Heroes Co-stars more than just friends?

Bostonherald.com reports, the New Year rang in with renewed rumors that "Heroes" co-stars Hayden Panettiere and Milo Ventimiglia are more than just good friends. People magazine says the source of information is 18-year-old Panettiere's mom. "Hayden's mom adores Milo. She thinks he's so cute," the source dished. "She tells her friends that he's her boyfriend. She's very proud."

Hayden and Ventimiglia, 30, have long denied rumors of an off-set romance, but the source said Ventimiglia -- who plays Peter Petrelli in the NBC drama -- has already been introduced to the whole Panettiere clan. The family friend added that the two lovebirds seem very well matched, despite the 12-year age gap. But the source did concede that the pair's age difference is apparent from time to time because while Milo is "more proper and reserved," Hayden is "still playful and very girly."