Days of Our Lives sees Xander Kiriakis (Paul Telfer) and Sarah Horton’s (Linsey Godfrey) separation and their coming bitter battle over their daughter. Let’s dive in and see if Dandy Zandy’s going to fight Sarah for custody of little Victoria.

Days of our Lives: Xander and Sarah’s Custody Battle Begins

Now, of course, Xander is still salty after finding out Sarah lied to him about Philip Kiriakis’s (Jay Kenneth Johnson) forged letter supposedly from Victor Kiriakis (John Aniston) that cost him half his inheritance. When Xander confronted her, Sarah was unapologetic. She said Xander’s still a villain basically, and she couldn’t trust him with the truth.

After he brutally beat Philip over the Versix ’s theft, the lies, and the forgery, Sarah quickly figured out Xander had nearly killed his brother. Kate Roberts (Lauren Koslow) made sure that Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu) arrested Xander, but he is out on bail. This week, he’s got a bone to pick with estranged wife Sarah Horton.

Xander Kiriakis Faces Charges While Philip Clings to Life

Xander is clearly ready to fight the criminal charges against him for allegedly beating his brother Philip to a pulp. Honestly, it was almost to death. It’s not even alleged—we all saw him do it. The Titan heir easily made bail.

And now Xander is awaiting the next stage of the case while Philip still fights for his life at University Hospital. But it’s not just Xander and Philip that are at odds. It’s an even bigger deal that Xander Kiriakis and Sarah are at odds. Maggie Horton Kiriakis (Suzanne Rogers) has also turned against Xander.

Maggie Horton Kiriakis Takes Sides in the Drama

When Sarah listened in after her breakup talk with Xander, she overheard her husband telling their daughter Victoria she is the only person that he cares about now. So, there could be a custody battle coming between Sarah and Xander. It could get really nasty this week on DOOL.

Sarah Horton and Xander have a run-in at the end of the week, possibly at the hospital, because they’re both up there on Friday. They’re arguing about little Victoria. Of course, Xander is worried he could take a beating in court, much like Philip took in his hotel room.

Custody Concerns Heat Up at University Hospital on DOOL

Xander doesn’t want to lose custody or visitation rights with his daughter. Up at the hospital, Xander is in Philip’s hospital room with a pillow in his hand. Unless this is some kind of fantasy sequence, and I don’t think it is, he’s not there to fluff it up and put it under Philip’s head to make sure his brother is comfortable.

Xander may be pondering murder to eliminate the one witness against him, which is Philip. But it looks like Xander either has a change of heart or is interrupted because, guess what? Philip wakes up. His eyes are open. We have Kate, Sarah, and Xander all in the room with him. What will Philip say when he wakes? Could it cost Xander the chance to have at least joint custody of his daughter?

Will Philip Kiriakis Save or Sink Xander’s Chance at Fatherhood?

I expect that Sarah and Maggie may try stop Xander from seeing Victoria at all because of Philip’s beating and Xander being charged with that crime—even though he’s guilty as soap sin. You know, he hasn’t been put on trial yet.

I don’t think Philip’s assault is going to factor into any custody case between Xander and Sarah as it stands. That’s because our leaker told us Philip is going to refuse to press charges against Xander after he wakes up. I’m really interested to see how that conversation goes.

Kate Roberts will be so mad. Philip could claim he doesn’t remember who beat him, but that could leave Xander still facing charges, especially if they DNA tested the blood on his knuckles. But then again, the Salem PD is not staffed by actual Sherlocks or anything.

Salem Police and Kate Roberts Ramp Up the Drama

The only clear path to get the charges dropped once and for all is for Philip to say that somebody else did it. Someone random that maybe broke into his hotel room or something like that. He can say it definitely wasn’t Xander. Philip can claim it was a 5 ft tall woman or someone who in no way matches the description that fits Xander.

Sarah Horton and Maggie Take Charge at the Kiriakis Mansion

Right now, Sarah is living in the mansion with Maggie and Victoria. They kicked Xander out of his own Kiriakis family mansion. While he probably could force the issue, he left without fighting his mother-in-law Maggie about it too much.

Basically, after what they think Xander did to Philip (and that we all know he actually did do), he’s not welcome at all right now by either his wife Sarah or her mom Maggie. Also, Kate has a police officer at the hospital on high alert telling him to block Xander from being in Philip’s room. Honestly, it’s not a smart idea for Xander to go in there and smother Philip because he would be the top suspect if his brother died after that beating. That would definitely kill any custody hopes—in addition to killing Philip.

Secrets, Lies, and the Fallout for Sarah and Xander

Here’s what else our leaker told us. The gap between Xander and Sarah soon widens. She will always love Xander, but Sarah doesn’t like his dark side that came roaring back when he tried to kill Philip. If you remember, this isn’t the first time Sarah Horton lied to Xander because of his villainy.

Honestly, it’s not Sarah’s worst lie either. When she was pregnant and gave birth to Victoria, Sarah initially didn’t want Xander to know Victoria was their child because of his sinful ways. She had Rex Brady (Eric Martsolf) pretend to be her baby daddy back then. But finally, Sarah caved and confessed the truth.

Xander’s Criminal Past vs. Sarah’s Checkered History

Since then, Xander has been a wonderful father to Victoria and by all accounts a good husband to Sarah. But ever since Philip came back, it’s been a real struggle on Days of our Lives. You remember Xander would have shot Philip right in the face if that gun he handed Xander had been loaded. So it kind of seems doubtful that in a custody case against Sarah, Xander would do well.

But you never know. Sarah Horton did steal Kristen DiMera’s (Stacy Haiduk) daughter Rachel Blake (Roslyn Gentle) as a baby and ran off with her, but then again, that was Xander and Victor’s fault for pulling the baby swap. Sarah’s reputation isn’t spotless. She’s got some mental health issues and a few things in her past.

But it’s a hell of a lot better than Xander’s past. He has a criminal record, multiple felonies, plus a prison break, and he was a DiMera henchman. It’s not a spotless resume. Then his arrest for assaulting Philip would also not look great in family court.

Will DOOL’s Philip Kiriakis Refuse to Press Charges?

However, Xander is likely going to catch a break if Philip does what our leaker says and refuses to press charges. Our leaker also told us that where Xander and Sarah’s split is concerned, Philip blames himself for lying to Xander, cheating him out of his half inheritance, and putting Sarah in such a tough position. We have heard that Philip is going to reconcile with Xander and be determined to forge an honest and genuine brother bond between them.

New Alliances and Shifting Relationships on DOOL

From there, Philip Kiriakis is going to become an advocate. He’s going to make it his mission to put together what he broke and reconcile Xander and Sarah’s marriage. It won’t be instant. There are going to be roadblocks. Brady is going to get kind of close to Sarah. Xander’s scheming ex, Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien), comes to town in just a few weeks. But I have confidence in Philip. Maybe if he can heal them, Sarah Horton and Xander won’t have to rip each other apart in custody court fighting over adorable little Victoria.