Steel, hon, I'm so here for ya cause I'm in a parallel boat!!!
My ex is now saying that it isn't "hooking up" if we're just friends who fool around...

I so wanna tell him off, but his friendship means more to me than the world...
You've wanted her back for so long, but REALLY, and I do mean REALLY think about why. Was it just so you had someone to cuddle with and talk to? Or do you genuinely believe that whatever you had before is still in existence? What do you think she wants back? Is she bored--that sounds harsh, but I think you may understand it...
Infact, my ex could beg for me back, and I wouldn't do it at this point in my life. I learned to love him as a friend, not romantically, anymore. In the end, it's up to you, but you really gotta ask yourself a lot of questions if you want to keep your heart out of the blender this time!