Hayden Panettiere and Milo Ventimiglia are on

Hayden Panettiere and Milo Ventimiglia are doing the business. 12/15/2007 - Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere - on like Donkey Kong... © Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos

12/15/2007 - Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere - on like Donkey Kong... © Albert L. Ortega / PR PhotosHaving previously denied a relationship, the two "Heroes" stars are now considered an item."Hayden's mom adores Milo. She thinks he's so cute," a family friend snitched to People. "She tells her friends that he's her boyfriend. She's very proud."On a December trip to New York City, Ventimiglia hung out with the entire Panettiere family. "He's even met her grandparents. He fits in perfectly with the family. 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 said: "We do not respond to inquiries from the media regarding Ms. Panettiere's personal life."Okay.Since the two were made canoodling at an Emmys party in September, the two had denied they were dating – even though, by mid-November, they already were clearly close, being together publicly at benefits and other events.When asked shortly before Thanksgiving about the reports of his possible romance with Panettiere, Ventimiglia chuckled then paused before saying, "She and I are close friends. It's only natural that people are going to couple us together.""They're not afraid to show their affection around her family and their friends," says the friend.The fact that Milo is 30 and Hayden is 18 isn't slowing them down either, according to People.