Hayden Panettiere and Milo Ventimiglia dating

After denying they were in a relationship, Heroes stars Hayden Panettiere and Milo Ventimiglia are now considered an item.

"Hayden's mom adores Milo. She thinks he's so cute," a family friend told People.com "She tells her friends that he's her boyfriend. She's very proud."

On a trip to NYC, Ventimiglia hung out with the entire Panettiere family. "He's even met her grandparents. He fits in perfectly with the family. Milo jokes around with her little brother," says the source. "They're buddies."

When the couple are together, "they're 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."

A rep for the actress - who plays Claire Bennet in the science fiction serial drama television series, said: "We do not respond to inquiries from the media regarding Ms. Panettiere's personal life."

The pair had previously dodged rumors that they were dating – even though they were seen together publicly  at various benefits and other events.

When asked shortly before Thanksgiving about the reports of his possible romance with Panettiere - Ventimiglia, 30, said: "She and I are close friends. It's only natural that people are going to couple us together."

A friend added: "They're not afraid to show their affection around her family and their friends."

Speaking of the generation gap between the couple, Ventimiglia is 12-year-older than 18-year-old Panettiere, the friend added: "At first it doesn't seem like there's a big age difference, but then you do see it. ... He's more proper and reserved, and she's still playful and very girly."