < 0) // t1 is less than t2
         {
             //insert t1
-            if((!t1->isDelete()) || !dropDeletes) {
+            if(insert_filter(ltable, t1, dropDeletes)) {
               scratch_tree->insertTuple(xid, t1);
               i+=t1->byte_length();
               ltable->merge_mgr->wrote_tuple(stats->merge_level, t1);
@@ -405,13 +416,13 @@ void merge_iterators(int xid,
             periodically_force(xid, &i, forceMe, log);
         }
 
-        if(t1 != 0 && datatuple::compare(t1->key(), t1->keylen(), t2->key(), t2->keylen()) == 0)
+        if(t1 != 0 && datatuple::compare(t1->strippedkey(), t1->strippedkeylen(), t2->strippedkey(), t2->strippedkeylen()) == 0)
         {
             datatuple *mtuple = ltable->gettuplemerger()->merge(t1,t2);
             stats->merged_tuples(mtuple, t2, t1); // this looks backwards, but is right.
 
             //insert merged tuple, drop deletes
-            if((!mtuple->isDelete()) || !dropDeletes) {
+            if(insert_filter(ltable, mtuple, dropDeletes)) {
               scratch_tree->insertTuple(xid, mtuple);
               i+=mtuple->byte_length();
               ltable->merge_mgr->wrote_tuple(stats->merge_level, mtuple);
@@ -425,7 +436,7 @@ void merge_iterators(int xid,
         else
         {
             //insert t2
-            if((!t2->isDelete()) || !dropDeletes) {
+            if(insert_filter(ltable, t2, dropDeletes)) {
               scratch_tree->insertTuple(xid, t2);
               i+=t2->byte_length();
               ltable->merge_mgr->wrote_tuple(stats->merge_level, t2);
@@ -448,7 +459,7 @@ void merge_iterators(int xid,
     }
 
     while(t1 != 0) {// t2 is empty, but t1 still has stuff in it.
-      if((!t1->isDelete()) || !dropDeletes) {
+      if(insert_filter(ltable, t1, dropDeletes)) {
         scratch_tree->insertTuple(xid, t1);
         ltable->merge_mgr->wrote_tuple(stats->merge_level, t1);
         i += t1->byte_length();
diff --git a/requestDispatch.cpp b/requestDispatch.cpp
index 44d6980..87bdb2c 100644
--- a/requestDispatch.cpp
+++ b/requestDispatch.cpp
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ inline int requestDispatch<HANDLE>::op_bulk_insert(logtable<datatuple> *ltable,
 template<class HANDLE>
 inline int requestDispatch<HANDLE>::op_find(logtable<datatuple> * ltable, HANDLE fd, datatuple * tuple) {
     //find the tuple
-    datatuple *dt = ltable->findTuple_first(-1, tuple->key(), tuple->keylen());
+    datatuple *dt = ltable->findTuple_first(-1, tuple->strippedkey(), tuple->strippedkeylen());
 
     #ifdef STATS_ENABLED
 
@@ -403,12 +403,12 @@ inline int requestDispatch<HANDLE>::op_dbg_drop_database(logtable<datatuple> * l
         ltable->insertTuple(del);
         n++;
         if(!(n % 1000)) {
-          printf("X %lld %s\n", n, (char*)del->key()); fflush(stdout);
+          printf("X %lld %s\n", n, (char*)del->rawkey()); fflush(stdout);
         }
       } else {
         n++;
         if(!(n % 1000)) {
-          printf("? %lld %s\n", n, (char*)del->key()); fflush(stdout);
+          printf("? %lld %s\n", n, (char*)del->rawkey()); fflush(stdout);
         }
       }
       datatuple::freetuple(del);
@@ -423,12 +423,12 @@ inline int requestDispatch<HANDLE>::op_dbg_noop(logtable<datatuple> * ltable, HA
 }
 template<class HANDLE>
 inline int requestDispatch<HANDLE>::op_dbg_set_log_mode(logtable<datatuple> * ltable, HANDLE fd, datatuple * tuple) {
-  if(tuple->keylen() != sizeof(int)) {
+  if(tuple->rawkeylen() != sizeof(int)) {
 	  abort();
 	  return writeoptosocket(fd, LOGSTORE_PROTOCOL_ERROR);
   } else {
 	  int old_mode = ltable->log_mode;
-	  ltable->log_mode = *(int*)tuple->key();
+	  ltable->log_mode = *(int*)tuple->rawkey();
 	  fprintf(stderr, "\n\nChanged log mode from %d to %d\n\n", old_mode, ltable->log_mode);
 	  return writeoptosocket(fd, LOGSTORE_RESPONSE_SUCCESS);
   }
@@ -475,12 +475,12 @@ int requestDispatch<HANDLE>::dispatch_request(network_op_t opcode, datatuple * t
     int err = 0;
 #if 0
     if(tuple) {
-        char * printme = (char*)malloc(tuple->keylen()+1);
-        memcpy(printme, tuple->key(), tuple->keylen());
-        printme[tuple->keylen()] = 0;
-        printf("\nop = %d, key = %s, isdelete = %d\n", opcode, printme, tuple->isDelete());
+        char * printme = (char*)malloc(tuple->rawkeylen()+1);
+        memcpy(printme, tuple->rawkey(), tuple->rawkeylen());
+        printme[tuple->rawkeylen()] = 0;
+        printf("\nop = %d, key = ->%s<-, isdelete = %d\n", opcode, printme, tuple->isDelete());
         free(printme);
-    } 
+    }
 #endif
     if(opcode == OP_INSERT)
     {
diff --git a/test/check_datapage.cpp b/test/check_datapage.cpp
index 8ea1ad3..cec840c 100644
--- a/test/check_datapage.cpp
+++ b/test/check_datapage.cpp
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ void insertWithConcurrentReads(size_t NUM_ENTRIES) {
         DataPage<datatuple>::iterator it = dp->begin();
         datatuple * dt;
         while((dt = it.getnext()) != NULL) {
-          if(!strcmp((char*)dt->key(), key_arr[j].c_str())) {
+          if(!strcmp((char*)dt->rawkey(), key_arr[j].c_str())) {
             found = true;
           }
           datatuple::freetuple(dt);
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ void insertProbeIter(size_t NUM_ENTRIES)
         datatuple *dt=0;
         while( (dt=itr.getnext()) != NULL)
             {
-                assert(dt->keylen() == key_arr[tuplenum].length()+1);
+                assert(dt->rawkeylen() == key_arr[tuplenum].length()+1);
                 assert(dt->datalen() == data_arr[tuplenum].length()+1);
                 tuplenum++;
                 datatuple::freetuple(dt);
diff --git a/test/check_logtable.cpp b/test/check_logtable.cpp
index dfe5c22..7fd0dfd 100644
--- a/test/check_logtable.cpp
+++ b/test/check_logtable.cpp
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ void insertProbeIter(size_t NUM_ENTRIES)
     datatuple *dt=0;
     while( (dt=tree_itr->next_callerFrees()) != NULL)
     {
-        assert(dt->keylen() == key_arr[tuplenum].length()+1);
+        assert(dt->rawkeylen() == key_arr[tuplenum].length()+1);
         assert(dt->datalen() == data_arr[tuplenum].length()+1);
         tuplenum++;
         datatuple::freetuple(dt);
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ void insertProbeIter(size_t NUM_ENTRIES)
 		datatuple *dt = ltable_c1->findTuple(xid, (const datatuple::key_t) key_arr[ri].c_str(), (size_t)key_arr[ri].length()+1);
 
         assert(dt!=0);
-        assert(dt->keylen() == key_arr[ri].length()+1);
+        assert(dt->rawkeylen() == key_arr[ri].length()+1);
         assert(dt->datalen() == data_arr[ri].length()+1);
         datatuple::freetuple(dt);
         dt = 0;        
diff --git a/test/check_merge.cpp b/test/check_merge.cpp
index 3d312f2..dab96ee 100644
--- a/test/check_merge.cpp
+++ b/test/check_merge.cpp
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ void insertProbeIter(size_t NUM_ENTRIES)
         //if(dt!=0)
         {
 			found_tuples++;
-			assert(dt->keylen() == (*key_arr)[ri].length()+1);
+			assert(dt->rawkeylen() == (*key_arr)[ri].length()+1);
 			assert(dt->datalen() == (*data_arr)[ri].length()+1);
 			datatuple::freetuple(dt);
         }
diff --git a/test/check_mergetuple.cpp b/test/check_mergetuple.cpp
index fd24e68..df37595 100644
--- a/test/check_mergetuple.cpp
+++ b/test/check_mergetuple.cpp
@@ -213,14 +213,14 @@ void insertProbeIter(size_t NUM_ENTRIES)
             assert(dt!=0);
             assert(!dt->isDelete());
             found_tuples++;
-            assert(dt->keylen() == (*key_arr)[ri].length()+1);
+            assert(dt->rawkeylen() == (*key_arr)[ri].length()+1);
             datatuple::freetuple(dt);
         }
         else
         {
             if(dt!=0)
             {
-                assert(dt->keylen() == (*key_arr)[ri].length()+1);
+                assert(dt->rawkeylen() == (*key_arr)[ri].length()+1);
                 assert(dt->isDelete());
                 datatuple::freetuple(dt);
             }
diff --git a/test/check_rbtree.cpp b/test/check_rbtree.cpp
index 55d63c8..e731647 100644
--- a/test/check_rbtree.cpp
+++ b/test/check_rbtree.cpp
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ void insertProbeIter(size_t NUM_ENTRIES)
             datatuple *tuple = *rbitr;
 
             found_tuples++;
-            assert(tuple->keylen() == key_arr[ri].length()+1);
+            assert(tuple->rawkeylen() == key_arr[ri].length()+1);
             assert(tuple->datalen() == data_arr[ri].length()+1);
         }
         else
diff --git a/test/check_tcpbulkinsert.cpp b/test/check_tcpbulkinsert.cpp
index 8d4b878..5b58419 100644
--- a/test/check_tcpbulkinsert.cpp
+++ b/test/check_tcpbulkinsert.cpp
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ void insertProbeIter(size_t NUM_ENTRIES)
         assert(dt!=0);
         assert(!dt->isDelete());
         found_tuples++;
-        assert(dt->keylen() == (*key_arr)[ri].length()+1);
+        assert(dt->rawkeylen() == (*key_arr)[ri].length()+1);
 
         //free dt
         datatuple::freetuple(dt);
@@ -199,8 +199,8 @@ void insertProbeIter(size_t NUM_ENTRIES)
     size_t i = 0;
     while((tup = logstore_client_next_tuple(l))) {
       assert(!tup->isDelete());
-      assert(tup->keylen() == (*key_arr)[i].length()+1);
-      assert(!memcmp(tup->key(), (*key_arr)[i].c_str(), (*key_arr)[i].length()));
+      assert(tup->rawkeylen() == (*key_arr)[i].length()+1);
+      assert(!memcmp(tup->rawkey(), (*key_arr)[i].c_str(), (*key_arr)[i].length()));
       datatuple::freetuple(tup);
       i++;
     }
diff --git a/test/check_tcpclient.cpp b/test/check_tcpclient.cpp
index 79a17d3..570de47 100644
--- a/test/check_tcpclient.cpp
+++ b/test/check_tcpclient.cpp
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ void insertProbeIter(size_t NUM_ENTRIES)
         assert(dt!=0);
         assert(!dt->isDelete());
         found_tuples++;
-        assert(dt->keylen() == (*key_arr)[ri].length()+1);
+        assert(dt->rawkeylen() == (*key_arr)[ri].length()+1);
 
         //free dt
         datatuple::freetuple(dt);
@@ -184,8 +184,8 @@ void insertProbeIter(size_t NUM_ENTRIES)
     size_t i = 0;
     while((tup = logstore_client_next_tuple(l))) {
       assert(!tup->isDelete());
-      assert(tup->keylen() == (*key_arr)[i].length()+1);
-      assert(!memcmp(tup->key(), (*key_arr)[i].c_str(), (*key_arr)[i].length()));
+      assert(tup->rawkeylen() == (*key_arr)[i].length()+1);
+      assert(!memcmp(tup->rawkey(), (*key_arr)[i].c_str(), (*key_arr)[i].length()));
       datatuple::freetuple(tup);
       i++;
     }
diff --git a/tuplemerger.cpp b/tuplemerger.cpp
index e3c723f..84043db 100644
--- a/tuplemerger.cpp
+++ b/tuplemerger.cpp
@@ -5,23 +5,14 @@
 // we return deletes here.  our caller decides what to do with them.
 datatuple* tuplemerger::merge(const datatuple *t1, const datatuple *t2)
 {
-    datatuple *t;
-    if(t1->isDelete() && t2->isDelete()) {
-		t = t2->create_copy();
-    } else if(t1->isDelete()) //delete -> t2
-    {
-        t = t2->create_copy();
-    }
-    else if(t2->isDelete())
-    {
-        t = t2->create_copy();
-    }
-    else //neither is a delete
-    {
-        t = (*merge_fp)(t1,t2);
-    }
-    
-    return t;
+  if(!(t1->isDelete() || t2->isDelete())) {
+    return (*merge_fp)(t1,t2);
+  } else {
+    // if there is at least one tombstone, we return t2 intact.
+    // t1 tombstone -> ignore it, and return t2.
+    // t2 tombstone -> return a tombstone (like t2).
+    return t2->create_copy();
+  }
 }
 /**
  * appends the data in t2 to data from t1
@@ -32,13 +23,13 @@ datatuple* tuplemerger::merge(const datatuple *t1, const datatuple *t2)
 datatuple* append_merger(const datatuple *t1, const datatuple *t2)
 {
 	assert(!(t1->isDelete() || t2->isDelete()));
-    len_t keylen = t1->keylen();
+    len_t rawkeylen = t1->rawkeylen();
     len_t datalen = t1->datalen() + t2->datalen();
     byte * data = (byte*)malloc(datalen);
     memcpy(data, t1->data(), t1->datalen());
     memcpy(data + t1->datalen(), t2->data(), t2->datalen());
 
-	return datatuple::create(t1->key(), keylen, data, datalen);
+	return datatuple::create(t1->rawkey(), rawkeylen, data, datalen);
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/util/histogram.cpp b/util/histogram.cpp
index ce457c3..8d6cdcb 100644
--- a/util/histogram.cpp
+++ b/util/histogram.cpp
@@ -37,13 +37,13 @@ int main(int argc, char * argv[]) {
     	bool first = true;
     	while(( ret = logstore_client_next_tuple(l) )) {
     		if(first) {
-    			assert(ret->keylen() == sizeof(uint64_t));
-    			uint64_t stride = *(uint64_t*)ret->key();
+    			assert(ret->rawkeylen() == sizeof(uint64_t));
+    			uint64_t stride = *(uint64_t*)ret->rawkey();
     			printf("Stride: %lld\n", (long long)stride);
     			first = false;
     		} else {
-    			assert(ret->key()[ret->keylen()-1] == 0); // check for null terminator.
-    			printf("\t%s\n", (char*)ret->key());
+    			assert(ret->strippedkey()[ret->strippedkeylen()-1] == 0); // check for null terminator.
+    			printf("\t%s\n", (char*)ret->strippedkey());
     		}
     		datatuple::freetuple(ret);
     	}
diff --git a/util/space_usage.cpp b/util/space_usage.cpp
index 0d961a5..72581c0 100644
--- a/util/space_usage.cpp
+++ b/util/space_usage.cpp
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ int main(int argc, char * argv[]) {
     }
 
     logstore_client_close(l);
-    assert(ret->keylen() == sizeof(uint64_t));
+    assert(ret->rawkeylen() == sizeof(uint64_t));
     assert(ret->datalen() == sizeof(uint64_t));
-    printf("Tree is %llu MB Store file is %llu MB\n", (unsigned long long)(*(uint64_t*)ret->key()) / (1024*1024), (unsigned long long)(*(uint64_t*)ret->data()) / (1024*1024));
+    printf("Tree is %llu MB Store file is %llu MB\n", (unsigned long long)(*(uint64_t*)ret->rawkey()) / (1024*1024), (unsigned long long)(*(uint64_t*)ret->data()) / (1024*1024));
 	datatuple::freetuple(ret);
     		;
     return 0;