Oh, Enjolras had realised long ago that the Thenardiers wouldn't be bothered with him, only his money. Eponine's happiness meant little to them, only what they could make off of her. None of that mattered here and now. All that mattered was the two of them, their own lives and what they were making of them. And now the little imp who they both loved, who cared so much for them, he mattered, too.
"I really, truly love her," he told Gavroche, his voice confident despite the slight pink to his cheeks. He couldn't help grinning a bit at the boy's declaration of Marius' simple puppy love style crush. Enjolras had waited so long for love to find him, he certainly couldn't comprehend loving someone after a brief meeting. "I'm sure Marius did eventually fall in love with Cosette. They were here, briefly. Long ago. But no, I think...I think my feelings towards your sister are considerably different. It took time. We worked for it." He hesitated, given that the child was merely a boy. What were matters of the heart to one only ten? "I fought it, for a while. You know as well as any of our friends that I never expected love to be a factor in my life. But I do. Love her, I mean."
He paused again, and finally grinned. "If I were ever to hurt her, I'd willingly subject myself to your kicking. Because I never intend to let that happen. I don't plan on either of you being hurt ever again. You will be my family as much as she will, and I know you'll be a brilliant uncle to any children we may have someday. We're going to be a family, and I promise you, I will do everything I can for you both." There was the famed orator, finally peeking his head out from behind the bumbling schoolboy. It was taking time, but he was slowly learning how to put emotions of the heart into the same words as his passion for helping the hungry and sick.