Gretel/Ava Zimmer

Gretel and her brother Hansel are in the Infinite Forest with their father, a woodcutter. Their father gives them his compass and sends them to gather wood, the Evil Queen captures their father and then them. She tells them they must steal something of hers back from the Blind Witch. Gretel is the planner of the two and she keeps her brother from eating the outside of the witch's Gingerbread House. She cannot stop him from taking a bite of cupcake once they're inside though and the Blind Witch almost traps them but they escape with their objective - a leather satchel. They return to the Evil Queen who asks them to forget their father and live with her in her castle and enjoy her riches, but they refuse and demand to be reunited with their father. The queen is angry and banishes all three of them to the Infinite Forest, the children still seperated from their father.

In Storybrooke, Ava Zimmer and her brother, Nicholas, have been on their own since they're mama died. They don't know who their father is. All they have is a compass their mama gave them that had belonged to their father. They try to use Henry to steal stuff from Mr. Clark's store. He calls the mayor and the sherrif when he catches them. Gretel and Hansel will be put into the foster system and separated if they're dad doesn't claim them, Emma talks to him, and he finally does once he sees them.