After months of speculation and denial, Heroes stars Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere are now being considered an item.

"Hayden's mom adores Milo.  She thinks he's so cute," a family friend told People magazine just before the turn of the year.  "She tells her friends that he's her boyfriend.  She's very proud."

The magazine is also reporting that Ventimiglia, who plays Peter Petrelli on Heroes, spent time with Panettiere's entire family while in New York City last month.

"He's even met her grandparents,” the friend said.  “He fits in perfectly with the family. Milo jokes around with her little brother.  They're buddies."

Hayden Panettiere and Milo Ventimiglia are also apparently “very affectionate and very comfortable around each other.”

“He really takes care of her, even down to the little things like giving her a back massage and going with her to work things,” the friend added.

A representative for the actress, who plays Claire Bennett on the series, has neither confirmed nor denied the reports, simply saying that they do not address “inquiries from the media regarding Ms. Panettiere's personal life.”

The new development in the Heroes stars' romance comes in the wake of a report made by The Sun, claiming that Milo Ventimiglia had referred to Hayden Panettiere as his “girlfriend” and said that “he loved her” during a pre-Christmas Walter Grill party in Los Angeles.

Ventimiglia is 12 years older than Panettiere, which accounts for the slight generation gap between the two Heroes stars.

"At first it doesn't seem like there's a big age difference, but then you do see it,” the friend told People.  “He's more proper and reserved, and she's still playful and very girly."

The two were first rumored to be dating in September, after they were seen getting cozy at an Emmy's party.  They denied the reports, although by mid-November, it became clear that they shared a close relationship, having been spotted together publicly at several benefits and other events.

"She and I are close friends,” Ventimiglia said some time before Thanksgiving.  “It's only natural that people are going to couple us together."


-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: People, ANI
(Image Courtesy of MSN)